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Prague 1, day 78: Nebovidská
Originally published on X on 25 November 2023. Malá Strana was founded as a royal town in 1257, but the surrounding area had been inhabited for centuries. And that surrounding area had several villages, including, among others, Újezd and Nebovidy, the latter of which was located around where the street is now. A nebovid would… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 77: Harantova
Originally published on X on 24 November 2023. Kryštof Harant z Polžice a Bezdružice was born in Klenová, now in Plzeň Region, in 1564. He grew up in North Tyrol, and worked as a courtier for Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria. Returning to Bohemia in 1584, he tried to get a job at the court… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 76: Prokopská
Originally published on X on 23 November 2023. Prokop was born around the year 1000 in Chotouň, near Kouřim (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/03/08/prague-3-day-170-kourimska/) in Kolín District. He worked as a priest, but then left the profession and became a hermit. Despite his reclusive life, he became known to Oldřich, Prince of Bohemia (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/20/prague-2-day-80-oldrichova/). How do we know this?… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 75: Lázeňská
Originally published on X on 22 November 2023. A lázeň is a bath or a spa. You may know of Mariánské Lázně in western Bohemia, or, a bit closer to home, Karlovy Lázně, formerly a spa but now the biggest nightclub in Central Europe. And, from 1345, there was at least one bath house here.… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 74: Maltézské náměstí
Originally published on X on 21 November 2023. For brief bits and pieces about the Knights of Malta in the Czech Lands, see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/10/prague-1-day-71-velkoprevorske-namesti/. The Knights Hospitaller arrived in Bohemia in the 12th century (when their headquarters were still in Jerusalem). The Grand Priory was created in 1626, and they moved into their palace here… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 73: Nosticova
Originally published on X on 20 November 2023. The Nostitz / Nostic family were first mentioned in 1280, originating in Upper Lusatia (now in Germany – take a look at https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/02/14/prague-2-day-28-luzicka/ for a primer). Around 1600, the family started to make a career at the Bohemian court; their conversion to Catholicism would be useful to… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 72: U Sovových mlýnů
Originally published on X on 19 November 2023. As has been covered a few times in the last few days, the island of Kampa came into being when a canal, Čertovka, was created, aiming to increase the water supply for the mills round here: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/09/prague-1-day-69-na-kampe/. In Renaissance times, there was a miller called Václav Sova… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 71: Velkopřevorské náměstí
Originally published on X on 18 November 2023. A převor is a prior – a word whose meaning differs depending on what kind of monastery they’re in. Among Dominicans, Augustinians, Brothers of Mercy and other Catholic orders, a prior is any monastic superior. Among Premonstratensians, Benedictines and Cistercians, however, a prior would be directly subordinate… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 70: Hroznová
Originally published on X on 16 November 2023. Hrozny are ‘grapes’, not to be confused with hrozný, which means ‘awful’. And hroznová is the feminine adjective from hrozny, meaning that this is Grape Street. We’re not in a vineyard here – though come to Kampa during one of its French markets and you’d be forgiven… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 69: Na Kampě
Originally published on X on 15 November 2023. he island now known as Kampa was first mentioned in writing in 1169, and it became an island as a result of the creation of this canal: https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/09/prague-1-day-67-certovka/ However, until the 18th century, people would merely refer to the island as ostrov, meaning, yes, ‘island’. (I can’t… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 68: Karlův most (Charles Bridge)
Originally published on X on 13 and 14 November 2023 (there was quite a lot to get through, as you’ll see). No street sign, but I could hardly get away with not writing a post about this one. In 1172, Prague got its first stone bridge, built by King Vladislav II and named Juditin Most… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 67: Čertovka
Originally published on X on 12 November 2023. Čertovka may get a street sign – but it’s actually a canal which separates Kampa Island from the rest of Malá Strana. Kampa (which is getting a post of its own soon) was created in the 12th century, when the Knights of Malta (ditto) ordered the building… Continue reading
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Prague 1, day 66: Saská
Originally published on X on 11 November 2023. No, we’re not escaping Germany just yet, as we’re close to both https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/08/prague-1-day-58-u-luzickeho-seminare/ and https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/09/prague-1-day-65-misenska/. And saská is the adjective from Sasko, AKA Saxony. For those not living nearby, Saxony is the German state on the north-west border of the Czech Republic. You may have been to… Continue reading
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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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What's in a Prague street name 