Playwrights
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Prague 4, day 15: Na Fidlovačce
Na Fidlovačce was built in 1906. A fidlovačka is a tool that a cobbler – i.e. a person who makes or repairs shoes – uses to smooth leather. The tool then gave its name to a spring festival which took place in the Nusle valley, by the Botič stream (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/26/prague-2-day-115-boticska/). At this festival – which Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 104: Náměstí Václava Havla
Originally published on X on 5 January 2024. Václav Havel was born in 1936 in Prague. His family was well-off and well-known: his grandfather Vácslav (1861-1921) had built Lucerna, while his father (also Václav; 1897-1979) had created Barrandov Terraces. Meanwhile, his maternal grandfather, Hugo Vavrečka (1880-1952), had been a renowned war correspondent, and was also Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 70: Šmilovského
Originally published on Twitter on 15 January 2023. Šmilovského was built in 1900. Alois Schmillauer was born in Mladá Boleslav in 1837. I don’t know when he went from Schmillauer to Šmilovský, but I assume the Czech national cause was involved. After studying philosophy at Charles University, he became a substitute professor at the gymnasium Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 62: Máchova
Originally published on Twitter on 7 January 2023. Máchova was built before 1884. Ignác Mácha* was born on Újezd, on Malá Strana, in 1810. In 1830, he started to study at Charles-Ferdinand University, taking philosophy and law. *He would later change Ignác to Hynek, and, taken with Czech patriotism, also added the doesn’t-get-much-more-Czech Karel. During Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 59: Wenzigova
Originally published on Twitter on 4 January 2023. Wenzigova was built in 1893. Josef Wenzig was born in Prague in 1807. After working as a private tutor, he became a professor at the Prague German School, staying there from 1833 to 1849, when he set up the První česká reálka (First Czech Secondary School) on Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 43: Ibsenova
Originally published on Twitter on 19 December 2022. Ibsenova was built in 1905. Until 1920, this was U divadla – ‘By the (National) Theatre’ – before becoming Divadelní (Theatre Street) until 1928. Henrik Ibsen was born in Skien, southern Norway, in 1828 – i.e. the name change to Ibsenova occurred on the centenary of his Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 