Discover the streets of Luhačovice

Stručná odpověď

Luhačovice's streets, squares, and districts each carry unique historical stories that most residents and visitors overlook daily. A new article series "Discover the Streets of Luhačovice" explores the origins and meanings behind local place names, revealing the town's layered history through its urban geography.

Street names, squares, and districts are an integral part of every town. Although many of us walk through these spaces daily, we often don’t realise their history and origins. Each name carries its own story.

In this series of articles “Discover the Streets of Luhačovice”, we’ll explore the fascinating world of how street, square, and district names came to be. We’ll examine historical connections, cultural influences, and personalities who contributed to these namings.

Join us on this interesting journey into the world of street, square, and district names, and discover how these names originated.

Set off on a journey into the past and present of our streets through their names. Do you know what lies behind the name of your favourite street? Join our reading and find out more!

Hradisko Street:

The street brings the road from Kladná Žilín and Bojkovice into Luhačovice. It leads to Masarykova Street at the castle. Our Hotel Vincent stands on this street.

According to local memories, the name Hradišťko was also used. The naming to Hradisko was probably officially changed in the office of the Luhačovice estate. Around Luhačovice and elsewhere in Moravia, local place names alternate – Hradiště, Hradisko, Hradišťko. The designation “hradisko” was used for a place where originally stood a castle, fort, fortress, or an enclosed place, for example a piece of meadow for grazing. (Kolařík, 2010, p.17)

Masarykova Street:

The street runs through the centre of Luhačovice from the castle through 28 October Square, above the spa towards Horní Lhota and Zlín. It’s the main traffic artery through the town.

It’s named in honour of the first President of Czechoslovakia, T.G. Masaryk, who visited Luhačovice in April 1922. The street name is in the form of a possessive adjective derived from the surname Masaryk. The surname originated from the word “masár”, which in the Hodonín and Břeclav regions, and in Slovakia, means “butcher”. The names Masaryk – Masařík originally designated either a butcher with a smaller business, or a name for a tradesman’s son. (Kolařík, 2010, p. 20)

Branka Street:

The street leads into Masarykova Street, but its development extends far into the hillside, beyond which today lie fields, meadows, and forest.

The street was named after a “branka” – a “small gate”. This was the name for places where traces of a trade route were preserved, but also places where there was a gate or gates leading from the village to the fields, pastures, and forests. (Kolařík, 2010, p. 16)

Krátká Street:

The street is located on the left bank of the Šťávnice River near the town library. It connects Masarykova Street with Branka Street.

The name is in adjective form. The naming was motivated by a characteristic of the locality – its measure of length. The street is among the shortest streets in the town. (Kolařík, 2010, p. 19)

Pod Léštím Street:

It leads into Masarykova Street at our coffee roastery. Its development ends in the hills and greenery of the Lužná mountain belt. It runs parallel to Lužná and Rumunská streets.

The name is formed by a prepositional phrase and derived from the word “léští” (dialectally “léščí”) – from the Old Czech word “léska”, “léščie” and the adjective “léščný”, “leskový” – “hazel, hazel bushes”. The naming comes from the original field and forest tract names from the time before the expansion of the town’s building area. (Kolařík, 2010, p. 22)

In conclusion of this article, we’ve looked at the origins of some street names. Street names are like small puzzle pieces that form the mosaic of every town. But this is only the beginning of our journey into the world of street names.

So prepare for the next instalments, where we’ll explore more street, district, and square names. Join us to uncover the mysteries behind the names you walk past daily, and discover the stories hidden behind each individual designation.

Photo: Mr Jan Dostál

Josef Kolařík, 2010, Luhačovický uličník, 1st edition, Staré Město: Trifid KP. ISBN: 978-80-254-8629-0

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Discover the streets of Luhačovice

Discover the Streets of Luhačovice

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