Vltava
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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 