Writers
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Prague 2, day 171: Hálkova
Originally published on X on 30 April 2023. The street was part of Na Rybníčku (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/01/prague-2-day-169-na-rybnicku/) at first, gaining its own status/name in 1886. Vincenc Hálek was born as Vincenc Hálek in Dolínek, nowadays in Prague East, in 1835. He entered a seminary in Prague, but moved to the Academic Gymnasium (on Štěpánská – https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/01/prague-2-day-167-stepanska/) Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 154: Jiráskovo náměstí
Originally published on X on 13 April 2023. Jiráskovo náměstí was built in 1905 as a result of modifications to the riverbank. Until 1940, and again from 1945 to 1947, this was Riegrovo náměstí, after František Ladislav Rieger (1818-1903), politician, publicist, and early leader of the Czech nationalist movement. Under the Nazi occupation, it was Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 145: Palackého náměstí
Originally published on X on 4 April 2023. Palackého náměstí was created in 1896 as a result of renovation of the nearby embankment. From 1942 to 1945, this was Rudolfovo náměstí, after Rudolph II (1552-1612), the Habsburg who certainly made Prague a more fascinating cultural centre than ever, but whose actions also indirectly led to Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 132: Tyršova
Originally published on X on 22 March 2023, when I also forgot to take/add a photo of the street sign. Maybe I’ll go out and take one now. Tyršova was built in 1893. Fridericus Emanuel Tirsch was born into a German-speaking in Děčín in 1832. By the age of six, he had lost both parents Continue reading
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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 74: Fričova
Originally published on X on 19 January 2023. Fričova was built in 1896. Josef Václav Frič was born in 1829 in Prague. His father was Josef František Frič, a patriotic poet and professor at Charles University. In 1848, he became head of a radical student association, Slávie, and encouraged students to take to the barricades Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 62: Máchova
Originally published on Twitter on 7 January 2023. Máchova was built before 1884. Ignác Mácha* was born on Újezd, on Malá Strana, in 1810. In 1830, he started to study at Charles-Ferdinand University, taking philosophy and law. *He would later change Ignác to Hynek, and, taken with Czech patriotism, also added the doesn’t-get-much-more-Czech Karel. During Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 59: Wenzigova
Originally published on Twitter on 4 January 2023. Wenzigova was built in 1893. Josef Wenzig was born in Prague in 1807. After working as a private tutor, he became a professor at the Prague German School, staying there from 1833 to 1849, when he set up the První česká reálka (First Czech Secondary School) on Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 53: Tylovo námestí
Originally published on Twitter on 29 December 2022. Tylovo námestí, colloquially known as Tylák, was built around 1875. The square was built on what was then the highway to Linz-slash-Nusle, i.e. present-day Bělehradská: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/03/02/prague-2-day-40-belehradska/ When the square was founded, it was called Tržiště – the Marketplace – or Tržní náměstí – Market Square, for obvious Continue reading
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Prague 2, day 33: Rubešova
Originally published on Twitter on 9 December 2022. Rubešova was built before 1884, and the history of the road is slightly complicated. Part of the street, while created around the same time, was originally called Resslova, after Josef Ressel, who was briefly mentioned here as he was a native of Chrudim: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/06/24/prague-3-day-177-chrudimska/ While, in 1895, 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 17: Třebízského
Originally published on Twitter on 23 November 2022. Třebízského was built around 1903. From 1940 to 1945, this was Krušnohorksá, after Krušné hory / the Erzgebirge / the Ore Mountains, which separate Bohemia and Saxony. Václav Beneš was born in Třebíz, near Slaný, in 1849. The school he went to there was attended at the Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 151: Křišťanova
Originally published on Twitter on 21 September 2022. Křišťanova was built in 1904. Křišťan z Prachatic was born in the late 1360s, started studying at Charles University in 1386, and then became a maths lecturer there while also being a parish priest in the Old Town. *And* also becoming the University’s dean and chancellor. He Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 125: Seifertova
Originally published on Twitter on 26 August 2022. Seifertova was built in 1875. Until 1940, this was Karlova, after Karel IV; from 1940 to 1945, it was Lutherova, after Martin Luther. After a brief return to its original name, it became Kalininova from 1947 to 1990, after Mikhail Kalinin (1875-1945), an Old Bolshevik revolutionary after Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 122: Havlíčkovo náměstí
Originally published on Twitter on 23 August 2022. Havlíčkovo náměstí was built in 1875. Until 1910, this was Basilejské náměstí, now the name of another square slightly to the east (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/26/prague-3-day-94-basilejske-namesti/). Between 1940 and 1945, it was Husovo náměstí (limited explanation required). Karel Havlíček Borovský was born in 1821 and studied in Německý Brod (now Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 118: Štítného
Originally published on Twitter on 19 August 2022. Štítného was built before 1875. Tomáš Štítný ze Štítného was born into the lower nobility at the Štítná fortress (now part of Žirovnice, Vysočina Region) around 1333. He moved to Prague to study at the Art Faculty of Charles University, where he became acquainted with reform preachers Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 88: Koldínova
Originally published on Twitter on 20 July 2022. Koldínova was built in 1904. Pavel Kristián z Koldína (1530-1589) was a lawyer and writer. He held several key positions in Prague: rector of the Latin school, dean of Charles University (from 1561), and chancellor of the Old Town from 1565 to 1584. In 1569, he and Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 84: Blahoslavova
Originally published on Twitter on 16 July 2022. Blahoslavova was built before 1875. Jan Blahoslav (1523-1571) was a writer, translator, and composer, among many other professions. He was a bishop in the Jednota bratrská (see yesterday: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/26/prague-3-day-83-ceskobratrska/), and, in 1564, translated the New Testament into Czech. He also published ‘Muzika’ (a ‘guide to how to Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 79: Sabinova
Originally published on Twitter on 11 July 2022. Sabinova was built in 1875. Until 1962, the street was called Jaboukova (named after either Jakoubek ze Stříbra or Jakoubek z Vřesovic, both prominent Hussites in the early 15th century). Karel Sabina (1813-77) was, among other things, a writer, poet, playwright, journalist and politician. Despite growing up Continue reading
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Prague 3, day 78: Chelčického
Originally published on Twitter on 10 July 2022. Chelčického was built in 1885. Petr Chelčický (1379-1460-ish) was most likely a pseudonym for Petr Záhorka, born in the Chelčice region (in South Bohemia). He was a writer, translator and theologian, one of the most important figures of the Czech Reformation. He didn’t have a university education, Continue reading
What's in a Prague street name 