islands
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Prague 4, day 184: Veslařský ostrov
Veslařský ostrov was first mentioned in 1420. A ‘veslař’ is a rower or oarsman; an ‘ostrov’ is an island. Around here, the riverbed of the Vltava used to get blocked by ice; sand accumulated as a result and, ultimately, this island was formed. The noble Schwarzenberg family set up a raft port and warehouse here; Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 150: Nad ostrovem
Nad ostrovem was built in 1938. Nad ostrovem translates as ‘above the island’. The island in question – as you might be able to guess from the map – is Veslařský ostrov. As that has its own street sign, I guess that should be your lot for now. Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 5: Na Ostrůvku
Na Ostrůvku was built in 1906. An ‘ostrůvek’ is an island, but a small one – so you might wish to call it an islet (relatedly, a ‘dopravní ostrůvek’ is a traffic island). As you can see from the map above, we’re nowhere near the Vltava. However, we are very close to (as in ‘right Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 282: Půtova
Originally published on X on 10 June 2024. Once upon a time, there was a street called U hradeb na Poříčí. This was partly because it was located near the New Town hradby, AKA fortifications: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/09/prague-1-day-251-hradebni/. And partly because this street is located in the former settlement of Poříčí: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/10/prague-1-day-272-na-porici/. In the mid-1400s, there was Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 214: Široká
Originally published on X on 30 April 2024. Starting this story a bit to the north: Štvanice is an island between Karlín and Holešovice; you’re most likely to know it for its tennis arena which hosts the WTA Prague Open. Anyway, once upon a time, there was a ford at Štvanice, and there was a Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 198: Křižovnické náměstí
Originally published on X on 11 April 2024. If you’ve got a vague memory of standing somewhere and thinking it must be the most crowded place in Prague, you may have been in this spot. In 1233, the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star / Rytířský řád Křižovníků s červenou hvězdou – Bohemia’s Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 96: Ostrovní
Originally published on X on 25 December 2023. We can keep this nice and simple: an ‘ostrov’ is an island, and this street leads towards the one I wrote about yesterday: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/13/prague-1-day-95-slovansky-ostrov-slavonic-island/ I’m quite glad this one is brief, because I’m currently on the larger of the two britských ostrovů, where we celebrate Christmas a Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 95: Slovanský ostrov (Slavonic Island)
Originally published on X on 24 December 2023. The island was gradually formed by deposits of sand during the 16th century. It was initially settled by dyers, and therefore got the name of ‘Barvířský’ (a ‘dyer’ being a barvíř, derived from barva, which means colour). After flooding in 1784, walls were added to the island, Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 91: Střelecký ostrov (Archers’ Island)
Originally published on X on 20 December 2023. (Not a street; thought it might have a street sign like some parks do; it doesn’t; felt like writing about it anyway) The island was first mentioned in writing in the 1100s, when it served as a park and was called Travník (‘Lawn’). During the reign of Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 69: Na Kampě
Originally published on X on 15 November 2023. he island now known as Kampa was first mentioned in writing in 1169, and it became an island as a result of the creation of this canal: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/09/prague-1-day-67-certovka/ However, until the 18th century, people would merely refer to the island as ostrov, meaning, yes, ‘island’. (I can’t Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 