Theatre
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Prague 1, day 84: Besední
Originally published on X on 1 December 2023. In 1863, a group of artistically-minded Czechs set up their own association, Umelecká beseda, or Artistic Forum. (Note that, if I don’t mention these people by name in this thread, it’s because they’re almost certain to come up in a thread of their own one day) A Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 44: Šubertova
Originally published on Twitter on 2o December 2022. Šubertova was built in 1905. Like Ibsenova (which is on the other side of the Vinohrady Theatre), this was originally called U divadla (By the Theatre). However, while what is now Ibsenova was renamed to Divadelní in 1920 (and Ibsenova in 1928), its other half maintained its 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
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Prague 2, day 42: Náměstí Míru
Originally published on Twitter on 18 December 2022. Náměstí Míru – Peace Square in English, Mirák to locals – was built in 1884. Until 1926, it was called Purkyňovo náměstí after Jan Evangelista Purkyně (1787-1869), anatomist, physiologist and coiner of the word ‘protoplasm’. Then, in 1926, when Vinohrady underwent its Allied Renaming Extravaganza (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/12/23/prague-2-day-1-italska/), it Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 24: Sady Bratří Čapků
Originally published on Twitter on 30 November 2022. Sady Bratří Čapků was created (sort of) in 2016. This was part of a larger park, opened in 1903, and, originally called Městský sad (City Garden) until 1928. In 1928, it became Bezručovy sady, after Petr Bezruč, the pseudonym of Vladimír Vašek (1867-1958), a poet most known Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 13: Anny Letenské
Originally published on Twitter on 19 November 2022. Anny Letenské was built in 1896. Until 1945, this was Ve Pštroce. Pštroska, also spelt Pštrosska, was an estate, including a vineyard called Křížovka, that was located round here. It was purchased by Jan and Babetta Pštross in 1815, and demolished in the late 19th century, partly Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 10: U Divadla
Originally published on Twitter on 16 November 2022. ‘U Divadla’ translates as ‘By the Theatre’ and was built in 1988. The ‘theatre’ in question is, nowadays, the State Opera, which took the place of the Novoměstské divadlo / New Town Theatre (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/12/24/prague-2-day-7-na-smetance/). Ever been to this place on a date, wearing a polo neck Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 117: Blahníkova
Originally published on Twitter on 18 August 2022. Blahníkova was built in 1883. Until 1952, this was Švihovského, named after Půta Švihovský (died 1504), a Bohemian nobleman who was the highest regional judge of the Kingdom of Bohemia for 25 years. According to German Wikipedia, he was a bit of a prick, though, and – Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 64: Olgy Havlové
Originally published on Twitter on 26 June 2022. Olgy Havlové was built in 2012. I normally try to get a photo where you can actually read the street sign, but isn’t this one awesome despite completely failing on that count? Olga Šplíchalová was born in Žižkov (specifically Vackov) in 1933. In the early 1950s, she Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 