Egon Ervin Kisch

The Egon Erwin Kisch memorial plaque in Prague marks the birthplace of one of the most celebrated reporters in the history of journalism. The modest plaque sits at the corner of Kožná and Melantrichova streets, right in the heart of Prague's Old Town, just a short walk from Old Town Square — a route almost every visitor to Prague ends up walking anyway.

Who was Egon Erwin Kisch?

Egon Erwin Kisch, born Egon Kisch, came into the world on 29 April 1885 in this very corner of Prague's Old Town. He was a Czech and German writer, journalist and reporter of Jewish descent — first an Austro-Hungarian citizen, then a Czechoslovak one after 1918 — who wrote in German. He is regarded today as one of the most outstanding reporters in the history of journalism, and his work also shaped Polish reportage, influencing writers including Ryszard Kapuściński, who repeatedly cited Kisch's work as a model of literary reportage. Kisch earned the nickname "the raging reporter," taken from the title of one of his reportage collections, and the label has stuck ever since in accounts of journalism history.

Where exactly is the plaque located?

The site is marked at the intersection of Kožná and Melantrichova streets, one of the narrow, cobbled lanes of the Old Town that tourists cross while walking between Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. A small plaque on the facade of a building there notes that this is where, into a traditional Jewish cloth-merchant family, the future author of "The Raging Reporter" was born. It is one of several sites in Prague dedicated to Kisch's memory — the city also has a separate plaque commemorating the start of his journalism career on Panská street, where he began working for a German-language daily newspaper in 1906.

Why is it worth a stop?

Kisch was active in Prague at the turn of the 20th century within a circle of German-speaking Jewish writers and journalists that also included figures such as Franz Kafka and Max Brod — it was this Prague literary scene that shaped his reporting craft before he went on to build his reputation in Berlin and Paris. The plaque at Kožná and Melantrichova is a discreet but concrete anchor for that history: it lets a walk through the touristic heart of the Old Town double as a brief lesson in how Prague produced one of the pioneers of modern reportage. It is a stop for anyone interested in Central European literary and journalism history rather than a queue-worthy landmark — worth pausing at for a moment on the way between Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.

How do you get there?

The plaque lies fully within Prague's pedestrian Old Town core, within walking distance of Old Town Square and its famous astronomical clock. Walking is by far the easiest way to reach it — the street forms part of one of the natural routes linking the Old Town's main sights, so visitors typically pass it while moving between the area's central attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does this plaque commemorate? The birthplace of Egon Erwin Kisch, a Czech-German writer and reporter of Jewish descent, born on 29 April 1885.

Are there other sites in Prague connected to Kisch? Yes — a separate plaque on Panská street marks the building where Kisch began his journalism career in 1906.

Why is Kisch known as "the raging reporter"? The nickname comes from the title of one of his reportage collections and is now the standard label for his journalistic style.

Is it worth a dedicated trip just to see this plaque? Not really as a standalone destination — it sits directly on the walking route between Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, so visitors naturally pass it while exploring the Old Town.