Masaryk made an impact in many foreign countries. Streets, squares and avenues are named after him not only in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but also in Mexico (Avenida Presidente Masaryk), Florida (Masaryktown), Haifa (Kfar masaryk kibbutz), Tel Aviv (Masaryk Square), Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Celje and Ljubljana, also, to name a few. In Ljubljana there is a street bearing his name, Masarykova cesta, situated between the main railway station and the town centre. The street previously called Blatna vas (since the Middle Ages) was renamed as Masarykova cesta in 1923. During the World War II it changed names to Road of the Isonzo Division and Road of 800 years of Ljubljana but in the end the name changed to Masarykova cesta again.
After the World War I, Masaryk was named the first president of independent, newly founded Czechoslovakia in 1918. As a new president, he moved to Prague Castle which meant that the rebuilding of the Castle to its new functions was necessary. Masaryk wanted “a breath of fresh air”, something classical yet modern so he chose Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik to renovate the castle.
Plečnik, who moved to Prague in 1911 to teach at The College of Arts and Crafts, accepted the offer and started working on the renovations in 1920. He took care of the reconstruction of I. and III. courtyard, design of southern gardens, interior decoration, modification of the President’s apartment, modifications of the gardens of Rajská, Na valách and Na baště, entrance hall to the Spanish Hall at the Matthias Gate and many others.
Masaryk remained friends with Jože Plečnik even after he finished the reconstructions and moved back to Slovenia. Even his daughter Alice became his long lasting friend and Plečnik was in contact with both of them through letters until his death.
