Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SMÍCHOV, ON THE WEST BANK
HISTORIC HOUSE SYMBOLS
One of the most appealing features of Prague's old residences is that they often retain their
old
house symbols
, carved into the gables, on hanging wooden signs or inscribed on the
facade. The system originated in medieval times and still survives today, especially on
pubs, restaurants and hotels.
Some signs were deliberately chosen to draw custom to the business of the house, like
U zeleného hroznu
(The Green Bunch of Grapes), a wine shop in the Malá Strana; oth-
ers, like
U železných dveří
(The Iron Door), simply referred to a distinguishing feature of
the house, often long since disappeared. Stone clocks, white Indians, golden tigers and tri-
os of black eagles are harder to explain, but were probably just thought up by the owners
of various long-since defunct establishments as memorable symbols for a largely illiterate
populace.
In the 1770s, the imperial authorities introduced a numerical system, with each house in
the city entered onto a register according to a strict chronology. Later, however, the con-
ventional system of progressive street numbering was introduced, so don't be surprised if
seventeenth-century pubs like
U medvídků
(
The Little Bears
) have two numbers in addi-
tion to a house sign, in this case nos. 7 and 345. The former, Habsburg, number is written
on a red background; the latter, modern, number on blue.
