Nusle
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Prague 4, day 14: Boleslavova
Boleslavova was built in 1892. Boleslav was born in or around 915, the son of Vratislav I, Duke of Bohemia (pictured as seen at St George’s Convent – more on that one later), and his wife, Drahomíra. Accounts of the first few years of his life vary – and, for all we know, they could Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 13: Sezimova
Sezimova was built in 1900. Sezima z Vrtby was born into the noble Vrtba family in 1578. Starting his career in the service of the Rožmberks, another major noble family of the time, he served as hetman of the Vltava region on three occasions between 1606 and 1611. Sensing the way the tide was turning Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 10: Vlastislavova
Vlastislavova was built in 1892. We’re back onto the mythological figures today. The story of the seven mythical dukes of Bohemia was last told on https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/01/03/prague-4-day-3-mnatova/. However, of more relevance is the story of Duke Number Four, Vnislav (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/25/prague-2-day-102-vnislavova/), because he supposedly had a brother called Vlastislav. Their father was Vojen who, somehow, has missed Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 9: Mečislavova
Mečislavova was built in 1892. Mečislav is more commonly known as Měšek in Czech; in English, we use his Polish name, Mieszko. That was long thought to be a diminutive form of Mieczysław – still a common name in Poland – but many modern historians disagree. Mieszko was born… at some point (take your pick Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 8: Ctiradova
Ctiradova was built in 1900. It was called U nádraží until 1928, due to its location near the train station – we’ll get onto that soon-ish. We’re back in mythology territory today, and it’ll help if you take a look at the story of Libuše: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/23/prague-2-day-93-libusina/. If you’re pressed for time: Libuše ruled over her Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 7: Na Zámecké
Na Zámecké was built in 1900. ‘Zámecký’ is the adjective deriving from ‘zámek’ – a castle. In 1627, Sezima z Vrtby, a nobleman, purchased the then-village of Horní (Upper) Nusle. Around 1649, he had a manor house built where náměstí Bratří Synků is now. His grandson, Jan Josef z Vrtby (1669-1734), not only united Horní Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 6: Otakarova
Otakarova was built in 1900. Přemysl Otakar II was born in or around 1233, the son of Václav I, who had been King of Bohemia since 1230, and his wife, Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen. His older brother, Vladislav, became Margrave of Moravia and Duke of Austria in 1246, but died suddenly in 1247, probably of natural 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 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 4, day 3: Mnatova
No street sign today, as this still seems to be a construction site, and I’m too British to ask if I’m allowed in. The first historically documented Duke of Bohemia was Bořivoj I, who ruled from about 867 until about 889 – more about him in Prague 3: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/01/14/prague-3-day-134-borivojova/. Mythology tells us that there were Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 1: Závišova
We’re off! Závišova was built in 1892, which is also approximately when I finished work on What’s In a Prague 1 Street Name. Záviš z Falkenštejna was born around 1250, as a member of the South Bohemian branch of the noble Vítkov family. He was first mentioned in writing in 1262, when King Přemysl Otakar Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 131: Na bojišti
Originally published on X on 21 March 2023. Na bojišti (On the battlefield) was built in the Middle Ages. Called Bojiště until 1822, it was then renamed U blázince (‘At the madhouse’) until 1880, after the institution on Kateřinská (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/28/prague-2-day-128-katerinska/). Thank goodness it’s not called that anymore. In the mid-to-late 12th century, Henry II, Duke Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 111: Ke Karlovu
Originally published on X on 1 March 2023. Ke Karlovu was built a very long time ago. Until 1857, it was Karlovská; then, it was U Karlova until 1947, when it gained its current name. All three names point to the fact that the street leads to Karlov, which you can find more out about Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 92: Slavojova
Originally published on X on 6 February 2023. Slavojova was built around 1892. During the Nazi occupation, this was Albíkova, after Zikmund Albík z Uničova, or Sigismund Albicus (died 1427), provost of Vyšehrad and archbishop of Prague from 1409 to 1423. Otherwise, it seems I inadvertently wrote everything that I had to say about the Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 91: Lumírova
Originally published on X on 5 February 2023. Lumírova was built before 1892. In 1817, a young lawyer called Václav Hanka allegedly went to Dvůr Králové nad Labem, and, while in the Church of Saint John the Baptist, found a manuscript from the 13th century (approx). Given its place of discovery, it became known as Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 90: Krokova
Originally published on X on 4 February 2023. Krokova was built in 1892. During the Nazi occupation, this was Jarlochova, after Jarloch (1165-1228), an abbot who wrote one of the post-Kosmas parts of the Chronica Boemorum. Speaking of Kosmas’s Chronicle? That’s our source for information about Krok. Kosmas says that the first Czechs in Bohemia Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 89: Čiklova
Originally published on X on 22 August 2023. Čiklova was built in 1906. From 1906 to 1940, and again from 1945 to 1948, this was Sámova, after Samo, whose empire, from 623 to 658, is the first known political union of Slavic tribes. During the Nazi occupation, the street was called Hemina, after Hemma, or Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 87: Svatoplukova
Originally published on X on 1 February 2023. Svatoplukova was built in 1892. From 1940 to 1945, this was Gebhardova, after Gebhart (also known as Jaromír), who was the fourth son of Břetislav I and Jitka, and was Bishop of Prague from 1067 until his death in 1090. Svatopluk, meanwhile, was born around 840, and Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 86: Nuselský most
Originally published on X on 31 January 2023. Nuselský most – Nusle Bridge – was opened in 1973. The first discussions about building a bridge here occurred at the start of the 20th century, but it took over sixty years – and the appearance of the high rises of Pankrác – for its construction to Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 84: Ostrčilovo náměstí
Originally published on X on 29 January 2023. Ostrčilovo náměstí was built in 1900. Until 1947, this was Přemyslovo náměstí, after Přemysl Oráč, AKA Where It All Began (see recent posts for brief details). From 1947 to 1952, it was Hašlerovo náměstí, after Karel Hašler (1879-1941), a songwriter and actor (and supporter of Czech fascism…), Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 