Charles Bridge

10 months ago

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Culture-Bridge Culture-Historical Building Culture-Landmark Culture-Statue

One of the highlights in Prague, adding to the city’s medieval history, is the 14th century Charles Bridge. It’s the city’s oldest bridge, commissioned by King Charles IV, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Building began in 1357 after Judith’s Bridge was destroyed in a flood. The Charles Bridge was built on a stronger sandstone foundation, to withstand the power of the Vltava river. On the eastern side of the bridge is the Old Town Bridge Tower, leading towards the city centre. On the western bank are the two Lesser Town Bridge Towers, which mark the entrance to the Lesser Town. It’s possible to climb the towers on either side of the bridge to gain views of Prague, the Vltava river, and the flocks of pedestrians crossing the bridge. The towers are ticketed. It is 516 metres long and 10 metres wide which allowed horse and carriage to cross over the river. This was an extremely important feature as, up until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the only connection between Prague Castle and the Old Town. Over the years, the Charles Bridge has been adorned with the statues of 30 saints - designed in Baroque style - the most famous of which is St. Jan Nepomucký – noticeable due to a halo of stars above his head. Today, local artists and musicians line the bridge busking and selling their wares. Top Tip: The bridge gets extremely busy in the middle of the day, especially during summer. Visit early in the morning or at night to avoid congestion and to see the bridge in peace. It’s worth visiting numerous times at different hours as there’s always something new to admire about the architecture. Photo Credits: Martin Krchnacek on Unsplash