Vltava
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Prague 1, day 95: Slovanský ostrov (Slavonic Island)
Originally published on X on 24 December 2023. The island was gradually formed by deposits of sand during the 16th century. It was initially settled by dyers, and therefore got the name of ‘Barvířský’ (a ‘dyer’ being a barvíř, derived from barva, which means colour). After flooding in 1784, walls were added to the island, Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 94: Na Struze
Originally published on X on 23 December 2023. A strouha is a gutter or a drain – and, in the 14th century, the term was also attributed to the bay of the Vltava located here. It was also in the 14th century that we have the first written mention of a church here – St Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 93: Šítkova
Originally published on X on 22 December 2023. Mills operating here by the Vltava got their name from a former owner, Jan Šítka, who died in 1451. In 1495, a wooden water tower was built, but would be destroyed by a fire six years later. A replacement would also be burned down in 1588, after Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 91: Střelecký ostrov (Archers’ Island)
Originally published on X on 20 December 2023. (Not a street; thought it might have a street sign like some parks do; it doesn’t; felt like writing about it anyway) The island was first mentioned in writing in the 1100s, when it served as a park and was called Travník (‘Lawn’). During the reign of Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 89: Malostranské nábřeží
Originally published on X on 18 December 2023. Malostranské is the adjective to denote Malá Strana, which we’re about three days away from leaving before we head over to the other side of the river. And a nábřeží is an embankment. The name ‘Malostranské nábřeží’ has been applied since 1905. This was about 18 years Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 85: Říční
Originally published on X on 2 December 2023. Time for a quick language lesson: a řeka is a river. If you want to use ‘river’ as an adjective, though, then říční is your friend – as in říční přístav (river port), říční síť (river system) or říční koryto (river bed). And that map at the Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 54: Kosárkovo nábřeží
Originally published on X on 30 October 2023. Adolf Kosárek was born in Herálec, near (Havlíčkův) Brod, in 1830, and went to school in Kutná Hora before working as a clerk. He did drawing and painting in his spare time, eventually attracting the attention of Friedrich Prince zu Schwarzenberg, who had become Archbishop of Prague Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 157: Náplavní
Originally published on X on 16 April 2023. In the late 1700s, this street – or its precursor – was known as ‘U cihelny’, after a nearby brickyard (and if you want to know about a former brickyard in Prague 3, take a peek at https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/21/prague-3-day-69-u-stare-cihelny/). The name Náplavka appeared in the 19th century, after Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 146: Palackého most
Originally published on X on 5 April 2023. Palackého most (Palacký Bridge) was opened in 1878. Turns out Prague bridges don’t tend to get street signs, so here’s a couple of pics instead. We can keep this one fairly brief, as František Palacký was covered yesterday: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/31/prague-2-day-145-palackeho-namesti/ During the Nazi occupation, the bridge was called Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 141: Na Poříčním právu
Originally published on X on 31 March 2023. Na Poříčním právu was built in 1925. A řeka is a river. This leads to the adjective říční, as in říční koryto (riverbed), říční síť (river system) and říční přístav (river port). Put a prefix onto říční, and you get poříční, another adjective which also means ‘river’ Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 123: Plavecká
Originally published on X on 13 March 2023. Plavecká was built centuries ago, but wasn’t named until the mid-19th century. We’ve covered the fact that the people of this district, Podskalí, made their living by trading in wood: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/26/prague-2-day-121-na-vytoni/. And then we covered the history of Podskalí itself yesterday: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/26/prague-2-day-122-podskalska/. Plavecká, meanwhile, is named after Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 121: Na Výtoni
Originally published on X on 11 March 2023. Na Výtoni was built in 1894, and was called Vejtoňská until 1903. Once upon a time, there was a settlement here called Podskalí. The first written mention is from 1198, but it’s likely to have originated a long time before that. The locals made a living by Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 115: Botičská
Originally published on X on 5 March 2023. Botičská was built (as a path) around the 16th century. For a time in the 19th century, until 1850, this was called Špitálská, after St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and Almshouse (Špitál a chudobinec svatého Bartoloměje), which was closed in 1884. The building that’s on this spot now is Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 