The name “Mostecká” appeared for this street in 1911; earlier it was called “To the Bridge” Street. The reason is that it begins at Charles Bridge and ends at Malostranské Square. Since ancient times, Mostecká Street was considered the busiest in Prague, as the Royal Route passed along it. Today many tourists follow the monarchs’ route with a mandatory visit to this stretch, so the street is still full of people to this day.
But many people come here for the souvenirs. Along the street, like beads on a string, charming cozy little shops selling souvenirs, gifts, and sweets are strung one after another. Here you can find the toys loved by the Czechs — marionettes, including ones with the faces of show-business stars and famous politicians. If someone has ever wanted, at least once in their life, to pull the strings of the president of the world’s most powerful military power, that is entirely possible in Prague on Mostecká Street :)
One more curious fact: in the Czech Republic, houses began to be numbered only from 1770; before that, they were simply marked with drawings or sculptures. If someone needed to find an address, they would ask, “How do I get to the ‘House by the Cat’?” And then passersby would explain where and when to turn. That is why, in addition to numbers 1, 2, 3, etc., on Mostecká Street you can still see figures of rabbits, bears, and even ostriches on the buildings.
