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Nerudova Street

Nerudova is a street in the Lesser Town of Prague. It climbs a steep slope from Lesser Town Square towards Prague Castle and continues as Úvoz.[1] The street lies on the Royal Route.[1]*

History and names

Nerudova was the main east–west street of the Lesser Town. It started at the bridge tower by Charles Bridge and ended at the Strahov Gate, which stood halfway along today's street until 1711.[1] The Lesser Town was damaged by the Hussite wars in 1420 and by the fire of Hradčany and the Lesser Town in 1541.[1] From the 14th to the 17th century the upper part of the street was called Na dláždění and the lower part Strahovská. From the 17th to the 19th century it was known as Sparrengasse, in Czech Krokevní, after the rafters laid in the roadway on the steep section. The name Ostruhová (Spur Street) was also used.[1] It has borne its present name since 1895 in honour of the poet and writer Jan Neruda (1834–1891).[2] Neruda lived in the house U Dvou slunců, No. 233. A memorial plaque has been on the house since 1895.[2][1]

Buildings

The Morzin Palace, No. 256, was built in 1670 for Count Václav Morzin and rebuilt in 1713–1714 to plans by Jan Blažej Santini Aichel. The balcony is supported by statues of Moors by Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff. The palace houses the Embassy of Romania.[2] Opposite stands the Thun-Hohenstein Palace, No. 214, originally the Kolowrat Palace, whose portal was made with the participation of Matthias Bernhard Braun. It is used by the Italian Embassy.[2][1] The Church of Our Lady of the Angels and St Cajetan was built by the former Strahov Gate. In the refectory of the adjoining monastery a Czech theatre performed. Its first public performance took place on 22 February 1835 and its leading figure was Josef Kajetán Tyl.[2] House signs have survived on the houses of the street, for example At the Red Eagle, At the Two Suns, At the Green Crayfish, At the Three Fiddles, At the Golden Horseshoe and At the White Swan.[1]

Sources

  1. Městská část Praha 1
  2. Magistrát hl. m. Prahy (Praha virtuální)

* The sources are collected and the preliminary text of this entry is drafted with artificial intelligence, on the instruction of the editorial staff; the entry has not yet been verified by an editor — report a mistake.