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Prague 1, day 65: Míšeňská
Originally published on X on 10 November 2023. In 928, Henry the Fowler (German: Heinrich der Vogler; Czech: Jindřich I. Ptáčník), Duke of Saxony and King of East Francia, who was fighting the Glomatians, a Slavic tribe, built a fortress to secure Saxony’s border, and called it Misni, after the nearby stream. In the following Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 64: Dražického
Originally published on X on 9 November 2023. For info on the lack of street sign, read on. For info on Jan z Dražic, read https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/09/prague-1-day-63-drazickeho-namesti/. When I went here to take pics, it wasn’t entirely clear where Dražického: The Square ends and Dražického: The Street begins, not helped by the fact that the latter Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 63: Dražického náměstí
Originally published on X on 8 November 2023. Jan IV. z Dražic was born into a noble family around 1260. Jan II (died 1236) and Jan III (died 1278) were bishops in Prague, so you might already have guessed what Jan IV ultimately became. After his investiture by King Wenceslas II, he was ordained as Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 62: Mostecká
Originally published on X on 7 November 2023. A ‘most’ is a bridge. And this street connects a very, very well-known one with Malostranské náměstí (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-38-malostranske-namesti/). This is the Malá Strana Bridge Tower at the end of the street, although your eye may be drawn more to the huge crowds. Mostecká connects Charles Bridge and Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 61: Josefská
Originally published on X on 6 November 2023. You’ll know who St Joseph was. The kid in his arms ended up being a pretty big deal too. In 1655, the Discalced Carmelites, as founded by St Theresa of Avila, were called to Prague by Ferdinand III (a quick lesson about the Carmelites is here: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-39-karmelitska/). Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 60: Letenská
Originally published on X on 5 November 2023. Letná, originally called Leteň, or Letná pole (Summer Fields), was originally an area of vineyards and gardens, first mentioned in writing in 1261, when Přemysl Otakar II, who had just been crowned, held a banquet there. A future king, Sigismund of Luxembourg / Zikmund Lucemburský, would use Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 59: Cihelná
Originally published on 4 November 2023. Cihelná with an á is the feminine adjective from cihelna without an á, meaning ‘brickworks’. Once upon a time, there were two tanneries here, but, in 1781, František Antonín Linhart Herget, who had purchased them, had a Baroque brickyard built in their place. A later owner, Josef Zobel, had Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 58: U Lužického semináře
Originally published on X on 3 November 2023. Before I get onto the seminar itself, here’s a (not terribly brief) guide to who would qualify as lužický: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/02/14/prague-2-day-28-luzicka/ If you don’t want to read that: Sorbs are a Slavic ethnic group who currently live in Lusatia, which is in Saxony and Brandenburg in Germany. They Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 57: Mánesův most
Originally published on X on 2 November 2023. I’m going to be mildly lazy now and point you towards Vinohrady: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/01/18/prague-2-day-11-manesova/ The bridge was meant to replace Rudolf’s Footbridge (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-56-u-zelezne-lavky/), and was meant to be named after him too. However, when it opened in March 1914, it was called the Archduke Franz Ferdinand Bridge, for Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 56: U Železné lávky
Originally published on X on 1 November 2023. Street name translates as ‘By the Iron Bridge’. Before 1868, Prague only had two bridges across the Vltava. Other than the very famous one which is still there, there was the Emperor Francis I Bridge, which isn’t. It was built in 1841, and replaced in 1898 (there’ll Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 55: U Plovárny
Originally published on X on 31 October 2023. A plovárna is an outdoor swimming pool, or, for Brits of a certain age, a lido. Until the 1780s, this was the site of a Jesuit church and its garden, inevitably closed down as a result of Josef II’s reforms. Around 1810, one Arnošt z Pfuolu founded an 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 1, day 53: Nábřeží Edvarda Beneše
Originally published on X on 29 October 2023. Eduard Beneš was born as the tenth of ten children in Kožlany, near Plzeň, in 1884. He attended the gymnasium in Vinohrady (on Londýnská – https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/03/03/prague-2-day-41-londynska/), then studying at Prague University, followed by the Sorbonne, Berlin and Dijon. In Paris, he became engaged to Anna (later Hana) Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 51: Klárov
Originally published on X on 27 October 2023. Alois Klar (no á) was born in Úštěk in 1763. He went to school in Litoměřice, and then went to Prague to study languages, graduating in 1782. Four years after that, he became a professor back in Litoměřice, before returning to Prague University after being appointed professor Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 50: Staré zámecké schody
Originally published on X on 26 October 2023. These supposed ‘old castle steps’ have been around since the 17th century. Which, sure, makes them old, but doesn’t make them older than the supposedly ‘new’ castle steps discussed on https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-40-zamecke-schody/. They were given a reconstruction in 1835-7, and have had their current name since then. They’re Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 49: Na Opyši
Originally published on X on 25 October 2023. An opyš is ‘a narrow ridge rising from a flat hill into a valley’. It’s not entirely clear how the word came about; there are those who believe that the word originally meant ‘tail’ (ocas in modern Czech). Anyway, Opyš has become the name given to the Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 48: Pod Bruskou
Originally published on X on 24 October 2023. In the Middle Ages, there was a path here, known as ‘Myší díra’ (Mouse hole) due to its winding nature. In the 1600s, a certain Albrecht z Valdštejna (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-46-valdstejnske-namesti/) had the path converted into a proper road, capable of being used by heavy goods vehicles. The name Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 47: Valdštejnská
Originally published on X on 23 October 2023. You can read the long, devious, side-swapping story of Albrecht z Valdštejna here: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-46-valdstejnske-namesti/. But I’m also going to suggest that you take a look at the story of Johannes Kepler: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-19-keplerova/. Because, in 1608, a young Valdštejn was in Prague and, as was customary for anyone Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 46: Valdštejnské náměstí
Originally published on X on 22 October 2023. Albrecht Václav Eusebius z Valdštejna – usually called Albrecht von Wallenstein in English texts – was born in the Heřmanice Fortress, near Jaroměř, in 1583. His father was a nobleman who had fallen on hard times, and, by the age of eleven, Albrecht had become an orphan Continue reading
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What's in a Prague street name 