Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
  Scroll down for more pictures  
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge in Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Charles Bridge
Also known as:Karlův Most
Spanning the Vltava River, connecting the Little Quarter with the Old Town., Prague, Hlavni Mesto Praha Czech Republic
Print this page   •   Share this page

The most famous landmark in Prague, the Charles Bridge has been carrying people across the river for hundreds of years. It was commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1357 to replace the old Judith Bridge which was destroyed by the flood of 1342. The Judith Bridge was the second medieval stone bridge erected in Europe. Its western tower (built in 1158) still stands just to the south of the current Little Quarter bridge tower. When completed, it was an engineering marvel, wide enough for four carriages to pass simultaneously. These days, it is a pedestrian paradise with tourists and daydreamers promenading across the sandstone arches from one side to the other, stealing glances at the statues lining each side. The bridge has suffered from environmental damage, neglect, and ordinary wear and tear. Today, many of the statues that once lined the bridge are in the National Museum for safe keeping. But copies have been put in their place, and the tourists don't know the difference. Traveling from west to east, the monumnts you encounter are:

* Saint Wenceslas (1858)
* Saint Cosmas, Jesus Christ, and Saint Damiam (1709)
* Saint John de Matha, Saint Felix de Valois, and the Blessed Ivan (1714)
* Saint Vitus (1714)
* Saint Adalbert (1709)
* Saint Philip Benizi (1714)
* Saint Luitgard (1710)
* Saint Cajetan (1709)
* Saint Nicholas Tolentino (1708)
* Saint Augustine (1708)
* Saint Vincent Ferrer and Saint Procopius (1712)
* Saint Jude Thaddaeus (1708)
* Saint Francis of Assisi with two angels (1855)
* Saint Anthony of Padua (1707)
* Saint Ludmilla (1710)
* Saint Norbert, Saint Wenceslas, and Saint Sigismund (1853)
* Saint Francis Borgia (1710)
* Saint John the Baptist (1857)
* Saint Christopher (1857)
* Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius (1938)
* Saint Francis Xavier (1711)
* Saint Ann (1707)
* Saint Joseph (1854)
* Jesus on the cross (1629)
* Pietà (1859)
* The Madonna, Saint Dominic, and Saint Thomas (1708)
* Saint Barbara, Saint Margaret, and Saint Elizabeth (1707)
* The Madonna and Saint Bernard (1709)

Quick Facts
  • Construction end: 1357
  • Type: Bridge
  • Maximum Width: 1,706 feet / 520 meters
Notes
    >For centuries, the bridge's only decoration was a wooden cross erected in the 1500's. A wooden cross still stands on the same location, but a golden figure of Christ was added in 1629. The crucifix is also adorned with gold Hebrew letters spelling out "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord." This was a punishment for the Jew forced to pay for it after being accused of blasphemy.
Rate This Bridge
method='post' action='/Building.php?ID=99#Rate'>Current rating:50% 10%  name='Rating' id='Rating' value='Praise' class='Plain'> name='Rating' id='Rating' value='Raze' class='Plain'>
Your Thoughts

There is one comment.

Add Your Comments name="Name" id="Name" class="Required" size="40" value="">
name="Email" id="Email" class="Required" size="40" value="">


name="Precious" value="Snowflake">

E-mail address for validation only. It will not be displayed. Valid name and e-mail address required.

name="on" id="Email" class="Required" size="10" maxlength="2">This helps fight spam bots.
name="ea" id="Email" class="Required" size="10" maxlength="4">This helps fight spam bots.
value="Add">