Praha 2
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Prague 2, day 110: Boženy Němcové
Originally published on X on 28 February 2023. Boženy Němcové was built in 1896. The most common story is that Božena Němcová was born as Barbara Nowotny in Vienna in 1820, to an unmarried mother called Theresia Nowotná. When Barbara was a few months old, Theresia married an Austrian coachman, Johann Pankl, in Malá Skalice. Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 109: Studničkova
Originally published on X on 27 February 2023. Studničkova was built in 1906. Until 1947, this was Preslova, after Jan Svatopluk Presl (1791-1849), a botanist who taught zoology and mineralogy at Charles University. František Karel Studnička was born in Prague in 1870. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in 1895. Four Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 108: Votočkova
Originally published on X on 26 February 2023. Like yesterday’s Hlavova, the area was built up gradually and the street got a name in 1963. Emil Votoček was born in Hostinné in 1872. He studied technical engineering at what is now ČVUT, and subsequently studied in both Mulhouse and in Göttingen (where he studied sugar Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 107: Hlavova
Originally published on X on 25 February 2023. Hlavova, like its surroundings, was built up before and after WW2, but not named until 1963. Jaroslav Hlava was born in Dolní Kralovice, near Benešov, in 1855. He graduated in medicine from Charles University in 1879. By 1887, he had become a ‘full’ professor of pathological anatomy Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 106: Horská
Originally published on X on 20 February 2023. We don’t know when Horská was built, but it’s decidedly old. The first documented names for the street are Ztracená (Lost) and Na Ztracené vartě (At the lost guard-post), presumably because, back before multiple roads and public transport were a thing, this was quite a long way from Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 105: Korčákova
Originally published on X on 19 February 2023. Korčákova was built in 2009. Jaromír Korčák was born in Vrážné, near Svitavy, in 1898. After studying natural history and geography in Prague, he became a commissioner at the State Statistical Office. In 1948, he qualified as an Associate Professor in demography at the Charles University, becoming Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 104: Františka Lenocha
Originally published on X on 18 February 2023. Františka Lenocha was built in 2009. František Lenoch was born in 1898. Graduating from Charles University’s Faculty of Medicine in 1923, he later qualified in physiatry, balneology and internal medicine. In the 1930s, he worked in Trenčianske Teplice, a spa town in Slovakia, and stayed in Slovakia Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 103: Neklanova
Originally published on 17 February 2023. Neklanova was built around 1885. We’re still on the post-Přemysl, pre-Bořivoj mythical princes. Neklan was number six, and was the father of number seven, Hostivít. Again, there are theories as to where his name came from. One is that, due to his love of peace*, Neklan did ‘not tilt’ Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 102: Vnislavova
Originally published on X on 16 February 2023. If you read yesterday’s post, you might have an idea of where we’re heading already: Vnislav was the fourth of the seven legendary princes between Přemysl and Bořivoj. While the sequence suggests that Vnislav’s name relates to Wednesday, the context isn’t entirely clear. It’s possible that there Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 101: Hostivítova
Originally published on X on 15 February 2023. Hostivítova was built in 1891. See https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/20/prague-2-day-83-nezamyslova/ for a discussion of how Kosmas claimed there were seven legendary princes of Bohemia between Přemysl (yesterday’s thread) and Bořivoj (who actually existed). Hostivít was number seven, and is therefore assumed to be Bořivoj’s father. If he existed, we can Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 100: Přemyslova
Originally published on X on 14 February 2023. Přemyslova was built in 1892. As told here, Kosmas wrote in his chronicle that Přemysl Oráč (the Ploughman) was discovered by Libuše when a bunch of men threw a tantrum about a woman being in charge: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/23/prague-2-day-93-libusina/. Upon being plucked from obscurity by a horse, Přemysl placed Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 99: Vratislavova
Originally published on X on 13 February 2023. It’s not clear what year Vratislavova was built in. When Vyšehrad was a separate town from Prague, this was Hlavní, Vyšehrad’s Main Street, and included the town hall. It merged with nearby Vyšehradská in 1870, but broke free again in 1891, with its current name. The future Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 98: Na Libušince
Originally published on X on 12 February 2023. Na Libušince was built in 1973. In 1564, the Vyšehrad Chapter, having decided that Vyšehrad – at that time largely populated by poor craftsmen – needed a brewery, opened one here. It was originally called Libušínn (which looks like a pun on ‘inn’ but obviously isn’t). Subsequently Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 97: Štulcova
Originally published on X on 11 February 2023. Until 1888, this street was known as Na hřbitově, as it led to the Vyšehrad Cemetery. Then, from 1961 to 1995, it was part of K rotundě (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/24/prague-2-day-94-k-rotunde/). The rest of the time, it’s been Štulcova. Václav Štulc was born in Kladno in 1814. After studying theology Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 96: Soběslavova
Originally published on X on 10 February 2023. Soběslavova was named around 1892, but already existed before then. Soběslav was the youngest son of Vratislav II, Bohemia’s first king (from 1085). In true Přemyslid style, his relationship with certain family members was not the best. His older brother, Bořivoj II, was Duke of Bohemia from Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 95: V Pevnosti
Originally published on X on 9 February 2023. V Pevnosti was named in 1900 but presumably built some time before then. Its name translates as ‘In the fortress’. Czech monarchs lived at Vyšehrad until 1140, when their residence moved back to Prague Castle. It wasn’t until 1348, and the rule of Charles IV, that Vyšehrad Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 94: K Rotundě
Originally published on X on 8 February 2023. It’s not clear when K Rotundě was built. Our Vyšehrad stories have all been legend-based so far. So now it’s time for some stuff that we can be confident actually happened. By the year 1000, Vyšehrad had started to be mentioned in writing. We know that, around Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 93: Libušina
Originally published on X on 7 February 2023. Libušina was built so long ago that I can’t even guess the century. Until the mid-19th century, the street was known as Převoznická (approx. ‘Ferry Street’), because this was where the once-upon-a-time ferry to/from Vyšehrad would stop / start. As mentioned a couple of days back, Libuše 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
What's in a Prague street name 