This street is called Nerudova because from 1831-1894 the famous Czech writer and journalist Jan Neruda lived on it (not to be confused with the Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda). Jan was born in the house "At the Two Suns," which now bears a memorial emblem depicting a young man holding a shield and a Masonic triangle. The unusual name "At the Two Suns" presumably appeared because the emblem with one sun was already taken, so the owner had to change either the color or the number of suns. He chose the second option.
After his father's death, Jan moved to another house on the same street - "At the Three Black Eagles." It is now home to the "Neruda" hotel. Nearby is the house "At the White Swan," which outwardly looks very much like a palace. The building was constructed in the Baroque style almost 300 years ago, the entrance is blocked by massive wrought-iron doors, and above them is an oval emblem with a swan in the middle.
And in the house "At the Red Lion" once lived the artist Petr Brandl, who painted canvases for the Church of St. Margaret and the Church of St. James. After the building was reconstructed at the end of the 20th century, a hotel of the same name was opened here.
Almost every house on Nerudova Street has its own history and its own special character, so strolling along it is a real pleasure.
