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Many cities, throughout the world, have have major architectural structures that they are associated with.
Rome? The Coliseum.
Paris? The Eiffel Tower.
Rio De Janeiro? The Christ Statue.
Prague? The Charles Bridge.
The iconic bridge that crosses the Vltava River, linking the Lesser Quarter and the Old Town, is known worldwide and considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style structures ever built. It is so well known that while on your whirlwind tour of Europe and buying the Coliseum charm for your Pandora bracelet, you can pick up a Charles Bridge charm as well.
At some point during a trip to Prague, most tourists will seek out the bridge as a means to travel across the river, but most will seek it out for it’s beautiful views of the river and the picturesque buildings that line its banks and for the beauty of the ancient bridge itself. It is an absolute must-see on anyone’s visit to this alluring city.
Built to replace Judith’s bridge which was destroyed by the Great Flood of 1342, construction began in 1357 under the Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. Charles IV laid the first stone of the bridge and construction continued for many years under the supervision of Petr Parléř, who was also working on St. Vitus Cathedral. The bridge, however, was not to be completed during Charles’ lifetime, but was at a near enough completion point to accommodate the king’s funeral procession in its crossing of the Vltava River. Such a solid construction, it has survived many floods and other calamities…legend has it that eggs were mixed into the mortar used in its construction. Maybe there is some truth to this matter, as it still stands strong and proud to this day.
Originally called the Stone Bridge or the Prague Bridge, the Gothic structure only became known as the Charles Bridge (or Karlův Most) in 1870. It is protected by two bridge towers…on the Lesser Quarter side, Malostranská věž and on the Old Town side, Staroměstská věž. Both towers can be climbed for an extraordinary view of the city and the bridge from above.
As you walk along the bridge, it is hard to believe that it was once open to car and tram traffic. Hoards of tourists stroll across its expanse every day, stopping to examine the statues of saints and patron saints that line the balustrade with the most popular being St. John of Nepomuk. The Czech martyr saint was executed during the reign of Wenceslas IV by being thrown into the river from the bridge. It is easy to find this statue from the plaque that has been polished to a shine by the countless people that line up to touch it for good luck every day. Most of the statues today are copies with the originals being found in the Lapidarium, part of the National Museum.
The bridge is also a popular area for Czech musicians and artists and souvenir vendors to display their wares. It is a great place to be entertained and to purchase unique finds. As I walked along the bridge most recently, I watched both a flutist and an accordionist perform and browsed numerous stands selling jewelry, photographs and artwork. It is a place that I come specifically when searching for paintings, as their are many types and styles available.
While everyone should make their way to the Charles Bridge when staying in Prague, do not expect your stroll to be a stress-free one. Thousands of tourists stroll and linger on the bridge hourly. You will find yourself dodging selfie-sticks and tour groups following their flag-wielding tour leader as they make their way from Old Town to the Lesser Town. A great time of the day to enjoy this bridge is at sunset so as to enjoy the Prague Castle against the evening sky. But…if you wish to have it almost all to yourself…go at night or the very early morning.
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The Charles Bridge (Karlův Most)
- http://www.prague.eu/cs/objekt/mista/93/karluv-most
- Address: Charles Bridge, 110 00 Prague 1
- Hours: Open continually
- Admission: free
- Getting there: Metro, A station Staroměstská, Tram, 6, 9, 17, 18, 22, station Národní divadlo, Bus, 294 station Mariánské náměstí
Old Town Bridge Tower (Staroměstská věž)
- http://en.muzeumprahy.cz/201-the-old-town-bridge-tower/
- Address: parc. č. 148, 110 00 Prague 1 – Old Town
- Hours: November–February, 1000-1800, March, 1000-2000, April–September, 1000-2200, October, 1000-2000, daily
- Admission: General, 90 CZK, Reduced 65 CZK, Family 250 CZK
- Getting there: Metro, A station Staroměstská, Tram, 6, 9, 17, 18, 22, station Národní divadlo, Bus, 294 station Mariánské náměstí
The Lesser Town Bridge Tower (Malostranská věž)
- http://en.muzeumprahy.cz/202-the-lesser-town-bridge-tower/
- Address: čp. 57, 110 00 Prague 1 – Lesser Town
- Hours: November–February, 1000-1800, March, 1000-2000, April–September, 1000-2200, October, 1000-2000, daily
- Admission: General, 90 CZK, Reduced 65 CZK, Family 250 CZK
- Getting There: Metro, A station Malostranská, Tram, 12, 20, 22 station, Malostranské náměstí
LIST OF STATUES ON CHARLES BRIDGE
Statues on the south side of the bridge
- Statue of St. Ivo
- Statues of saints Barbara, margaret and Elizabeth
- Statue of the Lamentation of Christ
- Statue of St. Joseph
- Statue of St. Francis Xavier
- Statue of St. Christopher
- Statue of St. Farncis Borgia
- Statue of St. Ludmila
- Statue of St. Francis of Assisi
- Statue of Saints Vincent Ferrer and Procopius +Bruncvik column
- Statue of St. Nicholas of Tolentino
- Statue of St. Luthgard (Dream of St. Luthgard)
- Statue of St. Adalbert
- Statues of Saints John of Matha, Felix of Valois and Ivan
- Statue of St. Wenceslas
Statues on the north side of the bridge
- Statue of the Madonna attending to St. Bernard
- Statue of the Madonna, Saints Dominic and Thomas Aquinas
- The Crucifix and Calvary
- Statue of St. Anne
- Statue of St. Cyril and St. Methodius
- Statue of St. John the Baptist
- Statue of Saints Norbert of Xanten, Wenceslas and Sigismund
- Statue of St. John of Nepomuk
- Statue of St. Anthony of Padua
- Statue of St. Jude Thaddeus
- Statue of St. Augustine
- Statue of St. Cajetan
- Statue of St. Philip Benitius
- Statuary of St. Vitus
- Statue of the Holy Savior with Cosmas and Damian