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Prague 4, day 13: Sezimova
Sezimova was built in 1900. Sezima z Vrtby was born into the noble Vrtba family in 1578. Starting his career in the service of the Rožmberks, another major noble family of the time, he served as hetman of the Vltava region on three occasions between 1606 and 1611. Sensing the way the tide was turning… 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 9: Mečislavova
Mečislavova was built in 1892. Mečislav is more commonly known as Měšek in Czech; in English, we use his Polish name, Mieszko. That was long thought to be a diminutive form of Mieczysław – still a common name in Poland – but many modern historians disagree. Mieszko was born… at some point (take your pick… 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 7: Na Zámecké
Na Zámecké was built in 1900. ‘Zámecký’ is the adjective deriving from ‘zámek’ – a castle. In 1627, Sezima z Vrtby, a nobleman, purchased the then-village of Horní (Upper) Nusle. Around 1649, he had a manor house built where náměstí Bratří Synků is now. His grandson, Jan Josef z Vrtby (1669-1734), not only united Horní… 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 5: Na Ostrůvku
Na Ostrůvku was built in 1906. An ‘ostrůvek’ is an island, but a small one – so you might wish to call it an islet (relatedly, a ‘dopravní ostrůvek’ is a traffic island). As you can see from the map above, we’re nowhere near the Vltava. However, we are very close to (as in ‘right… Continue reading
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Prague 4, day 4: Mužíkova
Another super-new street, only this time with an adequate picture of the street sign. Progress. Jaroslav Mužík was born in Nové Strašecí, near Rakovník, in 1858, but moved to Nusle shortly after. At school, one of his teachers was Petr Mužák, husband of the writer Karolina Světlá (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/28/prague-1-day-153-karoliny-svetle/). He then went to university in Vienna.… 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 285: Těšnovský tunel
Originally published on 13 July 2024. And today, we come to the end of the road(s). For the story of the name Těšnov, see yesterday: TESNOV Commissioned in 1980, the 360-metre excavated road tunnel connects Nábřeží Ludvíka Svobody (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/10/prague-1-day-284-tesnov/) with Rohanské nábřeží (on the other side, and therefore in Prague 8). It’s near the Ministries… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 284: Těšnov
Originally publishe3d on X on 12 July 2024. The first written mention of Těšnov, a settlement just outside the New Town walls, and only consisting of a few guardhouses, dates from 1437. (Photo of the Pořící gate before its destruction in 1875) You might remember that Pořící – immediately to the west – was largely… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 283: Stárkova
Originally published on X on 11 July 2024. Antonín Stárek was born in 1841. We don’t know much else about him, but we do know he worked as a miller – which would explain why he has a street named after him round here (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/10/prague-1-day-258-nove-mlyny/). We also know that he was a New Town councillor… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 282: Půtova
Originally published on X on 10 June 2024. Once upon a time, there was a street called U hradeb na Poříčí. This was partly because it was located near the New Town hradby, AKA fortifications: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/09/prague-1-day-251-hradebni/. And partly because this street is located in the former settlement of Poříčí: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/10/prague-1-day-272-na-porici/. In the mid-1400s, there was… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 281: Helmova
Originally published on X on 9 July 2024. Some of the mills which used to be here – and are taking up quite a large chunk of recent threads – were owned by the Helm family, one of the richest in the New Town. Their name is first mentioned in connection with the mills in… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 280: Lodní mlýny
Originally published on X on 8 July 2024. That translates as ‘ship mills’, as does the name the street had in the 14th century (Lodecké mlyny). The ship mills have already been covered here, just a few metres away: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/11/10/prague-1-day-263-lodecka/. There were both upper and lower ship mills around here, and the street was named… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 279: Holbova
Originally published on X on 7 July 2024. This is the closest you’re getting, and if you were there, you’d understand. Back in the 15th century, there was a royal spa here. It was owned by a Jakub Holba, who I can’t find any more information about. Between then and its current status as what… Continue reading
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What's in a Prague street name 