Old Town
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Prague 1, day 142: Provaznická
Originally published on X on 13 February 2024. A provaz is a rope. And, therefore, a provazník is a rope-maker or rope-weaver. And, to add to the many craftsmen and tradesmen we’ve dealt with recently, rope-weavers set up shop around here, forming their own guild in 1410. The name of the street can be traced Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 141: Havířská
Originally published on X on 12 February 2024. A havíř is a ‘coal miner’, or, in ‘I didn’t realise that was a specifically British word’ news, a ‘collier’. It’s actually a borrowing from the German Hauer, which is also how we get the English profession name, and surname, ‘hewer’. This house, at number 2, is Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 137: Na Příkopě
Originally published on X on 8 February 2024. A příkop is a ‘ditch’ or a ‘moat’. Way back in the 1230s, work was underway to create the walls of the Old Town, and, during the process, a moat was excavated here. The moat wouldn’t be filled in until 1760, when the street was created. Originally Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 106: Národní (‘National’)
Originally published on X on 7 January 2024. Until 1781, there was a moat here, which had the somewhat inconvenient effect of separating the Old Town and the New Town. Therefore, it was decided to fill the ditch and create a street in its place. Originally called Nové Aleje (New Avenue), this later turned into Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 105: Divadelní
Originally published on X on 6 January 2024. In 1845, František Palacký (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/31/prague-2-day-145-palackeho-namesti/) submitted a request to the Bohemian Diet (i.e. the Czech Parliament) for the construction and management of an independent Czech theatre. This was granted in the same year, but it wasn’t until 1851 that a board was set up for the project, Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 57: Mánesův most
Originally published on X on 2 November 2023. I’m going to be mildly lazy now and point you towards Vinohrady: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/01/18/prague-2-day-11-manesova/ The bridge was meant to replace Rudolf’s Footbridge (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-56-u-zelezne-lavky/), and was meant to be named after him too. However, when it opened in March 1914, it was called the Archduke Franz Ferdinand Bridge, for Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 