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Prague 1, day 105: Divadelní
Originally published on X on 6 January 2024. In 1845, František Palacký (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/31/prague-2-day-145-palackeho-namesti/) submitted a request to the Bohemian Diet (i.e. the Czech Parliament) for the construction and management of an independent Czech theatre. This was granted in the same year, but it wasn’t until 1851 that a board was set up for the project, Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 104: Náměstí Václava Havla
Originally published on X on 5 January 2024. Václav Havel was born in 1936 in Prague. His family was well-off and well-known: his grandfather Vácslav (1861-1921) had built Lucerna, while his father (also Václav; 1897-1979) had created Barrandov Terraces. Meanwhile, his maternal grandfather, Hugo Vavrečka (1880-1952), had been a renowned war correspondent, and was also Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 103: Voršilská
Originally published on X on 4 January 2023. Svatá Voršila is known to English-speakers as Saint Ursula; we don’t know much about her other than that, in 383 AD, she, along with a group of virgins, was beheaded by the Huns in Cologne, where the main church devoted to her is now located. We also Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 102: Mikulandská
Originally published on X on 3 January 2024. When this street was built in the 14th century, it was named Pasířská, because it was inhabited by pasíři – craftsmen making belts from metal, i.e. girdlers. When they moved to another nearby street – which we’re getting to soon-ish – they were replaced by makers of Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 101: Černá
Originally published on X on 2 January 2024. Until the 1700s, this was known as V Opatovicích (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/13/prague-1-day-99-opatovicka/), but has been known by its current name since (‘Černá’ means ‘black’). While it’s been suggested that there may have been a Mr Černý who owned property here, the most likely explanation is because the street Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 100: Křemencova
Originally published on X on 1 January 2024. Around 1400, one of the houses on this street was owned by a Velík Křemenec, whose name literally translates as ‘Big Quartzite’, which is incredible. We don’t know much about him other than that he was wealthy, the house he owned was named Na Křemenci, and he Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 99: Opatovická
Originally published on X on 31 December 2023. In 1115, Vladislav I, Duke of Bohemia, had a monastery built in Kladruby, near Tachov (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2022/11/19/prague-3-day-17-tachovske-namesti/); he would be buried there when he died a decade later. He also decreed that a village be created here, in the monastery’s honour. The village was named Opatovice (an opat Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 98: V Jirchářích
Originally published on X on 30 December 2023. Remember a tanner and his family being brought up yesterday (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/13/prague-1-day-97-pstrossova/)? Well, we’re still on this topic. Jircha is tanned leather, derived from the Latin ‘hircus’, which is a buck or male goat. So a jirchář is a tanner, but is not exactly as the same as Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 97: Pštrossova
Originally published on X on 29 December 2023. František Václav Pštross was born on this street in 1823; his father, also called František, was a local politician and owned a tannery, which František Junior joined in 1842. Not content with only following in some of his father’s footsteps, he was elected to Prague City Council Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 96: Ostrovní
Originally published on X on 25 December 2023. We can keep this nice and simple: an ‘ostrov’ is an island, and this street leads towards the one I wrote about yesterday: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/13/prague-1-day-95-slovansky-ostrov-slavonic-island/ I’m quite glad this one is brief, because I’m currently on the larger of the two britských ostrovů, where we celebrate Christmas a Continue reading
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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 92: Vojtěšská
Originally published on X on 21 December 2023. Vojtěch was born around 956 in Libice nad Cidlinou, near Nymburk, into the powerful Slavník dynasty (the other powerful family of the time being the Přemyslids). Studying in Magdeburg for about ten years, he took the name ‘Adalbert’ upon his confirmation and was ordained as the second 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 90: Most Legií (Legion Bridge)
Originally published on X on 19 December 2023. Between 1839 and 1841, a chain bridge was built here – at the time, it was the second bridge across the Vltava (after Charles). Pretty incredible 1840 painting (by Karel Würbs) of its construction below. It was called the Emperor Francis I Bridge, after the man you 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 88: Šeříková
Originally published on X on 5 December 2023. A šeřík is a lilac tree. Lilac trees originated in south-east Europe and Asia Minor, but are often grown in the Czech Republic for ornamental purposes. The technical word for lilac – ‘Syringa’ – comes from the Greek for ‘pipe’; ‘lilac’ comes from the French ‘lila’, denoting Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 87: Vítězná
Originally published on X on 4 December 2023. Anyone who hoped, after yesterday’s thread, that we’d be avoiding the big topics today may wish to stop reading now – a vítěz / vítězka is a winner, and a vítězství is a victory. And we’re talking 1918 here, so let’s do a quick rundown (which doesn’t Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 86: Alej obětí totality (‘Alley of the victims of totalitarianism’)
Originally published on X on 3 December 2023. I think the best way to start this one is to take a look at two of the plaques on the ground. Between 1948 and 1989, 205,486 people were convicted. 248 were executed, and a further 4,500 died in prison. 327 people died trying to cross Czechoslovakia’s Continue reading
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What's in a Prague street name 