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
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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15. Catastrophe | |||
 | Salzburg |  | |||
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Salzburg was included in Austria in 1816 as a result of the Napoleonic wars, and thus became part of Austria-Hungary in 1867. The Austrian crown land of Salzburg (which is the theme here) existed from 1849 to 1918.
Role in the novel
Salzburg crops up in connection with colonel Friedrich Kraus von Zillergut who according to the author had taken his name from "Zillergut, some village in Salzburg". It is thus rather talk of the historic Kronland Salzburg than the city itself.
Quote from the novel
Plukovník Bedřich Kraus, mající též přídomek von Zillergut, po nějaké vesničce v Solnohradech, kterou jeho předkové prožrali již ve století osmnáctém, byl úctyhodným pitomcem. ... read more
Also written:Solnohrady Hašek
| Svatý Haštal | | ||||
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Svatý Haštal is a church in Prague, Staré Město.
Role in the novel
Svatý Haštal is mentioned by Švejk when he warns Lukáš not to walk Fox near U mariánského obrazu, where the there is a dog every bit as ill-tempered as a certain beggar from Svatý Haštal.
Quote from the novel
Jak uvidí ve svým rayoně cizího psa, hned je na něho žárlivej, aby mu tam něco nesežral. Von je jako ten žebrák od svatýho Haštala.“ ... read more
Also written:Svatý Haštal de
| U mariánského obrazu | | ||||
| Hybernská ul. 1011/30, Praha II-Josef Šašek [1910] | ||||||
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U mariánského obrazu was a restaurant in Hybernská ulice< which does not exists any more. It was located and the ground floor in number 1011, right across from present-day Masarykovo nádraží. It should not be confused with the current restaurant by the same name in Žižkov.
Role in the novel
U mariánského obrazu is mentioned when Švejk informs Lukáš that an angry dog has his territory here and that he better not go there with Max.
Quote from the novel
A taky bych vám neradil vodit ho přes Havlíčkovo náměstí, tam se potlouká jeden zlej řeznickej pes vod ,Mariánskýho vobrazu’, kterej je náramně kousavej. ... read more
| Na Přikopě | | ||||
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Na Přikopě is a well-known street in Prague, now one of the more exclusive shopping streets.
Role in the novel
Na Přikopě is mentioned as Lukáš was on the way to the corner of Na Přikopě and Panská ulice to meet a lady when the fatal encounter with colonel Kraus von Zillergut took place.
Quote from the novel
Vyšli na ulici a nadporučík Lukáš zaměřil se psem na Příkopy. Měl se setkat s jednou dámou na rohu Panské ulice. Byl zabrán v úřední myšlénky. O čem má zítra přednášet jednoročním dobrovolníkům ve škole? ... read more
Also written:Na Přikopy Hašek An Graben de
| Panská ulice | | |||||
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Panská ulice is a relatively short side street to Na Přikopě, extending south towards the main railway station. It reaches towards Jindřišská ulice.
Role in the novel
Panská ulice is mentioned as Lukáš was on the way to the corner of Na Přikopě and Panská ulice to meet a lady when the fatal encounter with colonel Kraus von Zillergut took place.
Quote from the novel
Vyšli na ulici a nadporučík Lukáš zaměřil se psem na Příkopy. Měl se setkat s jednou dámou na rohu Panské ulice. Byl zabrán v úřední myšlénky. O čem má zítra přednášet jednoročním dobrovolníkům ve škole? ... read more
| Náchod | | |||
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Náchod is a town in eastern Bohemia, only a few kilomteres from the border with Poland. The distance to the front at in the autumn of 1914 was about 300 km (Limanowa), so the claim about the sound of artillery was highly dubious, and probably just a saying.
Role in the novel
Náchod is located at the Polish border and artillery fire from the front could be heard in Náchod. This is at least what Švejk had heard in the pub.
Quote from the novel
Když oba potom ještě dále tlumočili názor českého člověka na válku, voják z kasáren opakoval, co dnes slyšel v Praze, že u Náchoda je slyšet děla a ruský car že bude co nejdřív v Krakově. ... read more
| W. Staněk | | |||
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W. Staněk was a warehouse at Ferdinandova třída 32 who dealt in exotic goods, mostly from the Far East. The founder was Vílem Staněk, and his wife Kateřina continued the business after his death. The warehouse is known to have existed as early as 1884.
Thus it was not a question of a "Chinese" in the true meaning of the word. The Chinese Li Gü was employed there, and it's probably him we see on the photo. One of the shop windows displayed a convex mirror.
Eva Svobodová: První recepce žaponského umění v Česku a Volné směry aneb japonismem k modernímu obrazu: v Praze na tehdejší Ferdinandově třídě otevřel Vilém Staněk obchod s čajem a orientálním zbožím, nazvaný Maison Staněk.
Source: Milan Hodík, Eva Svobodová
Role in the novel
W. Staněk was a Chinese who had a convex mirror. Švejk told Lukáš this story when the latter was wondering if he liked his own looks. Švejk did not like the sight of himself in Staněk's mirror.
Quote from the novel
„Poslušně hlásím, pane obrlajtnant, že se nelíbím, jsem v tom zrcadle nějakej takovej šišatej nebo co. Vono to není broušený zrcadlo. To jednou měli u toho Číňana Staňka vypouklý zrcadlo, a když se někdo na sebe podíval, tak se mu chtělo vrhnout. Huba takhle, hlava jako dřez na pomeje, břicho jako u napitýho kanovníka, zkrátka figura. Šel kolem pan místodržitel, podíval se na sebe a hned to zrcadlo museli sundat.“ ... read more
| Prašná brána | | ||||
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From 1857, as it might have appeared as Crenneville marched through
Prašná brána is a gothic tower and former city gate in Prague, located by Náměstí Republiky. Between 1878 and 1886 the tower was rebuilt in pseudo-gothic style, which makes it's current appearance different from that on the picture.
Role in the novel
Prašná brána is mentioned in a song Švejk sings after the calamitous return of Lukáš after he had been caught by colonel Kraus with the stolen Fox. It is not stated in the plot but the famous meeting between Lukáš and oberst Friedrich Kraus von Zillergut took place only a few steps from the gate. In [III.4] the power is mentioned again in the long monologue about Fliedler von Bumerang.
Quote from the novel
Mašíruje Grenevil Prašnou bránou na špacír, šavle se mu blejskají, hezký holky plakají... read more
Also written:Pulverturm de Powder Tower en Kruttårnet no
| Ohře | | |||
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Ohře is a river in Nort Bohemia. The source is in the Fichtelbebirge in Bavaraia. The river does flow into the Vltava, but by Litoměřice.
Role in the novel
Ohře is mentioned by colonel Kraus who mistakingly thinks the river flows into Vltava by Budějovice.
Quote from the novel
Víte, kde jsou Budějovice? Na Vltavě, ano, na Vltavě a vtéká tam Ohře nebo něco podobného. ... read more
Also written:Eger de
| Nekázanka ulice | | ||||
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Nekázanka ulice is a short street in central Prague, connecting Na Přikopě and Jindřišská ulice.
Role in the novel
Nekázanka ulice is mentioned because Senior Lieutenant Lukáš was to hold his farewell party somewhere in this street. This was the last time in the novel that Prague was part of the plot. The street is mentioned later in connection with V čubčím háji.
Quote from the novel
Tím byl příjemný hovor ukončen a nadporučíkovi se velice ulehčilo, když vyšel z kanceláře a šel do školy jednoročních dobrovolníků, kde oznámil, že v nejbližších dnech jede na frontu, a uspořádá proto večírek na rozloučenou v Nekázance. ... read more
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I. In the rear |
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15. Catastrophe | |||
| © 2012 Jomar Hønsi | Last updated: 22/5-2013 | hits since 5/11-2009. | Statistics |
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