Česká Street and Leoš Janáček

Česká Street holds many other places related to Janáček

Known as Rudolfsgasse before 1918, this street served as a promenade for the Czech citizens of Brno. Janáček liked to visit several local cafés and pubs on this street, and it is still possible to see two of them: Stopkova plzeňská pivnice (Stopka’s Pilsner Pub) and the former U Polenků restaurant (Česká 29). Both were popular places with local Czech citizens, with artists, students, and journalists, and with members of the Czech National Assembly who met there. U Polenků was where Janáček celebrated the successful premiere of the opera Příhody lišky Bystroušky (The Cunning Little Vixen) in autumn 1924.

The Lidové noviny newspaper had its headquarters in Česká Street. Janáček was one of its subscribers, and he also published a number of columns.

Since 1883, the street has housed a bookshop, renamed Barvič & Novotný at the beginning of the 20th century. For a long time, it was the only Czech bookshop in Brno, and Janáček would buy his books and sheet music there. Its founder, Joža Barvič, shared Janáček’s enthusiasm for Russian culture and they were both members of the Russian Circle.