Map of Austria-Hungary in 1914. The itinerary of Švejk took place entirely within the borders of the Dual Monarchy.
"The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk" is a novel which contains a wealth of geographical references - either directly through the plot, in dialogues or in the authors own observations. Jaroslav Hašek was himself unusually well travelled and had a photographic memory of geographical (and other) details. It is evident that he put great emphasis on this: 8 of the 27 chapter headlines in Švejk contain place names. In addition to the geographical names, he often refers to public houses and other institutions, which in most cases, even today, can be located.
This web page will in due course contain a full overview of all the geographical references in the novel; from Prague in the introduction to Klimontów in the unfinished Book Four. Countries, cities, towns, villages, mountains, oceans, lakes, rivers, islands, buildings, taverns and any institution that can be located geographically, are included. The list is sorted according to the order in which the names appear through the novel. The chapter headlines are from Zenny K. Sadlon's recent translation and will in most cases differ from Cecil Parrott's version from 1973. Please note that close to 150 entries have yet to be added.
- The facts are mainly taken from Internet sources but cross-verified when possible
- The quotes in Czech are copied from the online version of Švejk provided by Jaroslav Šerák and contain links to the relevant chapter
- The toolbar has links for direct access to Wikipedia, Google maps, Google search, Jaroslav Šerák and Švejk online
Note that the descriptions up to and including Book Two, Chapter One, mainly cover places where the plot actually takes place. From then on, all the descriptions are available, and are gradually being added also to the first part of the novel. For a full overview of place names from Book One, see the Norwegian version.
The names are coloured according to their role in the novel, illustrated by these examples: Sanok as a location where the plot takes place, Dubno mentioned in the narrative, Zagreb as part of a dialogue, and Pakoměřice as mentioned in an anecdote.
The Good Soldier Švejk index of places mentioned in the novel (674)
Show all
I. In the rear
1. The good soldier Švejk acts to intervene in the world war (31)
14. Švejk as military servant to senior lieutenant Lukáš (59)
II. At the front
2. Švejk's budějovická anabasis (74)
3. Švejk's happenings in Királyhida (52)
5. From Bruck on the Leitha toward Sokal (31)
III. The famous thrashing
1. Across Magyaria (44)
2. In Budapest (42)
3. From Hatvan to the borders of Galicia (64)
4. Forward March! (51)
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I. In the rear |
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10. Švejk as a military servant to the field chaplain | |||
 | Karlův most |  | ||||
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Karlův most viewed eastwards towards Staré Město.
Karlův most is the oldest and most famous bridge in Prague and the second oldest bridge in the Czech Republic after the one in Písek. It connects the Malá Strana and Staré Město. As a landmark and tourist attraction it belongs to the most famous in the country.
Construction was started in 1357 under Charles IV's reign and the bridge is named after him. Around 1700 it was given the shape known today and the barock statues were erected in this period. The bridge has repeatedly been threatened by high water levels but escaped the great flood of 2002 without damage, but in 1890 it was partly destroyed.
Role in the novel
Karlův most is part of the plot in a single brief sentence when Švejk is escorted to field chaplain Otto Katz: "they went across the Charles Bridge in absolute silence". The bridge has previously been mentioned in [I.4] where Švejk during his stay in the madhouse mentions some baths near the bridge.
Quote from the novel
Šli přes Karlův most za naprostého mlčení. V Karlově ulici promluvil opět malý tlustý na Švejka: „Nevíš, proč tě vedem k polnímu kurátovi?“ ... read more
Also written:Karlsbrücke de Charles Bridge en Karlsbrua no
| Karlova ulice | | ||||
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Karlova ulice is a street in Staré Město (Old Town) in Prague. It leads from Karlův most to Staroměstské náměstí.
Role in the novel
Karlova ulice is the scene of the plot as Švejk is led through Karlova ulice on the way to Field Chaplain Otto Katz in Karlín. The guards ask Švejk why they were taking him to the chaplain. "Because I'm going to be hanged tomorrow", was the answer. Thus he got their sympathy and they ended up in merry company in Kuklík.
Quote from the novel
Šli přes Karlův most za naprostého mlčení. V Karlově ulici promluvil opět malý tlustý na Švejka: „Nevíš, proč tě vedem k polnímu kurátovi?“ „Ke zpovědi,“ řekl ledabyle Švejk, „zítra mě budou věšet. To se vždycky tak dělá a říká se tomu duchovní outěcha.“ ... read more
Also written:Karlstrasse de
| Josefov | | ||||
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Josefov is a fortress town in East Bohemia, near the border with Poland. It is now part of Jaroměř.
Role in the novel
Josefov is mentioned by Švejk's fat and optimistic escort, on the way to Otto Katz. He came from the surrounding area.
Quote from the novel
„Asis se narodil na nešťastné planetě,“ znalecky a se soucitem poznamenal malinký, „u nás v Jasenné u Josefova ještě za pruský války pověsili také tak jednoho. Přišli pro něho, nic mu neřekli a v Josefově ho pověsili.“ ... read more
Also written:Josefstadt de
| Jasenná | | ||||
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Jasenná is a village in East Bohemia. It is located 8 km south east of Jaroměř in the Náchod district.
Role in the novel
Jasenná was the home village of the fat and optimistic guard who escorted Švejk to Otto Katz.
Quote from the novel
„Asis se narodil na nešťastné planetě,“ znalecky a se soucitem poznamenal malinký, „u nás v Jasenné u Josefova ještě za pruský války pověsili také tak jednoho. Přišli pro něho, nic mu neřekli a v Josefově ho pověsili.“ ... read more
Also written:Jasena de
| Prussia | | |||
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Prussia was until 1947 a geographical and political unit, and had been a separate kingdom from 1701 til 1871. Prussia was the leading state in Germany until 1945. The area is today split between Germany, Poland and Russia. The capital Berlin.
The "Prussian War", more commonly known as the German war, was a month-long armed conflict between Prussia and Italy on one side and Austria and their mainly south German allies on the other. The war took place in 1866 and ended quickly with Prussian victory. The deciding battle was fought by Hradec Králové (Königgrätz) on July 3 1866. The outcome had wide-reaching political repercussions in Austria; Hungary exploited the defeat to demand parity within the monarchy, thus the war led directly to the creation of Austria-Hungary as a political unit.
Role in the novel
Prussia is mentioned in the novel through the term the "Prussian War", a colloquial term for the so-called German war of 1866.
Quote from the novel
„Asis se narodil na nešťastné planetě,“ znalecky a se soucitem poznamenal malinký, „u nás v Jasenné u Josefova ještě za pruský války pověsili také tak jednoho. Přišli pro něho, nic mu neřekli a v Josefově ho pověsili.“ ... read more
Also written:Prusko cz Preußen de
| Královéhradecko | | ||||
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Hradec Králové
Královéhradecko is an administrative region in Bohemia that borders Poland. It has not been confirmed if the region had the same geographical extent in 1914 as today. It is named after the main city of Hradec Králové, one of the 10 most populous cities in the Czech Republic.
The city is in history best known for the battle between Austria og Prussia i 1866, abroad known as the battle of Königgrätz. The Austrian defeat was exploited by Hungary to demand parity within the Habsburg monarchy. This so-called "Ausgleich" led to the creation of Austria-Hungary in 1867.
Role in the novel
Královéhradecko is the home region of the two soldiers who escorted Švejk from Hradčany to Otto Katz.
Quote from the novel
Zakouřili si všichni a průvodčí počali sdělovat jemu o svých rodinách na Královéhradecku, o ženách, dětech, o kousku políčka, o jedné krávě. ... read more
Also written:Region Königgrätz de
| Na Kuklíku | | |||||
| Petrské nám. 1130/6, Praha II-Vilém Srp [1910] | |||||||
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Na Kuklíku was a restaurant in Prague at Petrské náměstí. The place is also mentioned in a story by E.E. Kisch: Zitaten vom Montmartre. It appears to have been a rough place. In 1910 Vilém Srp was listed as the owner, which seems to contradict the statements in the novel. It is however of interest to note that a postcard from 1906 reveals that the place was also called U Serabono. See Serabona. The building was demolished in 1928.
Source: Jaroslav Šerák, M. Smreček
Role in the novel
Na Kuklíku was the tavern where Švejk and his guards had a long and happy pause before they, under the influence, continued to feldkurát Otto Katz in Karlín. A certain Serabona is said to be the landlord.
Quote from the novel
„Pojďme na Kuklík,“ vybízel Švejk, „kvéry si dáte do kuchyně, hostinský Serabona je Sokol, toho se nemusíte bát. Hrajou tam na housle a na harmoniku,“ pokračoval Švejk, „a chodějí tam pouliční holky a různá jiná dobrá společnost, která nesmí do Represenťáku.“ Čahoun s malým podívali se ještě jednou na sebe a pak řekl čahoun: „Tak tam půjdem, do Karlína je ještě daleko.“ Po cestě jim Švejk vypravoval různé anekdoty a v dobré náladě vstoupili na „Kuklík“ a udělali to tak, jak Švejk radil. Ručnice uschovali v kuchyni a šli do lokálu, kde housle a harmonika naplňovaly místnost zvuky oblíbené písně "Na Pankráci". ... read more
| Reprezenťák | | ||||
| Josefské nám. 1090/4, Praha I | ||||||
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Reprezenťák is a concert hall and entertainment complex in Prague, now officially called Obecní dům. It was originally known as Reprezentační dům, hence the colloquial term that Švejk uses. It is one of the landmark Art Nouveau buildings in the city. The Czechoslovak declaration of independence was made here on October 28 1918.
Role in the novel
Reprezenťák is mentioned when Švejk tells his escort that Na Kuklíku is a pleasant place where street girl and other good company who are not allowed at Reprezenťák may enter.
Quote from the novel
Hrajou tam na housle a na harmoniku,“ pokračoval Švejk, „a chodějí tam pouliční holky a různá jiná dobrá společnost, která nesmí do Represenťáku.“ ... read more
| U Valšů | | ||||
| ul. Karoliny Světlé 286/22, Praha I-František Materna [1910] | ||||||
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U Valšů, May 2011
From the 1910 address book
U Valšů was a coaching inn in Staré Město, in 1910 owned by František Materna. Today the building is occupied by a theatre and next door is a restaurant and micro-brewery carrying the name Pražský most u Valšů.
U Valšů was the scene of one of Jaroslav Hašek's most famous hoaxes. Václav Menger: in November 1914 he registered as a Russian businessman and promptly got arrested. He got away with five days in prison after claiming the he did it to check how vigilant the security services were. Another version of the story claims that he registered under a name which backwards read "lick my arse".
Radko Pytlík: V listopadu 1914 ruská vojska protrhla haličskou frontu, což pražská veřejnost komentovala fámou, že "v Náchodě se už mluví rusky".Ve společnosti vznikl spor o to, zda noční vrátný v hostinci U Valšů je konfidentem policie. Hašek se okamžitě rozhodl, že se o tom osobně přesvědčí. Ubytoval se v tomto starém zájezdním hostinci v ulici Karolíny Světlé (dříve Poštovská), a do přihlašovací knihy zapsal: "Jaroslav Hašek, kupec, v Kyjevě narozený a z Moskvy přicházející."
Role in the novel
U Valšů is referred to in a conversation at Kuklík where it is claimed that a certain Mařka (Marie) had disappeared to U Valšů with a soldier. The place appears again in a story by Švejk on the train after Moson, chapter 3.1.
Quote from the novel
U hudby hádali se dva, že nějakou Mařku včera lízla patrola. Jeden to viděl na vlastní oči a druhý tvrdil, že šla s nějakým vojákem se vyspat k „Valšům“ do hotelu. ... read more
| Florenc | | ||||
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Florenc is a district of Prague, east of the centre towards Karlín. Today it is a traffic machine and Prague's enormous coach station is also located here. The entire district was inundated during the great flood in august 2002.
Role in the novel
Florenc is where Švejk and his two by now sozzled escort dropped by a café. This was their last stop on the way to Otto Katz. The fat guard sold his silver watch here so he could enjoy himself further.
Quote from the novel
Stavili se za Florencí v malé kavárničce, kde tlustý prodal své stříbrné hodinky, aby se mohli ještě dále veselit. ... read more
| Karlín | | |||
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Karlín is a district of Prague which borders the river Vltava, Florenc, the Vítkov Hill and Palmovka. Ferdinandová kasárna (or Karlínská kasárna) was headquarters of the 91st infantery regiment. Jaroslav Hašek himself reported here on February 15 1915 after his call-up for military service. The barracks and the district are mentioned many times throughout the novel.
Role in the novel
Karlín was the district where Otto Katz lived, more presicely in Královská třída (now Sokolovská třída). Part of the action in [I.10-13] takes place in Karlín, mostly in the flat of Katz. The district and places there are mentioned several times later in the novel through anecdotes.
Quote from the novel
Na úsměvy diváků odpovídal Švejk měkkým úsměvem, teplem a něhou svých dobráckých očí. A tak šli do Karlína, do bytu polního kuráta. První promluvil na Švejka malý tlustý. Byli právě na Malé Straně dole pod podloubím. „Odkud jseš?“ otázal se malý tlustý. „Z Prahy.“ ... read more
Also written:Karolinenthal de
| Královská třída | | ||||
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Královská třída (now Sokolovská) is a long street in Prague that connects Nové Město, Florenc, Karlín, Libeň and Vysočany.
Role in the novel
Královská třída was the street in Karlín where Otto Katz lived. The exact address is not known, but the field chaplain's flat was probably near Ferdinandova kasárna (where he served).
Quote from the novel
Švejk je neustále musel upozorňovat, když šel naproti důstojník nebo nějaká šarže. Po nadlidském úsilí a namáhání podařilo se Švejkovi přivléct je k domu v Královské třídě, kde bydlel polní kurát. ... read more
Also written:Königstraße de
| U Šuhů | | ||||
| Benediktská ul. 722/9, Praha I-Jan Schuha [1913] | ||||||
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Source: Milan Hodík.
U Šuhů was a brothel in Benediktská 9. According to Chytilův úplný adresář království českého (from 1913) it was owned by a certain Jan Schuha which it also presumably was named after. In 1923 Národní politika reported of a fight in front of the house (Jaroslav Šerák). In Cecil Parrott's translation a footnote describes U Šuhů as a "notorious brothel". Some sources claim it was located it in Rybná ulice, just around the corner.
Role in the novel
U Šuhů was a brothel where Otto Katz owed money, and subsequently didn't want to go there. The place is mentioned again several times in Book Three.
Quote from the novel
Polní kurát pustil se vrat a navalil se na Švejka: „Pojďme tedy někam, ale k Šuhům nepůjdu, tam jsem dlužen.“ ... read more
Also written:Schuha de
| Domažlice | | ||||
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Domažlice is a town with around 11,000 inhabitants in Plzeňský kraj in western Bohemia, less than 20 km from the Bavarian border. Jaroslav Hašek visited the town in 1904 on the way back from his wanderings in Bavaria. He stayed with his friend Ladislav Hájek.
Role in the novel
Domažlice is mentioned in a song Katz attempts to sings when i an inebriated state the drunken cab ride back from Helmich. The town is mentioned in several anecdotes later in the novel, for instance when Marek in the story about the editor that invented new animals. One of Hašek's closest friend, Ladislav Hájek, appears in a few of these stories.
Quote from the novel
Vzpomínám na zlaté časy, když mne houpal na klíně, bydleli jsme toho času u Domažlic v Merklíně.... read more
Also written:Taus de
| Merklín | | ||||
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Merklín is a village between Domažlice and Plzeň. At the latest population count (2006) the village had 1,035 inhabitants.
Role in the novel
Merklín is mentioned in a song that Katz sings when inebriated in the horse-drawn cab.
Quote from the novel
Vzpomínám na zlaté časy, když mne houpal na klíně, bydleli jsme toho času u Domažlic v Merklíně.... read more
| Nymburk | | ||||
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Nymburk is a town with around 14,000 inhabitants by the Elbe. It is located 45 km east of Prague and is amongst other things known as the town where Bohumil Hrabal grew up. This was an author who was strongly influenced by Jaroslav Hašek.
Role in the novel
Nymburk appears as Otto Katz, during the cab drive back from senior lieutenant Helmich, talks drunken drivel about Nymburk station.
Quote from the novel
Potom počal považovat drožku za vlak, a nahýbaje se ven, křičel do ulice česky a německy: „Nymburk, přestupovat!“ ... read more
Also written:Nimburg de
| Podmokly | | |||
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Podmokly is the name of four places in the Czech Republic. Here the place in question has a railway station, so it is with little doubt Podmokly by Děčín. The German translation underpins this assumption by using the name Bodenbach.
The town was until 1945 predominantly populated by German-speakers. Podmokly is now part of Děčín and the station has been renamed Děčín hlavní nádraží. It is the last stop before the German border and all trains from Prague to Berlin stop here.
Role in the novel
Podmokly is mentioned by Katz when he wants to jump out of the cab because he thinks he is on a train. It occurs to him that he is in Podmokly instead of Budějovice.
Quote from the novel
Jen jednou učinil pokus se vzbouřit a vyskočit z drožky, prohlásiv, že dál již nepojede, že ví, že místo do Budějovic jedou do Podmoklí. ... read more
Also written:Bodenbach de
| Moravia | | |||
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Moravia is a historic region i Central Europe which is no longer an administrative unit. Together with Bohemia and a small part of Silesia it makes up the Czech Republic. The capital is Brno and the region is named after the river Morava (German March).
Other important cities are Ostrava (industry) and old and beautiful Olomouc which is the Czech arch-bishop's seat and an important centre of education. Olomouc was also the reserve capital of the Habsburgs in periods when Vienna was under threat. During the times of Austria-Hungary Moravia had status as Kronland. In 1910 Czechs made up over 70 per cent of the population with Germans as a substantial minority.
Jaroslav Hašek travelled here far less frequently than in Bohemia but passed by on his trips to Galicia and Slovakia each year from 1900 to 1903, and in 1905 he was in Jihlava. In early August 1903 his stay was involuntarily extended; he got arrested for vagrancy in Frýdek-Místek [4].
Role in the novel
Moravia is first mentioned by Otto Katz when he tells Švejk that he here had drunk the best borovička (juniper spirits) ever. The region enters the discussion a few more times, for instance in Putim in [II.3] and in a conversation with field chaplain Jan Martinec in [IV.2]. Many locations in Moravia are mentioned in the novel; amongst them Brno, Moravská Ostrava, Jihlava, Hodonín, Přerov and Nový Jičín.
Quote from the novel
Taková borovička není ani chutná, nemá ani barvu, pálí v krku. A kdyby byla aspoň pravá, destilát z jalovce, jakou jsem jednou pil na Moravě. Ale tahle borovička byla z nějakého dřevěného lihu a olejů. ... read more
Also written:Morava cz Mähren de
| Bruska | | |||||
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Bruska is part of the district of Dejvice in Prague, but here it is surely referrred to the Bruska barracks which are located down the hill by Klárov, towards Malá Strana.
This was the location of (amongst others) the staff of the k. u. k. Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 and the k.u.k Artillerieregiment Nr. 8. The building was demoslished in 1922 and since 1929 there has been a transformer station on the site.
Role in the novel
Bruska was were Captain Šnábl lived. Švejk was sent here by Katz to borrow money and to buy ořechovka (nut spirits).
Quote from the novel
Kdyby zde byla pravá ořechovka,“ povzdechl, „ta by mně spravila žaludek. Taková ořechovka, jako má pan hejtman Šnábl v Brusce.“ ... read more
| Vršovice kasárna | | |||||
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Vršovice kasárna was a garrison in Vršovice in Prague, home of the 73rd infantery regiment with staff and three battalions. It was used by the military until the 1950's. It now houses the court of four districts.
Role in the novel
Vršovice kasárna was a garrison where Švejk dropped by to borrow money from Lieutenant Mahler. In [I.14] and [I.15], the plot for the most part takes place in Vršovice, without this being stated explicitely. This was when Švejk was a servant for Senior Lieutenant Lukáš.
Quote from the novel
Jestli tam nepochodíte, tak půjdete do Vršovic, do kasáren k nadporučíkovi Mahlerovi. ... read more
| Zbraslav | | ||||
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Zbraslav is an area of Prague, 10 km south of the centre, where the river Berounka flows into Vltava. Zbraslav became part of Prague as late as 1974.
Role in the novel
Zbraslav is mentioned in Otto Katz's drunken drivel in the cab when he thinks Švejk is a lady who owns a villa in Zbraslav.
Quote from the novel
Vy máte vilu na Zbraslavi. A můžete jezdit parníkem po Vltavě. Víte, co je to Vltava?“ ... read more
Also written:Königsaal de
| Steinhof | | |||||
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Was Thalerhof the "k.u.k konzentrationslager Steinhof" that Hašek had in mind?
Steinhof is referred to by the author as a concentration camp, but it is unclear which place he has in mind. Steinhof by Vienna is an unlikely candidate although the name fits. From 1907 it was the location of the largest psychiatric institution in the Dual Monarchy, but there was no concentration camp here during WW1.
A search in Google Maps shows eight different Steinhof in current Austria and it may also have been the name of places in German-speaking Sudetenland in the current Czech Republic. That Hašek meant one of these is rather unlikely, as he consistently used the Czech name for places in the Czech lands. Of the places in Austria there is no obvious candidate. We must therefore assume that his use of the name Steinhof is a mistake, something which is not uncommon when he deals with names from outside the Czech Lands.
Hodík & Landa thinks he may have had Stein an der Donau in mind, there was a prison there. Radko Pytlík mentions Kamenný Dvůr (former Steinhof) by Cheb as a possible candidate but is unsure. Antonín Měšťan writes that there was a concentration camp in Steinhof, but he does not indicate WHERE this Steinhof actually was.
A better approach may be to go through the list of prisoner camps in the Dual Monarchy, assuming that Jaroslav Hašek got it wrong in more than spelling. There were only three internment camps for civilians in the Monarchy at the time, and Mrs Müllerová would surely have been sent to one of these. Thalerhof by Graz is really the only of the three that could make sense. The fact that this was one of the first concentration camps in Europe (from September 1914), the only one in the Austrian part of the empire, and that many Czechs were sent there, supports the theory. Hašek has definitely known about the existence of Steinhof by Vienna due to his knowledge of psychiatric institutions (he spent a few days in one of them himself), and he explicitely mentions Thalerhof in "The Good Soldier Švejk in captivity", which was published in 1917. Thereafter he may well have mixed the names up, he did after all write this passage more than four years later.
Antonín Měšťan: So gab es in Steinhof in der Tat während des Ersten Weltkriegs ein österreichisches Konzentrationslager (I. 113/118) sowie in Hainburg eine Kadettenschule (I. 268/274).
Role in the novel
Steinhof was the concentration camp where Mrs Müllerová was interned without ever having been convicted. She had been taken away the same evening as she had pushed Švejk to the draft commission in a wheelchair.
Quote from the novel
Starou paní soudili vojenskými soudy a odvezli, poněvadž jí nic nemohli dokázat, do koncentračního tábora do Steinhofu. ... read more
| Smíchov | | |||
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Smíchov is a district of Prague, located west of the Vltava, in the southern part of the city. Smíchov has a major railway station and is the home of the Staropramen brewery. At the time Smíchov was a separate administrative entity, it was joined with Prague in 1922.
Role in the novel
Smíchov is briefly mentioned when a locksmith from the district approaches Švejk outside U kalicha when he was back there for the last time. Otherwise Smíchov rarely figures in the novel, but in [III.4] it is revealed that Lieutenant Dub lived here. In the famous farewell scene between Švejk and Vodička in Királyhida [II.4] the Smíchov beer is mentioned.
Quote from the novel
Při té rozmluvě byl jeden starší pán, zámečník ze Smíchova, který šel ke Švejkovi a řekl k němu: „Prosím vás, pane, počkejte na mne venku, já s vámi musím mluvit.“ ... read more
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I. In the rear |
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10. Švejk as a military servant to the field chaplain | |||
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