Memorials
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Prague 4, day 178: Gončarenkova
Gončarenkova was built in 1934. From 1934 to 1952, the street was called Podhájská; from 1952 to 1957, it was called Na Zvoničce; from 1957 to 1973, it was called Na Zvoničce II. I’m saying nothing about those names, as all will become clear in the next few days. Ivan Hryhorovych Hončarenko was born in 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 107: Charvátova
Originally published on X on 8 January 2024. Prague’s New Town was founded in 1348; of its early citizens, we know that there was one called Jakub Charvát. We can also assume he was quite well-off, because, in 1378, he bought two houses (now at numbers 33 and 34 on this street), as well as Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 86: Alej obětí totality (‘Alley of the victims of totalitarianism’)
Originally published on X on 3 December 2023. I think the best way to start this one is to take a look at two of the plaques on the ground. Between 1948 and 1989, 205,486 people were convicted. 248 were executed, and a further 4,500 died in prison. 327 people died trying to cross Czechoslovakia’s Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 143: Náměstí Pod Emauzy
Originally published on X on 2 April 2023. Náměstí Pod Emauzy was built in 1925. In 1347, a year after the founding of Prague’s Old Town, Karel IV received permission from the Pope to found a Benedictine monastery in Podskalí. In the 1370s, the monastery was supplemented by a church: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/31/prague-2-day-140-pod-slovany/ Karel wanted the monastery Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 