Walking around Prague - Bridges of Prague. How many bridges are there in Prague? Bridges in Prague over the Vltava

Charles Bridge in Prague is the calling card of the Czech capital and a very atmospheric place, imbued with the spirit of antiquity. Here you can admire beautiful views of the city, look at sculptures and make wishes. Since 1992, Charles Bridge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of Charles Bridge

The destruction of the Juditina Bridge by flood in 1342 became the impetus for the construction in 1357 of a more modern crossing over the Vltava. The first architect of the new bridge was Master Otto. The exact year in which construction was completed is unknown, but the funeral procession carrying the remains of Charles IV in 1378 passed over the already established bridge.

Options Charles Bridge were stunning in their time and inspire awe even today:

• length - 520 meters;
• width - 9.5 meters;
• height - 13 meters above the river.

Over the centuries, the bridge has been destroyed many times due to floods. The ancient monuments were miraculously preserved and the building looks almost the same as it did six and a half centuries ago. After a catastrophic flood in 1890, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out.

In 2004-2005 work was carried out to preserve the two pillars, and in 2007 a complete reconstruction of the Charles Bridge was carried out again, this should eliminate some of the adverse effects of past floods.

Legends about construction

According to legend, in those distant times numbers were given great importance. Therefore, before starting construction of the bridge, Charles IV turned to astrologers for advice. And on their recommendation, the first stone of the crossing was laid by the emperor himself on July 9, 1357 at 5.31 am. If you write the numbers in the following sequence: year, day, month and time, you get 135797531 - a number that can be read equally in both directions, or as it is also called a “palindrome”. According to legend, only thanks to the correctly chosen date, the bridge stood for centuries and will stand for the same amount of time.

There is another explanation for the strength of the bridge: to improve the solution, raw eggs, milk and wine were added to it, and the products were collected throughout the country. There are many funny fables associated with this legend, some of them:

1. Residents of one village wanted to please the emperor so much that they boiled eggs to prevent them from breaking.
2. From one small town, people sent not only milk, but also cottage cheese and hard cheese. In this way they wanted to curry favor with Charles IV.

Sculptures and towers on the Charles Bridge

It is not for nothing that Charles Bridge is considered the main architectural landmark of Prague, because it is decorated with a free open-air gallery. There are 30 sculptures on the bridge, and each of them has its own story, which is intertwined with the history of the Czech Republic. Most of the statues were created in the 17th-18th centuries by Czech sculptors: Matthias Bernard Braun, Jan Brokoff and Ferdinand Maximilian. Almost all the sculptures depict Czech saints and are made of stone in the Baroque style. Today, the bridge contains mostly replicas of the statues, while the originals are kept in the National Museum.

The statue of John of Nepomuk is the oldest and only bronze sculpture; it has been on the bridge since 1683. As legend has it, Jan was thrown from a bridge in 1393 for not revealing his wife’s confession to King Wenceslas IV.

The most famous sculptural groups:

1. “The Turk Who Guards the Christians in Captivity” is a 1714 work by Jan Brokoff.
2. “Crucifixion” is the oldest group, brought from Dresden in 1657.
3. “Virgin Mary and Child and Saint Anne” - the work of sculptor Matej Václav Jákelj in 1707.

The towers at both ends of the Charles Bridge were its only decorations until the mid-17th century. The eastern tower is located at the entrance from the bridge in Stare Mesto and is called the Old Town Tower. Its construction was supervised by the architect Petr Parler from 1357 to 1380. The East Tower is the most beautiful 14th century building in Europe, its height is 47 meters above the level of the bridge. The Old Town Tower is decorated with the coats of arms of the Holy Roman Empire and figures of St. Vitus, Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, St. Vojtech and Sigismund (patrons of the Czech Republic), and the tower is topped with pointed spiers.

The western towers were built at the entrance from the bridge to Mala Strana and are called Mala Strana. These towers were built in different centuries: the taller tower was completed in 1464, and the lower tower was built in 1591. The two western towers are similar in architectural style to the eastern tower.

The neo-Gothic staircase to Kampa Island is part of the Charles Bridge architectural monument; its construction was completed in 1844.

Making wishes near St. John of Nepomuk

There are several places on the Charles Bridge where you can make a wish. Every day, crowds of tourists gather near the statue of St. John of Nepomuk (John of Nepomuk), a Czech Catholic martyr, to make a wish. Under the sculpture of the saint there are 2 bas-reliefs:

• if you rub the bas-relief on the right, your wish will come true;
• If you make a wish for a person and rub the bas-relief on the left, your friendship with the wished-for person will strengthen.

Tourists have rubbed the “magical places” on the bas-reliefs until they shine, so finding the right place is not difficult.

For a wish to come true, it must be intangible.

Another wish can be made at the very place where St. John of Nepomuk was thrown into the river. There is a belief that when the body sank under the water, 5 stars shone above the Vltava, and since that time St. John of Nepomuk has been depicted with 5 stars above his head. The bronze figurine of the martyr is located in the middle of the bridge on a pedestal; when making a wish, the fingers of the right hand should be placed on the stars, and the left hand should be placed on the feet of the saint or on the copper cross.

Charles Bridge has been a pedestrian bridge since 1974. It immediately became a favorite place for tourists, as well as a concentration of street musicians, dancers, artists, antiques and souvenir dealers. Walking along the bridge, you can meet more than one jazz band.

Where is it and how to get there

Address: Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic.

Charles Bridge is located in the historical center of Prague, close to such popular attractions as the Powder Tower, Prague Castle, and Clementinum. Within walking distance of the bridge there are a variety of accommodation options, ranging from inexpensive hostels to 5-star ones.

How to get there

Metro(nearest stations line "A"):

• Staroměstska (right bank of the Vltava);
• Malostranska (left bank of the Vltava).

By bus: No. 194, No. 207 - to the “Stare Mesto” stop.

By tram:

• to the Staroměstska stop: No. 1, No. 2, No. 17, No. 18, No. 25, No. 93;
• to the Malostranska stop: No. 1, No. 2, No. 12, No. 15, No. 18, No. 20, No. 22, No. 23, No. 25, No. 97.

Distance from Wenceslas Square Charles Bridge is only 1 km away and can be reached on foot, first along Melantrichova Street and then along Karlova Street.

Charles Bridge on the map of Prague

Charles Bridge in Prague is the calling card of the Czech capital and a very atmospheric place, imbued with the spirit of antiquity. Here you can admire beautiful views of the city, look at sculptures and make wishes. Since 1992, Charles Bridge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of Charles Bridge

The destruction of the Judith Bridge by flood in 1342 became the impetus for the construction..." />

Today we’ll talk about the sights that characterize Prague no less vividly than the Old Town Hall or St. Vitus Cathedral. In terms of the number of bridges, Prague is, of course, inferior to Paris, because the capital of France has 38 of them. But the spirit of these two cities with their romanticism attracts many lovers from different countries of the world.

So, there are 18 bridges in Prague. The most popular and ancient Prague bridge is. Its laying took place in 1357, on July 9 at 5:31 am. King Charles 4 himself was present at the foundation. The shortest bridge in Prague is called Svatopluk (it is 170 meters long). There are 2 railway bridges across the Vltava. One of them, Smíchov Bridge, goes straight to (a settlement that rivals Prague Castle in terms of the antiquity of its foundation), and on the other bank is the famous.

In 1973, a bridge was built across the Nusel Valley, the length of which was 485 meters, height - 40 meters, width - 26.7 meters. These are 6 transport lanes and 2 pedestrian lanes. Crossing the Nusel Valley, the bridge connects two parts of the city - New Mesto and Pankrác, under it passes the tunnel of the Red Line metro, which was launched in 1974. The Nuslinsky Bridge is also called the “suicide bridge”; about 200 people jumped from it with fatal results.

From the Legia Bridge, which starts from, there is a beautiful view of Prague Castle, and from, which overlooks, you can climb to, from where you will have a magnificent panorama of the Old Town. All 18 bridges in Prague cross one single river, whose name is the Vltava. This river originates in the Czech Republic and in the Czech Republic flows into the Laba (Elbe), carrying the memories of the ancient city to where time is endless.

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The Charles Bridge(Karlův most) - a bridge in Prague over the Vltava river, one of the most recognizable landmarks of Prague.

Construction of the Charles Bridge began in 1357. The first stone during construction was laid by Charles IV, and the bridge was subsequently named after him.

History of Charles Bridge in Prague

Charles Bridge - the oldest bridge in Prague and those that connect the banks of the Vltava River - was built on the site of the Judith Bridge, destroyed in 1342 as a result of a flood. The idea belonged to King Charles IV, which is why the bridge is called Charles. Construction began in 1357 and was completed only at the beginning of the 15th century under the leadership of the famous Czech architect Petr Parlez. He also erected and decorated with sculptures the bridge tower on the side of the old city.

There is a legend that the time to begin construction of the bridge was chosen by astrologers. Historian Zdenek Gorski claims that the first stone was laid by Charles IV himself on July 9, 1357 at 5:31. If you write down the numbers of the selected date in a row, you get a palindrome: 1 3 5 7 (year) 9 (day) 7 (month) 5 3 1 (time). Then the magic of numbers played an important role in making any decisions. The start of construction at this very moment predicted that the Charles Bridge would survive many centuries.

If you believe the legend, the famous Catholic martyr and saint John of Pomuk was thrown into the river from the Charles Bridge. When the body of the priest in the bag disappeared under the water, eyewitnesses noticed the twinkling of 5 stars in the same place. Therefore, since then, the image of John of Nepomuk has always been depicted with 5 stars above his head. The place where this happened can be recognized by the cross attached with copper nails directly to the railing.

For a long period of time, the bridge was used by kings to travel from the Krolevsky Court to the City. And ordinary people were required to pay for passage.

Since 1974, the Charles Bridge in Prague has become completely pedestrian.

In September 1890, a terrible flood occurred in Prague, which caused severe damage to the Charles Bridge. There was a lot of debris stuck in the spans, trees blown down by the water, and a dam appeared. Under the pressure, some bridge supports collapsed. It took two years to eliminate all the consequences and damage caused by the disaster. The bridge was closed for a long time; it was opened on November 19, 1892.

Until 1908, the city's horse-drawn railway passed through the bridge, and since 1883, an electric tram. But after some time, worried about the safety of the bridge, it was banned.

Sculptures on Charles Bridge

There are 30 sculptures installed on the bridge, which were made at different times. List of sculptures on Charles Bridge:

1. St. Ivo (1711, M. B. Brown);
2. Madonna with Saint Bernard (1708 - 1709, M. V. Yakel);
3. Saints Barbara, Margaret and Elizabeth (1707, F. M. Brokoff);
4. Madonna with Saints Dominic and Thomas Aquinas (1708, M.V. Yakel);
5. Pieta (1859, J. Max);
6. The crucifix is ​​the very first sculpture, installed in 1629, (H. Hillinger);
7. Saint Joseph (1854, J. Max);
8. Saint Anne (1707, M.V. Yakel);
9. St. Francis Xavier (1711, F. M. Brokoff);
10. Saints Cyril and Methodius (1928, K. Dvorak);
11. Saint Christopher (1857, E. Max);
12. Saint John the Baptist (1857, J. Max);
13. St. Francis Borgia (1710, F. M. Brokoff);
14. Saints Norbert, Wenceslas and Sigismund (1853, J. Max);
15. Saint Ludmila (1720, M. B. Brown);
16. Saint John of Nepomuk (1683, J. Brokoff);
17. Saint Francis of Asiz (1855, E Max);
18. Saint Anthony of Padua (1707, J. O. Mayer);
19. Saint Vincent of Ferrara and Saint Procopius (1712, F. M. Brokoff);
20. Holy Apostle Jude Thaddeus (1708, J. O. Mayer);
21. Saint Nicholas of Tolenti (1708, I. Kol);
22. St. Augusti8 (1709, I. Kohl);
23. Saint Lutgarde (1710, M. W. Brown);
24. Saint Cajetan (1709, F. M. Brokoff);
25. St. Vojtech (1709, J. M. Brokoff);
26. St. Philip of Benitsky (1714, M. B. Mandl);
27. Saints Jean de Mata, Felix de Valois and Ivan of Bohemia (1714, F. M. Brokoff);
28. St. Vitus (1714, m. B. Mandl);
29. Saint Wenceslas (1859, J.C. Boehm);
30. Christ the Savior with Saints Cosmas and Damian (1709, J. O. Mayer).

Currently, 28 of the 31 statues are installed on the bridge - exact copies of the originals, which were transferred to the National Museum in the 20th century. This was done because the sculptures were made of short-lived sandstone and were destroyed.

Near one of the bridge supports there is also a sculpture of Brunswick - the work of an unidentified sculptor from the early 16th century.

Charles Bridge Towers

There are towers on both sides of the Charles Bridge:

• (height 47 meters) - built in the Gothic style according to the design of Peter Parler in the mid-14th century and was conceived as a triumphal arch for crowning kings;
• Lesser Town Bridge Towers- these are two towers of different heights and styles, built at the beginning of the 15th century on the site of an old Romanesque tower;

Make a wish on the Charles Bridge

There are two places on the bridge where tourists make wishes:

• near the statue of John of Nepomuk;
• near the grate with the image of John, where, according to legend, he was thrown into the Vltava.

Remember that the desire must be real and fulfilled.

Where is Charles Bridge?

Charles Bridge is located in the center of Prague - the capital of the Czech Republic and connects the Lesser Town and Stare Mesto districts.

How to get to Most?

There are tram stops near Charles Bridge:

• Karlovy lázně - trams No. 2, 17, 18, 53. (Stare Mesto)
• Staroměstská - trams No. 2, 17, 18, 53. (Stare Mesto)
• Malostranské náměstí - trams No. 1, 12, 15, 20, 22, 25, 57. (Mala Strana)

Or take metro line A to Staroměstská or Malostranská station.

If necessary (for example, to organize a shopping tour), we buy package tours on.

Magnificent bridges of Prague

The first bridge built in this city was located exactly where Charles Bridge is now located. It was built in the first half of the 10th century, made of wood. The body of the late Wenceslas from Stara Boleslavy was transported to the City over this bridge. For several decades, the bridge served the city faithfully, however, the flood of 1157 destroyed it to the ground, and Vladislav II, who ruled at that time, was forced to build a new bridge. Thus, the Vltava was soon crossed by the Judith Bridge, which was located a little to the north. The building received its name in honor of Queen Judith, who oversaw the construction process. In those years, this bridge was considered the only technical structure of such a significant scale in Europe.

The Judith Bridge existed for almost 200 years, until another flood hit Prague. After the flood of 1342, the bridge was almost completely destroyed. The remains of the supports of this Romanesque structure are the only reminders of the once powerful structure.

A few years later, in 1357, construction began on the bridge, which still stands today. The half-kilometer-long structure stands on sixteen pylons connected by arched vaults, while the Judith Bridge was supported by as many as 24 supports. Apparently, that’s why he got hurt because he interfered too much with the flow of the river.

The Charles Bridge

The bridge, erected by order of Charles IV, has attracted the attention of engineers and architects throughout Europe since its construction. The longest bridge in Europe - Dresden - has long been considered the most spectacular. Prague has always been known as the most durable. The impressive (at that time) width of the bridge, which was almost 10 meters, made it possible to hold tournaments on it, which was actively used by the organizers of such events. As an example, we can mention the tournament of 1436, held here in honor of King Sigmund.

The direct creator of this structure was Peter Parlezh. The Baroque period gave the bridge three dozen statues and several groups of saints. The row of these architectural decorations became the longest gallery of its kind in the world. Many sculptors of this era contributed to the process of creating these masterpieces of architectural art. In addition to other architects and sculptors of that time, the most active participants in the creation of elements of this were the masters of the Brokoff family, as well as Jan Bedřich Kol and Matthias Braun. The sculptural group of St. has the greatest artistic value of all the sculptures. Luittard, the author of which is the same Matthias Braun. It is worth noting that this work glorified the master.

The Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge has suffered many floods, but to this day it stands firmly on the Vltava. Stronger than all the others was the flood of 1890, which raged so much that not all the sculptures that decorated the building remained in their places. The bridge has successfully survived many harsh trials, including numerous wars and floods. It became a real battlefield in 1848, during the revolution, and before that, in 1648, the battle between the inhabitants of the Old Town and the Swedish troops took place here. The bridge witnessed the flight of Frederick of the Palatinate, who was defeated in the Battle of Belogorsk. All the rulers who led the Czech Republic after Charles IV were crowned here, on this bridge. The bridge received its current name relatively recently, in 1870. Before that, it was known as “stone” or “Prague”.

For about five centuries, Charles Bridge was the only connecting link between the banks of Prague. The idea of ​​​​building another bridge across the Vltava was born only at the beginning of the century before last. The bridge itself appeared in 1842, receiving the name Shnirchow. This chain empire-style structure connects the shores of the Czech capital in the place where it is currently located. This building stood until 1901, and then it was replaced by a more modern structure, which is now called Legia Bridge.

As the railway network developed, the need arose to connect the left bank of Prague with the right bank through the construction of an appropriate structure, as a result of which a bridge appeared, through which trains traveled from Smichov. This building still operates successfully today. The year of his birth is considered to be 1878, and it is called -, which among all the stone structures of Prague is in second place after Charles. Another railway bridge was built near the island of Štvanice. At the same time, the chain bridge of Franz I stood on the site of the current one.

It’s unthinkable, but even in modern times Prague residents have managed quite successfully with such a small number of bridges. The river itself had a completely different appearance: when there were few bridges, one could see the silvery surface of the Vltava stretching for many kilometers. Now bridges break the river into many small sections, which completely changes the appearance of the reservoir. Nowadays, a completely different landscape appears before the eyes of citizens and guests of the city: a number of bridges, lined up in order, look charming in their own way and give the capital of the Czech Republic a unique flavor of a big city.

Each of these structures deserves separate mention, so let’s look at them in more detail. As already stated, Palacky Bridge stands in second place among stone structures after the Charles Bridge. This magnificent structure was once decorated with sculptural groups, the author of which was I.V. Myslbek. They had to be removed after the attack by American aircraft, which took place on February 14, 1945. On the side of the New Place, a statue of Libuš and Přemysl was installed, and not far from them stood the legendary singer of that time - Lumir. On the other side of the bridge one could see Zabu with Slavoj and Tstirada with Sharka. The sculptures that were seriously damaged during this raid were moved to a safer location in Visegrad.

Palacky Bridge

The first bridge structure built in the last century is called (Jiráskův most). The width, which greatly simplified the transport problems of Prague residents. The bridge was built in 1928, and it was named after the writer Alois Jirasek, who was the author of many historical novels. He worked and lived not far from the place where the bridge now stands. On the New Place side of the bridge there is a monument to the writer, and next to it there is an apartment building with a memorial plaque on it.

Moving further along the river, we will meet First of May Bridge (, Legionnaires' Bridge), and behind it the Charles Bridge. However, we have already talked about these structures above. Next in line - (Mánesův most), which was first commissioned in 1916. Its construction began in 1911, however, in subsequent years, during the First World War, construction was never completed. This concrete bridge was built near Krasnoarmeytsev Square.

The next building we will mention will be the former Svatopluk Cech Bridge (), which is the shortest of all. Its length is only 170 meters, and it serves as a connecting link between the Legeni coast.

This building is followed by Stefanikov Bridge (Štefánikův most), ferrying vehicles to the Legen tunnel. This concrete structure, where a chain bridge once stood, has been in use since 1951.

A little further down the river is located, consisting of two separate parts. The first of them was built of metal and put into operation in 1910, the second part was built of concrete, and the first transport drove through it two years later, in 1912. This second structure became the first concrete bridge in the city. Such famous masters as Mařatka, Stursa and Gutfreund were invited to decorate the building. Hlavkov Bridge can be divided into two parts as it passes over the largest island in Prague - Štvanice.

Glavkov Bridge

A separate topic for discussion will be one of the longest bridge structures in Prague -. Its length is 341 meters, and its width is twice as wide as the Charles Bridge. The distance from the left side to the right is 21 meters. This bridge connected Libeň and Holesovice. The structure was built of concrete in 1982.

Construction was completed almost immediately Bridge of Barricade Defenders (Most Barikádníků)- the last building in the chain of Prague bridges. This bridge helps to get from the center of Prague to. Historical information says that this place was a stronghold of the Prague Uprising.

Having visited Prague and climbed Letna, the tourist will discover a marvelous view of the city, with its magnificent towers, gates and bridges. And here and there the Vltava is crossed by many bridge structures, creating a kind of cascade. Among them is the legendary Charles Bridge, which today is not the only one of its kind, but invariably remains a unique monument of global scale. The idea of ​​​​building a bridge across the Nusel Valley arose several decades ago, but since the city did not feel an urgent need for this, this the project continued to hang in the air. However, as always happens, anything becomes possible as soon as the need arises, and when the time came, another bridge was built from the Pankratskaya Valley to the New Place, . This happened in the 60s, since tens of thousands of residents of the southern city could not otherwise quickly get to the center of Prague. Among other things, there was a need for the construction of a North-South highway, which could only be laid in this place. This bridge structure extends 490 meters in length, and a metro line is laid under its foundations. Cars and other vehicles pass over the bridge, which stands above the “bowl” of the Nusel Valley, at an altitude of 40 meters. It is supported by four capital pylons. It is worth noting that the main problem in the design and construction of this structure was overcoming the complexities of the terrain in this place, and not at all fighting the reservoir.

Nusel Bridge

The highway overpass connecting Vysočany with the Northern City is in many ways similar to the bridge over the Nusel Valley. Another bridge will soon be built in Prague, which will become part of the North-South highway. This structure will be located above the Prague-Stršed train station. To some extent, it can be considered that it will become a continuation of the Glavkov Bridge.

Prague bridge structures deserve respect not only due to their excellent technical parameters. Bridges differ from each other both in the material used in construction as a basis and in the architectural design. Each of them is beautiful and majestic in its own way. Driving one by one along the bridges of the Czech capital, more and more new landscapes and panoramas will open up to you, which you can enjoy endlessly. The city will appear before you from an unusual perspective more than once, and this will help you understand it better. You should definitely look at Prague bridges from above, because from above everything is perceived completely differently.

Every day thousands of people cross the Charles Bridge (Karlův most) in Prague. The reason for its popularity is simple: this medieval crossing today connects two of the most important areas of the city for tourists - the Old Town and Prague Castle.

Charles Bridge - history

Back in 1172, on the site of the Charles Bridge, a crossing over the Vltava River, the Judith Bridge, was built. Destroyed by the flood of 1342, it reminds of its existence only by the Small Bridge Tower, as well as several arches preserved in the basements of the houses.

The Czechs decided not to restore Juditin most. To the south of its ruins, the Charles Bridge was built under the leadership of the famous German-Czech architect, Peter Parler. The new structure was made taller and wider: with a length of 515.8 m, the width of the new structure increased by three meters, to 9.4 m, reaching 13.4 m in the most spacious area.

The exact date of the start of construction is known only from legends, which say that the time for the start of the first day of work was chosen by astrologers. They recommended laying the foundation stone for the future bridge on July 9, 1357 at 5:31 a.m., which Charles IV himself did.

Charles Bridge - Lesser Town Bridge Towers
Charles Bridge - Old Town Bridge Tower

Charles Bridge - architecture

The model for construction was obviously the Stone Bridge in Regensburg. The canvas holds 16 arches made of sandstone. The bridge is protected by three towers, two of which are located on the Mala Strana side. At the same time, the Old Town Bridge Tower is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in the city and Europe.

Between 1683 and 1714 the bridge was decorated with a chain of 30 baroque statues. Today they have all been replaced by replicas, but in those days the most famous Bohemian sculptors took part in their creation. All the statues are dedicated to revered saints of the turn of the century. In 1965, they were moved to the National Museum for preservation purposes.

Charles Bridge - sculptures
The Charles Bridge

It is interesting that among the sculptures of the Charles Bridge (this name was given to the crossing in 1870, on the wave of national revival) there are no representatives of politicians who advocated for the creation of a strong Czech state. So, you can’t even find sculptures of Charles IV and Wenceslas IV here. You can only see the distributors and ideologists of Catholicism (St. Bernard, St. Ivo, Thomas Aquinas, etc.).

Charles Bridge (Karlův most), originally called Prague Bridge, has repeatedly been tested by natural elements and man-made incidents. Unlike its predecessor, it managed to survive. So, in 1432, three supports were damaged as a result of a flood, in 1496 the third arch broke, and in 1648 battles between the Swedes and Czechs were fought right on the bridge during the Thirty Years' War. At the same time, the crossing lost most of its decorations.

Despite the fact that later the Charles Bridge faced the destructive forces of nature (for example, in 1748, five pillars were damaged by a flood), the crossing received its modern appearance at the turn of the 17th - 18th centuries. However, it was not only the elements that continued to test her fate. At the end of the 19th century, a horse-drawn line was launched across the bridge, and later a tram with a lower current collection was launched. Fortunately, the city authorities came to their senses in time, and in 1974 they made the crossing pedestrian.

It is worth noting that the Charles Bridge, as the only connecting link between the two banks, played an important role in the history of the city’s development. So, when it became clear that its maintenance would require considerable sums, control over the payment of duties was entrusted to the Order of Malta and the Order of the Red Star Crusaders. Having gained control of the eastern and western parts of the bridge, respectively, they erected entire areas: one around the Maltese and Velkoprevorskaya squares, and the second near the Square of the Crusaders.

Like the bridge itself, the elements associated with it are architectural monuments. The neo-Gothic staircase to Campu Island (1844), all three towers, and stairs deserve the attention of travelers.

Charles Bridge - evening
Charles Bridge - at dawn

This architectural object played an important role in the history of the city. According to legend, it was from here that John of Nepomuk, a revered Czech saint, was thrown into a sack. After the execution of the leaders of the anti-Habsburg uprising on June 27, 1621, the heads of 12 leaders of the Protestant movement hung on the Old Town Bridge Tower for 10 years. Since 1438, the Royal Route, the route along which future Czech rulers traveled to the coronation ceremony, passed over the bridge.

Today Charles Bridge is one of the most famous in Europe. Guests of Prague believe that wishes made here will definitely come true. Well, skeptics will undoubtedly enjoy getting acquainted with the unique work of art of medieval architects.

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Charles Bridge - address: Karluv most, 110 00 Prague 1