Music
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Prague 1, day 213: Na rejdišti
Originally published on X on 29 April 2024. A ‘rejdiště’ is a riding stable – in modern Czech, we would call this a ‘jízdárna’ – and one was inaugurated around here in 1660. More specifically, ‘around here’ means ‘number 2 Alšovo nabřezí’ (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/10/22/prague-1-day-210-alsovo-nabrezi-ales-embankment/), which, nowadays, is called Prádlo or Na Prádle, was built in the Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 132: Senovážné náměstí
Originally published on X on 3 February 2024. Your regular reminder that a ‘náměstí’ is a square, but doesn’t necessarily have to be square in shape. Let’s start with a language lesson: seno is ‘hay’, while váha means both ‘weight’ and ‘weighing machine’. So, a senováha is a hay scale, and this is Hay Scale Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 71: Velkopřevorské náměstí
Originally published on X on 18 November 2023. A převor is a prior – a word whose meaning differs depending on what kind of monastery they’re in. Among Dominicans, Augustinians, Brothers of Mercy and other Catholic orders, a prior is any monastic superior. Among Premonstratensians, Benedictines and Cistercians, however, a prior would be directly subordinate Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 50: Staré zámecké schody
Originally published on X on 26 October 2023. These supposed ‘old castle steps’ have been around since the 17th century. Which, sure, makes them old, but doesn’t make them older than the supposedly ‘new’ castle steps discussed on https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-40-zamecke-schody/. They were given a reconstruction in 1835-7, and have had their current name since then. They’re Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 39: Karmelitská
Originally published on X on 13 October 2023. This story starts in Mount Carmel, a mountain range on the northern coast of Israel in which the city of Haifa is located. In the 13th century, a group of men settled here and founded the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, living in Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 188: Laubova
Originally published on Twitter on 28 October 2022. Laubova was built in 1896. Nikki Lauba (1949-2019) was a Formula One driver from the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. No, sorry, wait. Until 1952, the street was called Vilímovská, possibly after a vineyard. There’s a street with the same name in Dejvice. Ferdinand Laub was born in 1832 Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 148: Ondříčkova
Originally published on Twitter on 18 September 2022. Ondříčkova was built in 1885. Until 1937, this was Břetislavova, presumably after Břetislav I (1005-1055), II (1060-1100) III (died 1197), all Dukes of Bohemia. František Ondříček was born on Nový Svět in Hradčany in 1857, and played violin in taverns and cafes as part of his father’s Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 147: Blodkova
Originally published on Twitter on 17 September 2022. Blodkova was built in 1905. Vilém Blodek was born into a poor family in Prague in 1834. He graduated from the Prague Conservatory at the age of 19, subsequently becoming a piano teacher in Lubycza Królewska (then Galicia, now in south-eastern Poland on the Ukrainian border). He Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 146: Zvonařova
Originally published on Twitter on 16 September 2022. Zvonařova was built in 1904. Josef Leopold Zvonař was born near in Kublov near Beroun in 1824. At the age of 18, he moved to Prague to train to study pedagogy, but, as he was already proficient in several instruments, music was a greater attraction. Therefore, he Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 145: Škroupovo náměstí
Originally published on Twitter on 15 September 2022. Škroupovo náměstí was built in 1910. Until 1940, and again from 1945-7, this was Smetanovo náměstí, after Bedřich Smetana (1824-84), composer of Má vlast, and often called the father of Czech music. From 1940-5, it was Sukovo náměstí, after Josef Suk (1874-1935), composer and son-in-law of Antonín Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 144: Pospíšilova
Originally published on Twitter on 14 September 2022. Pospíšilova was built in 1904. It was called Dvořákova until 1930. Explanation probably not needed. Karel Pospíšil was born near Chotěboř in 1867, and was taught music by both his grandfather, Josef Pospíšil, and his uncle, the famous pianist Karel Slavkovský. He became a teacher in a Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 143: Fibichova
Originally published on Twitter on 13 September 2022. Fibichova was built in 1904. From 1940 to 1945, this was Ševčíkova. Fibichova is to the right of Ševčíkova (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/01/14/prague-3-day-142-sevcikova/). Except Current Ševčíkova wasn’t called Ševčíkova until 1947. Blimey. Zdeněk Fibich was born in Všebořice near Benešov in 1850. Encouraged by his music-loving (and Austrian) mother, he Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 142: Ševčíkova
Originally published on Twitter on 12 September 2022. Ševčíkova was built in 1904. Until 1947, this was Bendlova, after Karel Bendl (1838-97), composer, organiser of the Umělecká beseda’s music department, second conductor of the Deutsche Oper and later of Prague’s National Theatre. Otakar Ševčík was born in Horažďovice in 1852. He started learning the violin Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 140: Slavíkova
Originally published on Twitter on 10 September 2022. Slavíkova was built in 1910. Until 1961, this was Grégrova, after Julius Grégr (1831-96), co-founder of the Young Czechs and of Národní listy. Josef Slavík was born in Jince (near Příbram) in 1806. A prodigy on the violin, he was, by the age of nine, the lead Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 138: Kubelíkova
Originally published on Twitter on 8 September 2022. Kubelíkova was built in 1885. Until 1930, this was Libušina, after Libuše, ancestor of the Přemyslid dynasty and of the Czechs. So the number of streets named after women in Prague 3 has actually gone *down* over the years. Gah. From 1930 to 1947, it was Dvořákova, after Antonín Dvořák, Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 131: Vita Nejedlého
Originally published on Twitter on 1 September 2022. Vita Nejedlého was built in 1885. This one’s been through its fair share of other names. Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, it was Veleslavínova, after Daniel Adam z Veleslavína (1546-99), lexicographer, publisher, translator and secret member of the Unitas Fratrum (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/26/prague-3-day-83-ceskobratrska/). From 1940 to Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 110: U Božích bojovníků
Originally published on Twitter on 11 August, 2022. U Božích bojovníků was built in 1885. Boží bojovníci are ‘warriors of God’. Yes, we’re obviously talking about Hussites again. But today I get to compensate for that with music! Ktož jsú boží bojovníci (written ‘Ktoz jsu bozi boyownici’ back in the day) / ‘Ye who are Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 