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Prague 4, day 264: Talafúsova
Talafúsova was built in 1935. Jan Talafús was born around 1410 in Ostrov, near Chrudim (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/06/24/prague-3-day-177-chrudimska/). Early records of his life are limited, but he is thought to have participated in the Battle of Lipany in 1434 (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/12/23/prague-3-day-120-lipanska/). Within little over a decade, Talafús would be in charge of Ostrov, as well as having inherited Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 257: Táhlá
Táhlá was built in 1925. If something is ‘táhlá’, it’s long, protracted, sweeping or far-stretching, which seems to be what the street-namers of 1925 thought this road was. Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 157: Dvorecká
Dvorecká was built in the 1920s. Originally, the part of Jeremenkova (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/07/26/prague-4-day-156-jeremenkova/) to the west of Dvorecká was called Dvorecká too. For the story of Dvorce, it’s all pretty much covered on https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/07/25/prague-4-day-155-dvorecke-namesti/ already. But it won’t be long before a significant addition to the things named after Dvorce – Dvorecký most is the name Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 21: Na Vítězné pláni
Na Vítězné pláni (On the Victory Plain) already existed in the first half of the 20th century, but wasn’t given its name until 1993. If you were ever a Czech schoolkid, you’ll be familiar with the Hussite Wars; if you weren’t, let’s take a trip back to 1420. In March, Pope Martin V issued a Papal Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 19: Petra Rezka
Petra Rezka was built in 1931. Until 1948, the street was named Leflova, after Jindřich Lefl z Lažan, a Polish-Czech nobleman who initially supported Jan Hus, and gave him a place to hide, but later changed sides and was killed by the Hussites at the Battle of Vyšehrad (more on that in two days’ time). Continue reading
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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 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 12: Náměstí Bratří Synků
Náměstí Bratří Synků, colloquially known as Synkáč, was built in 1903; the street name translates as ‘Synek Brothers’ Square’. Otto Synek was born to a Jewish family in Prague in 1900; his brother Viktor would be born three years later. Working as a bank clerk after university, Otto was fired in 1921 after participating in Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 11: Čestmírova
Čestmírova was built in 1892. Čestmír is about as Slavic a man’s name as you can find; it means ‘peaceful’ (although, to say ‘peaceful’ in modern Czech, you’d say ‘mírový’. About 2,500 men in Czechia currently have the name; for people of a certain generation, the first Čestmír that will come to mind is Čestmír 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 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 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 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 2: Vrtbova
At the date of writing, this street was still under construction, which means this was the best photo I could get. Jan Josef z Vrtby was born in 1669, part of the noble Vrtba family. Already in an advantageous social position, his prestige increased yet further in 1690 when he married Susanne Antonia Heussenstamm, a 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 1, day 140: V Cípu
Originally published on X on 11 February 2024. A cíp is a tip or a corner. And, as this is basically an extension of Panská (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/23/prague-1-day-139-panska/) which doesn’t lead anywhere, this seems quite apt. First referred to as ‘in vico dicto Czyp’ in 1395, it was also known as Heršova for a time, as a Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 134: Hybernská
Originally published on X on 5 February 2024. In the pre-New Town was founded, this street was called Horská, because it led to Kutná Hora. It then became known as Na Dlážděném from 1348, and if I explain that now, I’ll ruin tomorrow’s post. In 1355, a church was built, and dedicated to St Ambrose, Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 31: Vlašská
Originally published on X on 29 September 2023. Way, way, back (as in ‘invading Macedonia in 270 BC’ way back), there was a Celtic tribe known in Latin as the Volcae. Their name found its way into Proto-Germanic as *Walhaz, which came to mean a foreigner who spoke a Romance language, or a Celt who Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 168: Malá Štěpánská
Originally published on X on 27 April 2023. Malá Štěpánská was built in 1894. Nice and brief this morning: it’s a small street which is located by Štěpánská (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/01/prague-2-day-167-stepanska/). Big Štěpánská’s Little Štěpánská, if you will. Something more detailed to come tomorrow. Maybe. Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 150: Dittrichova
Originally published on X on 9 April 2023. Podskalí was built in 1894. František Dittrich was born in Podskalí – i.e. here – in 1801. Being deprived of both parents and his inheritance at an early age, he started to work as a raft swimmer on the Vltava, ultimately making enough money to open a Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 