Mayors
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Prague 4, day 46: Jaurisova
Jaurisova was built in 1920. Pankrác Jauris was born in 1847, and was a mayor of Michle. There’ll be plenty of Michle coming up in future posts – indeed, this street is partially there, partially in Nusle. So, for now, I’ll keep it brief and say that the earliest written mention we have of Michle Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 4: Mužíkova
Another super-new street, only this time with an adequate picture of the street sign. Progress. Jaroslav Mužík was born in Nové Strašecí, near Rakovník, in 1858, but moved to Nusle shortly after. At school, one of his teachers was Petr Mužák, husband of the writer Karolina Světlá (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/28/prague-1-day-153-karoliny-svetle/). He then went to university in Vienna. Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 206: Kaprova
Originally published on X on 22 April 2024. This is one of the oldest streets in Prague, originally connecting Old Town Square – the city’s main marketplace – with a ford across the Vltava, where the Rudolfinum is now. The street was originally called Svatovalentinská, which there’ll be more about in two threads’ time. Number Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 172: Vejvodova
Originally published on X on 15 March 2024. Jan Václav Vejvoda was born around 1677. I’m not sure about his early life, but, by 1701, he was already working in the Old Town’s municipal administration. After various roles (including a scribe, a supreme warden, a member of the city council, and, erm, ‘director of the Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 155: Krocínova
Originally published on X on 26 February 2024. Václav Krocín was born in 1532, and grew up in Žatec, later moving to Prague, where his mother owned various properties. After finishing his studies there in 1560, he started working for the Old Town Municipality, eventually becoming mayor in 1584. He became known as Václav Krocín Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 97: Pštrossova
Originally published on X on 29 December 2023. František Václav Pštross was born on this street in 1823; his father, also called František, was a local politician and owned a tannery, which František Junior joined in 1842. Not content with only following in some of his father’s footsteps, he was elected to Prague City Council Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 158: Záhořanského
Originally published on X on 17 April 2023. Záhořanského was built in 1877. Bernard Augustin Zahořanský was born in 1738, into a family which had originated in the town of Záhořany, becoming ennobled in 1600 and settling in Prague’s New Town three years later. He graduated in law and, in 1763, became a councillor at Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 150: Dittrichova
Originally published on X on 9 April 2023. Podskalí was built in 1894. František Dittrich was born in Podskalí – i.e. here – in 1801. Being deprived of both parents and his inheritance at an early age, he started to work as a raft swimmer on the Vltava, ultimately making enough money to open a Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 1, version 2.0: Hartigova
Originally published on Twitter on 2 October 2023, one day after the street, formerly Koněvova (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/18/prague-3-day-1-konevova/) , was officially renamed. Karel Hartig was born in Sedlčany, near Příbram, in 1833, and trained as a bricklayer, working, amongst other places, on the George of Poděbrady / Jiří z Poděbrad barracks, which we now know better as Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 