general information
Charles Bridge is a must-see attraction in Prague; no excursion around the historic city center is complete without it. This fact was confirmed in the movie "Spider-Man: Far From Home": the climactic explanation of Peter and MJ took place on Charles Bridge - in the middle of the night, when at last there were no tourists left on it. At other times, it is quite cramped on a half-kilometer structure almost 10 m wide.
History of Charles Bridge
In the second half of the 12th century, Italian craftsmen built the Judith Bridge on the Vltava, named after the wife of King Vladislav I. The solid multi-arched structure of spectacular red sandstone stood until 1342, when it was destroyed by a powerful flood. They did not restore it, they only connected the surviving arches with wooden walkways for pedestrians until the construction of the new bridge was completed. Frightened by the force of the elements, Charles IV, who ascended the throne a few years after the disaster, ordered the court astrologer Ben Bezalel to draw up a horoscope of construction work so that the next bridge would not suffer the same fate. As a result of predictions, the first stone of the future Charles Bridge was laid only in 1357, at the most favorable time, according to the prediction. The new bridge, named after Charles IV, was completely open to horsemen and pedestrians at the beginning of the 15th century.
Architectural features
The structure consists of 16 heavy arches made of natural stone. Light sandstone was chosen for the cladding - the red stone deposit had already been depleted by the beginning of construction. On the eastern bank of the Vltava, at the beginning of the bridge, right next to the water is the Gothic Old Town Tower. The western, unpaired Lesser Towns towers, at first glance, are located strangely, far from the banks of the Vltava, among old houses. In fact, what seems to be the western coast is the Kampa island, separated from the Malaya Strana by a narrow branch of the Vltava - the Chertovka river. Where the island ends, there are Lesser Towns towers.
Bridge towers
The most spectacular tower is the Old Town, built at the end of the 14th century on the eastern bank of the Vltava. Above its arch there are coats of arms with an eagle and a lion next to the figure of St. Vitus. Initially, the Roman martyr, boiled in boiling oil in the 4th century, had nothing to do with Bohemia, but in the 10th century, part of his relics was presented to the ruler of the country. Since then, he has become the main saint of Bohemia. To the right of the saint is a portrait of Charles IV, who began the construction of the bridge, to the left - Wenceslas IV, the culprit for the appearance of a new saint among Catholics - John of Nepomuk. Below in a row are the coats of arms of the lands that became part of the Czech Republic by the XIV century. The tower was restored 150 years ago with the addition of small corner turrets at the top, and today it is an excellent observation deck. Tickets for it costing 90 CZK are sold directly in the building.
The Lesser Towns Towers were not built at the same time. The lowest, the most ancient, appeared at the Judith Bridge, in the XII century. The second, 40 meters high, was built in the middle of the 15th century on the site of a pre-existing Romanesque structure. Stylistically, it resembles Old Town, although it lacks its solemn decor. It also has an observation deck, and at the bottom of the building there is a tourist office, where you can get a free map of Prague.
Sculptures on the Charles Bridge
Decorating the austere Charles Bridge began at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, when several Baroque statues of Catholic saints revered by Czechs were installed on both sides of it. The authors of the first works are the German sculptor Rauchmiller and the local Brokoff family. In total, there are 30 individual figures and sculptural groups on the bridge. The most revered statue is the image of the great martyr Jan of Nepomuk. He went against the will of King Wenceslas IV, refusing to reveal the secret of the confession of the monarch's wife, and was thrown directly from the Charles Bridge into the waters of the Vltava. Since then, the canonized saint is considered the patron saint of all those associated with fresh water: owners of ships and river mills, fishermen. Several mills have survived on the Chertovka River and can be seen from the Charles Bridge. Ironically, the sculptural portrait of the sadist king is placed here, on the facade of the Old Town Tower.
One of the good tourist traditions is to touch the pedestal of the statue of Jan Nepomuk on the north side of the Charles Bridge, making a wish. You can recognize the bronze figure that has turned green from time to time by the halo with stars, a giant golden feather and a large crucifix in your hands. The sculptural group that is relevant for Orthodoxy is Cyril and Methodius, who gave the Slavs their own writing, at whose feet miniature human figures fall.
Charles Bridge Museum
The Charles Bridge Museum is located on the western coast of the Old Town. It is open daily during the low season from 10:00 to 18:00, from May to September until 19:00. The ticket costs 170 CZK, for those who purchase a complex excursion on foot and by boat in the Venice of Prague, admission is free. The exposition includes a model of the medieval Charles Bridge, the result of archaeological excavations - the original entrance to the Judith Bridge, elements of a Gothic church that once stood here and its restored model, clay sketches of statues of saints that adorn the bridge. The museum shop sells figurines of saints, knights, cups, jewelry and books.
Restaurants and cafes near Charles Bridge
You can have a bite to eat near the Charles Bridge without any problems - on both banks of the Vltava there are dozens of cafes for every taste. A miniature coffee shop with local alcoholic drinks and sweets works right in the Charles Bridge Museum. The John Lennon Pub awaits guests on Kampa Island, where you can go down the stairs behind the statue of the knight, and here is the popular Kampa Park restaurant overlooking the river. Near the Old Town Tower, on the south side, there is the Karlova Most restaurant with national cuisine in the middle price category and the rather expensive Mlynets restaurant. On the western side, at the very beginning of the bridge, there is a restaurant "Under Most", famous for the abundance of snacks for beer and wine. Finally, 100 m west of the Lesser Towns Towers is the permanent McDonald's.
How to get there
The nearest metro station is located on the Old Town Side, 500 m north of Charles Bridge, in Mala Strana, it takes even longer to walk from the station of the same name - about 800 m. The most convenient way to get to the tram stop is Malostranské namesté, 200 meters west of the unpaired towers. or Karlovy Lazne, 200 meters south of the Old Town Tower.
Charles Bridge is one of the main attractions of the Czech Republic, a kind of visiting card of the capital. Fanned by many ancient legends, it attracts tourists with its architecture, statues that can grant wishes and, of course, wonderful views of the city.
How Charles Bridge was built: legends and facts
At the beginning of the 12th century, two more structures stood on the site of the modern bridge. They were destroyed by a flood, so King Charles IV ordered the construction of a new structure bearing his name. The construction gave rise to a large number of legends. 
The most famous of them sounds like this: to determine the date of laying the first stone, the king turned to an astrologer for help. On his advice, a date was set - 1357, June 9 at 5:31. Ironically, the current number - 135797531 - reads the same from both sides. Karl considered this a sign, and it was on this day that the first stone was laid. 
Another legend says that during the construction of the building there was not enough quality material, so the builders used egg white. A large-scale construction required a lot of eggs, so the inhabitants of the surrounding settlements brought them in huge quantities. The irony of the situation is that many people brought boiled eggs. And yet the material turned out to be good, which is why the Charles Bridge is so strong and durable. 
Another legend tells of a young man who tried to restore an arch after a flood. Nothing came of it. But suddenly on the bridge he saw the devil, who offered him a deal. The devil will help with the restoration of the arch, and the builder will give him the soul of the person who will be the first to cross the bridge. The young man was so anxious to finish the job that he agreed to terrible conditions. After construction, he decided to lure a black rooster to the Charles Bridge, but the devil turned out to be more cunning - he brought the builder's pregnant wife. The child died, and his soul wandered and sneezed for many years. Once a belated passer-by, hearing this, said "Be healthy" and the ghost rested. 
Historical facts say that the construction was supervised by the famous architect Peter Parler. The construction continued until the beginning of the 15th century, that is, it lasted half a century. As a result, the viewers saw a powerful structure standing on 15 arches, more than half a kilometer long and 10 meters wide. Today, it provides citizens and tourists with magnificent views of the Vltava River, churches and palaces of Prague. And in the old days, knightly tournaments, executions, courts, fairs were held here. Even the coronation processions did not pass by this place. 
Charles Bridge towers
The Old Town Tower is a symbol of medieval Prague, the most beautiful building in Europe in the Gothic style. The facade of the tower, facing towards Křížovnice Square, is striking in its splendor and suggests that the building served as a triumphal arch in the Middle Ages. Tourists wishing to admire the panorama can climb the tower by overcoming 138 steps. The view from it is fantastic. 
Among the interesting facts about the tower, one can single out the fact that in the Middle Ages its roof was decorated with plates of pure gold. The most important elements of the composition were also gold. Now the facade is decorated with the coat of arms of the Staraya Mesto district (at one time it was a separate city) and the coats of arms of the lands and territories that belonged to the country during the reign of Charles IV. At the end of the composition are statues of Kings Charles IV and Wenceslas IV (it was with them that the legendary bridge was erected). On the third tier, there are Vojtech and Sigismund, the patrons of the Czech Republic. 
The two western towers were built in different years, but now they are connected by walls and gates. Since at one time they served as fortifications, the decor is almost absent. On the gate there is the coat of arms of the Mala Strana and Old Town. The coat of arms of the Bohemia region is also located here. The low tower remains from the destroyed Juditin bridge. It was originally built in the Romanesque style, but now the tower has been rebuilt and belongs to the Renaissance style. The higher Lesser Town Tower, like the Old Town Tower, has an observation deck. 
A description of the Charles Bridge cannot be complete without mentioning its statues. The statues were not built at the same time, but appeared already at the beginning of the 18th century. They were created by the famous masters Jan Brokoff with his sons, Mathias Bernard Braun and Jan Bedrich Kohl. Since the statues were created from brittle sandstone, replicas are now replacing them. The originals are on display at the National Museum in Prague. 
The statue of Jan Nepomuk (revered saint in the country) was created by Jan Brokoff. According to legend, at the end of the XIV century, by order of Wenceslas IV, Jan Nepomuk was thrown into the river. The reason for this was disobedience - the queen's confessor refused to reveal the secret of confession. This is where the statue of the saint is installed. The statue is a favorite among tourists, as it is believed that it can fulfill cherished desires. To do this, touch the relief on the pedestal to the right and then to the left. There is a sculpture of a dog next to the statue. Rumor has it that if you touch her, then the pets will be healthy. 
The gate at the entrance to the Charles Bridge is another favorite place for tourists. It is believed that kingfishers carved on it can also grant a wish. To do this, you just need to look for all the kingfishers (there are 5 of them). It's not so easy the first time!
Among the sculptures of the Charles Bridge, the most ancient is the image of the Borodach. This is a self-portrait of one of the builders. Now it is in the embankment masonry. It is located at water level so that city residents can see if they are threatened with flooding. 
There are 30 stone figures in total. In addition to the above, the following are popular:
Included in the architectural complex and the staircase to Kampa - a monumental neo-Gothic monument. The staircase leads directly to the island of Kampu. It was built in 1844, before that there was a wooden structure. 
How to get there?
The bridge connects the historical districts of the Czech capital - Mala Strana and Old Town. The address of the attraction sounds simple: "Karlův most Praha 1- Staré Město - Malá Strana". The nearest metro station and tram stop have the same name "Staromestska". 
Charles Bridge is full of tourists in any season. Thousands of people are interested in towers, figures and the history of architecture in general. In addition to curious tourists, you can often find artists, musicians and traders here. If you want to feel the mysticism of this place in peace and quiet, come here at night. Good photos are taken in the evening. 
Charles Bridge is the most romantic, beautiful and mysterious place in Prague. This is the pride of the entire Czech people. You should definitely visit here, because everyone, without exception, can make wishes, admire the surroundings, admire the statues and the decor of the towers.
Juditin bridge
The first stone bridge across the Vltava was Juditin bridge which has been in operation since 1172. In 1342, it collapsed due to a sharp melting of snow and ice (at first, huge ice floes blocked the space between the support bulls, and then new ice floes created too much pressure on them). They decided to build a new bridge 20-30 meters upstream.
History of the construction of Charles Bridge
Each order, next to its part of the bridge, received large tracts of land for the construction of monastic complexes. The first erected a whole district, the center of which was the modern Maltese and Velkopřevorska squares, and the second built up a quarter around the Crusader Square.
Since the end of the 19th century, the first public transport line, known today as horse tram... Then it was replaced by a tram with a bottom current collection, but after a couple of years the city authorities changed their minds and stopped checking the bridge for strength. It should be noted that until 1870 it was called Prague bridge, and was renamed only in the wake of the national revival of the 19th century.
Charles Bridge towers
Old Town Tower
Old Town Bridge Tower (Staroměstská mostecká věž) - the eastern tower of Charles Bridge; is the symbolic gateway to the Stare Mesto area. They began to build it simultaneously with the bridge under the leadership of Peter Parler, and finished in 1380... The Old Town Tower is considered the most beautiful medieval tower in Europe (of the surviving ones). And this despite the fact that in 1648 the sculptural decorations on the eastern side of the tower were destroyed by Swedish artillery shelling, when the bridge, as the only crossing to the right bank of the Vltava, became the site of a fierce battle.
In the Middle Ages, the roof of the Old Town Tower was covered with gilded sheets. The most important elements of the sculptural compositions were also gold. Nowadays, the facade of the tower is decorated with the coat of arms of the Stare Mesto district, above which there is a horizontal row of coats of arms of the lands of the Czech kingdom during the reign of Charles IV. Above them are the statues of the kings under whom the Charles Bridge was built - Charles IV and Wenceslas IV. Between them (on a small hill) is the statue of St. Vitus, the spiritual patron of the bridge. At the level of the third tier of the tower, there are sculptures of the patrons of the Czech land - Saints Vojtech and Sigismund. In addition, on the facade of the tower (in four different places), you can see the bas-reliefs of the kingfisher bird, the symbol of Wenceslas IV.
At the beginning of the 17th century, 12 severed heads of the leaders of the Estates Uprising, executed on Old Town Square, hung on the Old Town Bridge Tower for ten years. Nowadays, the tower functions observation deck and a small historical gallery. Next to the tower is the Charles Bridge Museum.
Lesser Town Tower
Lesser Town Bridge Tower (Malostranská mostecká věž) is the high western tower of Charles Bridge. It was built last of all three towers - in the middle of the 15th century during the reign of King Jiří of Podebrady. In the very first building from the tower (1 Mostecka Street) there is the Klub Za starou Prahu - a civic association that has been working on the protection of monuments in Prague since 1900.
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Juditina Tower
Juditina věž is the smallest, but at the same time the oldest tower (dates back to the 12th century). It was built at the time of the first in the Romanesque style, and in 1591 it was rebuilt in the likeness of the other two towers. The city chronicle contains a record of the tragic incident associated with the Judith Tower. It is reported that in 1250 a chunk of rock fell off the head of a knight named Pertolt. The unfortunate man, fully dressed in armor, but taking off his helmet, fell dead.
Lesser Town Bridge Tower and Judytina Tower are connected by a gate, which depicts the coats of arms of Prague's Mala Strana and Stare Mesto districts, as well as the Bohemia region.
The sculptures of the Charles Bridge were created with a deep ideological and political meaning. The Austrian Habsburg dynasty, ruling at that time Bohemia and Moravia (the main regions of modern Bohemia), with the help of Catholicism, tried to eradicate dangerous Hussite views from the Czechs, leading to the manifestation of national identity and the desire for independence. Therefore, all individuals on the Charles Bridge are ideological missionaries and disseminators of the Catholic faith. None of them are real defenders of Czech interests. Even kings Charles IV and Wenceslas IV are absent, during whose reign the construction of the structure was carried out, since they pursued a policy aimed at creating a strong national state.
Francis is depicted in the clothes of a priest. To his left is an angel with the image of the Holy Gifts, to the right is an angel holding the image of the Virgin Mary.
Details of the sculptural composition: Lyudmila holds in her left hand a handkerchief with which, according to legend, she was strangled, and with her right she points to the Bible, from which she teaches young Wenceslas to read. The relief on the pedestal depicts the scene of the murder of Prince Wenceslas.
Details of the sculptural composition: bronze plates on the pedestal depict scenes of the confession of the queen and the execution of Jan of Nepomuk. There is a belief that if you rub them, your wish will come true.
Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) - famous preacher of the Order of the Franciscans.
Details of the sculptural composition: Anthony is depicted with little Jesus. In his right hand he holds a lily, which emphasizes his holiness. On the sides are two vases depicting scenes from the life of Anthony of Padua.
Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) - patron of conservationists and founder of the mendicant Franciscan Order. It was he who deepened the idea of poverty for monks and turned it from a negative sign of renunciation of the world into a positive life ideal, which flowed from the idea of following the example of poor Christ. He also transformed the very idea of monasticism, replacing the hermit monk with a missionary apostle, who, having renounced the world internally, remains in the world to call people to peace and repentance. Francis showed a personal example of this behavior, becoming a barefoot beggar, and “in the clothes of a shepherd” preached about the need for love and humility. It should be noted that he came from a wealthy merchant family, and in his youth was known as "the king of all parties and fun."
Details of the sculptural composition: Francis of Assisi is depicted with two angels. The pedestal bears the inscription "to St. Francis of Assisi for the miraculous rescue of Emperor Franz Joseph in 1853" (the Hungarian revolutionary stabbed the monarch in the neck, from which he was saved by the golden collar of his uniform).
Judas Thaddeus - apostle, preached in Palestine, Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia. He died a martyr's death in Armenia. Advocate of people in hopeless cases.
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted with the Gospel and the club. On the pedestal there is an inscription: "To the devoted friend of Christ."
Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) - Spanish philosopher, theologian and preacher. He came from a noble noble family, but voluntarily accepted the harsh life of an ascetic (he observed a strict fast all year round, slept on bare ground, moved only on foot). Vincent devoted himself to missionary work and renounced his cardinal dignity;
Procopius of Sazavsky (970-1053) - Czech monk and missionary. He founded the Sazava Monastery, which was the center of Slavic culture and the last place in the Czech Republic where services were held in Church Slavonic. Procopius also led the life of an ascetic (he personally cut down the forest and cultivated the land). According to legend, once local residents saw a saint plowing a field on a devil drawn by a plow, whom he drove with a cross.
Details of the sculptural composition: Saint Vincent in Dominican vestments with one hand expels the devil from a kneeling man, and with the other he resurrects from the dead lying in the grave. Saint Prokop holds a rod over the pacified Satan, stepping on it with his foot, which symbolizes the victory of faith, truth and good over the forces of evil. There are several inscriptions on the monument: “8,000 basurmans to the Catholic faith”, “70 devils to pacify” and “2,500 Jews to Christ”.
Brunzvik is a hero of Czech legends and tales, who wanted to get the right to place a lion on his coat of arms (a symbol of valor and courage). For this, he embarked on a series of adventures and exploits. Knight Bruncvik is a fictional character and symbolizes one of the kings of the Přemyslid family, who changed the black eagle to the silver lion on the coat of arms of Bohemia in 1172.
Details of the sculptural composition: the knight Bruncvik is depicted with a sword and shield, which depicts the coat of arms of the Stare Mesto district. A lion sits at his feet. The monument is located behind the sculptural group of Saints Vincent and Prokop (No. 20), therefore, to see it, you need to look down from the bridge.
Augustine Aurelius (354-430) - philosopher, preacher and theologian. It is he who owns the interesting phrase "Good God, give me chastity and moderation ... but not now, oh God, not now!"
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted in episcopal attire. Under his right foot is a heretical book (a sign of contempt for Protestants), and in his right hand is a burning heart (a sign of love for the Lord). At the left foot of Augustine is a figurine of an angel.
Nicholas of Tolentinsky (XIII century) - missionary and monk of the Order of Augustine Aurelius. Before his death, his last words were: "My conscience does not reproach me for anything, but that does not mean that I am righteous."
Details of the sculptural group: the saint is depicted in the cassock of a monk with an angel who prepared a basket of bread for the poor.
Luitgarda is a blind nun who regained her sight after kissing Christ's wounds in a dream.
Kajetan Tienskiy (1480-1547) - defender from epidemics and founder of the Teatinian Order, which became the first order of a new type. Upon joining, the priests took the traditional monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but did not leave the world, but continued to fulfill the duties of parish priests. Such monks are called regular clerics. The new order fought against heresy, but with humane methods (in contrast to the widespread medieval practice of using violent measures).
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint holds in his hands the opened Gospel of Matthew with the word of God. Behind it is a plague column, symbolizing the Holy Trinity with the image of clouds and angels.
Philip Benicius (1233-1285) was one of the founders of the Servite Order.
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is dressed in the traditional white dress of members of the order. In his hands he holds a cross, a symbolic branch (or lily) and a book. At his feet is a tiara (papal crown), since in 1268 he had the opportunity to become Pope.
Vojtech (X century) - the second Czech bishop, killed during missionary work in Polabian Prussia. In the 11th century, the saint was considered the second patron saint of the Czech lands after Saint Wenceslas and the main patron saint of Poland.
Details of the sculptural composition: Vojtech is depicted in an archbishop's attire with the Gospel in his left hand.
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Vit (290-303) - patron saint of the Czech lands. No reliable historical evidence of the saint's life and martyrdom has survived. According to legend, the 13-year-old boy went to Rome, where he expelled demons either from the son of the emperor Diocletian, or from the emperor himself. After that, Vit refused to pray to the Roman gods. He was arrested and thrown to the hungry lions for refusing to recognize the Roman religion, but they did not touch Vitus. Then he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil.
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted in the attire of a Roman citizen, but with a medieval headdress. The pedestal is made in the form of a rock with a cave from which hungry lions climb out.
The young priest Jean de Mata (1150–1213) saw a vision during the first mass, which he interpreted as a sign that he should devote his life to the salvation of Christian captives from Muslim captivity. His idea was supported by Count Felix de Valois (1127-1212). Together they founded the Trinitarian Order, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The motto of the monks was: "Glory to you, Trinity, and freedom to the captives." Trinitarians raised funds for the ransom of Christian captives through donations and alms.
John of Bohemia (IX century) - a righteous man and the first Czech hermit (hermit). The causal relationship with Saints Felix and John is unknown.
Details of the sculptural composition: a Turk with a dog guards Christian prisoners who are sitting behind bars and crying out for salvation. Felix de Valois stretches out his hand to the captive, Jean de Mata holds the shackles, and Saint John watches them silently.
Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (III or IV century) - brothers, healers and miracle workers. It is believed that the Lord gave them the art of healing. From the sick, whom they treated, the brothers never took payment, keeping the commandment of Jesus Christ "freely you received, freely give."
Details of the sculptural composition: depicts two brothers-healers and the Savior as "the main healer of the world." Behind his figure stands a cross with the inscription: "In this cross is our salvation." On his right hand is Saint Cosmas (the inscription on the pedestal: "Hippocrates among the saints"), and on the left is Saint Damian (the inscription on the pedestal: "To the pious brother, Galen of heaven").
Saint Wenceslas (907-936) - prince, ruler of Bohemia and Moravia, who converted to Christianity.
Details of the sculptural composition: the caption reads "In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Blind Children, held in Prague on October 4, 1857". It was the Prague Society of the Blind that financed the creation of the statue.
It is simply impossible to visit Prague and not walk across the Charles Bridge. This place is so closely connected with the history of the Czech Republic that it has become a kind of symbol of the capital. The length of the bridge is more than half a kilometer, and the width is 10 m. The bridge is supported by 16 reliable supports, which for all their strength seem graceful. The bridge connects Stare Mesto and Mala Strana.
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Charles Bridge is one of the oldest structures. Initially, even before its construction, the Juditin Bridge was thrown across the Vltava. But it collapsed at the beginning of the 14th century, in the spring, unable to withstand the pressure of water and ice. It was decided to erect a new bridge several tens of meters downstream. Construction began in the second half of the 14th century, according to an order given by Emperor Charles IV. The date of the most favorable start of construction was determined by the astrologers, and the emperor himself laid the first stone in the foundation. Since then, it was on this bridge that the future monarchs traveled to the coronation ceremony. Ordinary townspeople were charged a fee for crossing the bridge.
Two knightly orders "controlled" the bridge. One order was in charge of keeping the bridge clean and repairing it if necessary. The second took duties for the transport of goods along the Vltava. Lands near Charles Bridge were allocated to both orders, and active development took place on these plots. The bridge quickly became the center of life in the Czech capital. Fairs were held here, and knights fought in tournaments "for the king and beautiful ladies." During the revolutions that shook Europe in 1848, the bridge was blocked by barricades. And during World War II, Czechs brought fresh flowers here and laid them at the feet of sculptures depicting saints, asking them to rid their native land of invaders.
Since the end of the 19th century. a tram went across the bridge. Only in 1974 was the Charles Bridge completely given over to pedestrians. Since then, a kind of "Czech Arbat" has been located here. Artists sell their paintings and portraits here, and artisans sell souvenirs. In addition, numerous guests of Prague come to the bridge - to look at the beautiful sculptures, touch the history that seems to come to life here, and make a wish. The Czechs assure that if the wish is good, it will certainly come true. There is a museum next to the bridge. If you visit it, you will learn the history of this famous building in more detail, see documents, drawings and photographs. Almost until the end of 19, the bridge was called Prague, but then, by the will of the Czech people, it was renamed Charles.
Sculptures on the Charles Bridge
Today there are 30 statues on the Charles Bridge. The first sculptures appeared here at the end of the 17th century, since then their number has only increased. True, some of the figures turned out to be so valuable in historical and artistic terms that they were replaced with copies. The originals are carefully kept in the National Museum. Russian tourists can recognize here John the Baptist, Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Mother of God, John the Theologian, Mary Magdalene and other saints who are honored by the Orthodox Church. Roads for believers Czechs martyr Jan of Nepomuk, saints John of Bohemia and Wenceslas, as well as many others.
Almost constantly, guides with their wards pass across the bridge, stories are heard in all languages, including Russian. Stay here a little longer - and you will learn the history of each sculpture. They will also tell you which statue is the original and which is the copy. Also an integral feature of the bridge are its three towers - Old Town, Malostranska and Juditina.
How to make a wish
Many tourists come to the Charles Bridge precisely to make a wish. In order for the conceived to come true, you need to go to the sculpture depicting Jan Nepomuk. First, touch the right side of it, and then move your hand to the left and touch the dog with the palm of your hand. Another option. The lattice of the bridge indicates the place from where the martyr Yang was thrown into the river. Press your fingers to the golden stars and wish something good from the bottom of your heart. Of course, one cannot think of something that, in principle, cannot come true. And the saint will certainly give good desires a chance to be fulfilled.
How to get to the bridge
The easiest option is to call a taxi, or walk to the bridge if your hotel is nearby. You can also take the tram. Trams will take you to Charles Bridge: No. 1, 2, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 93, 97. If you decide to use the metro, you need to take one of the trains on line A and get off at the Staromestska or Malostranska station. Climbing up, you will find yourself on the west or east side of the bridge. Another tip, if you love photography and want to take beautiful photos of Charles Bridge, come here at dawn. At this time of day, the bridge is especially beautiful, and you will not be disturbed by the numerous tourists who obscure its sculptures and put their hands on the "places of fulfillment of desires."
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Greetings, friends! Do you know which is the most visited attraction in the Czech Republic? Charles Bridge in Prague. The bridge, which is steeped in legends and secrets and serves the seventh century, connects the whole of Prague, evenly located on the two banks of the Vltava River, into one whole, both territorially and from a historical point of view. Each tourist must make his own tour of the Charles Bridge and make his own opinion about this famous landmark.
Someone pays more attention to the Charles Bridge, while others seek to capture the overall picture and atmosphere in their memory, make a wish, as is customary in this magical place.
This post of mine also aims to capture the unforgettable atmosphere of the popular bridge, so it contains a little bit of everything:
- Interesting facts from the history of Charles Bridge.
- What you can see while walking along the Charles Bridge
- House legend U Obrazku Panny Marie
Charles Bridge in Prague: interesting facts
Let's start our acquaintance with the Charles Bridge with the main parameters. The length of the bridge is 520 m, its width is 9.5 m and it is supported by 16 arches.
Immediately I note that when you walk along the legendary bridge, you will be surprised how short these half a kilometer are ...
The first stone was laid during the construction of the bridge Charles IV at a magical moment in time. This happened in 1357 on the 9th of the 7th month at 5 hours 31 minutes. And if you write the indicated numbers one after another, you get a series of odd numbers, first ascending and then descending. In the Middle Ages, rulers were especially sensitive to astrology and numerology, so many historical objects were laid down on some special dates. Believe these predictions or not, the Charles Bridge is already in its seventh century, and it is not afraid of floods!
Earlier, there were ferries in the same place, but they could not withstand severe floods. The most durable was the Judith Bridge - a stone bridge that served from 1172 to 1342, but it was also destroyed by unpredictable waters.
When Charles IV became the head of the Czech Republic in 1346, he was faced with the important task of building a new bridge. The case was entrusted Peter Parler- a young talented architect, whom Charles IV invited to the court to continue construction.
Taking into account the threat of floods, Parler designed the most powerful arches that must withstand the pressure of water of any force. This is a fact or a fiction, but there is information that wine and eggs were added to the solution during the construction of the bridge for the strength of the bridge.
To reduce the pressure on the supports of the bridge of water flows and to protect it from floods in front of the bridge, breakwaters are installed:
The history of Charles Bridge began with a different name. The king originally dedicated the bridge to Saint Vitus. Later, the name Prazhsky was assigned to the bridge. And in 1870, grateful descendants gave this historical site the name of its founder - Charles IV.
By that time, a monument to the most famous king of Bohemia had already been erected at the Old Town Bridge Tower:
In 1848, the monument was opened to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Prague University. Charles IV has ensured so many achievements over the years of his reign that it was probably not so easy to decide where to place the main sculpture of the king. But next to such a popular bridge, a monument to its founder was erected very opportunely.
Walk on the Charles Bridge
We will start our walk from the monument to Charles IV. We enter the bridge over the arch of the Old Town Gothic Tower and immediately plunge into its Brownian movement:
There is active movement here all the time. Some are striding briskly in the direction of the bridge towers. Others walk across the bridge from sculpture to sculpture, still others examine drawings and paintings by artists, and still others rush about choosing the best angles for photographs.
A flock of pedestrians gathers at the sculpture of Jan Nepomuk, who set out to make a wish on the Charles Bridge.
And someone stopped for a while to listen to the music of Prague. Musicians often play here and whole groups perform:
In many European cities, such street concerts are practiced. I already wrote about where you can listen to Spanish. In Prague, classical music and folk motives are often heard on the streets.
At any time of the day, within the Charles Bridge, they sell souvenirs, jewelry and other small products that tourists are not indifferent to:
People come to the bridge for the magnificent views of Prague for a reason. They are really impressive. Romantic views of the Vltava, the Royal Baths and Bedřich Smetana open up:
Charles Bridge is so well located that you can, while walking slowly, see many of the sights of Prague, orient yourself where they are on the city map, so that you can then purposefully go to them.
The panorama of the opposite bank invariably captures everyone, dominated by:
So, without ceasing to press the camera buttons, we will gradually move towards the Lesser Towns:
If in this place you look down over the railing of the bridge on the right side, you will be amazed at the unusual picture - you will not see such Prague anywhere! At the bottom, it turns out, there is a canal, a bridge, which go into the water of the house as foundations ... Venice, and that's all! You can see the details of the Venetian profile of Prague in the article:
And now let's move to the left, relative to the direction of our walk, the side of the bridge. Moreover, in this place there is both a staircase leading to, and a house with a remarkable balcony:
This house is located on the Kampa Island, but very close to the Charles Bridge. It is famous for its rich history and legend about the mistress of the house, who saved the icon of the Mother of God in the flood, and in return found her own salvation.
House legend U Obrazku Panny Marie
In 1890, Prague was overtaken by such a flood, during which not only the Kampa, and a significant part of the Lesser Town, but also part of the Old Town were submerged. In the house near the Charles Bridge, the mistress of the house, Anna, remained captive to the water element. When the poor woman had already lost all hope of salvation, she noticed the icon of the Virgin Mary, brought to the house by flood waters. Anna was able to get the icon out of the water and incessantly prayed in front of the icon until the water began to subside.
For more than a year, the citizens of Prague have been rebuilding the city, which suffered from floods. And in 1892, when the island of Kampa returned to its normal life, in the upper part of the house the hostess installed an icon-savior, and in front of it an icon lamp.
In memory of this significant event, the house was named U Obrazku Panny Marie. For more than a century, descendants have been vigilantly guarding the marked place. The icon lamp was replaced by electric candles. In the warm season, the balcony of the house blooms, attracting admiring glances from passers-by. A special impression is made by the consecrated corner in the evening, flickering with candle lights.
However, I heard this legend when I stood in the evening on the Charles Bridge and stared in fascination at the flickering lights in front of the icon.
Charles Bridge is attractive and amazing at any time of the day. We just took an afternoon walk. It is interesting to walk along the bridge in the evening, when the shadows of the bridge towers and sculptures in the rays of the setting sun create a whimsical picture on the pavement:
Charles Bridge is magnificent at night, when lanterns and searchlights illuminate the bridge and create an expressive composition of the bridge and Prague Castle:
The evening-night Charles Bridge looks more spectacular from the side or from the island of Kampa. But walking on it, of course, is better in the daytime. Walking 520 m long is almost invariably included in sightseeing tours of Prague. Especially if tourists are eager to get to know Prague. In this case, they risk crossing the bridge in just 15 minutes, without really seeing anything. No need to rush! Charles Bridge is one of the most significant sights of Prague. Look around, feel its atmosphere, and you will definitely come back to this bridge.
Your euro-guide Tatiana
