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Why the Charles Bridge
is special
It is
Prague's oldest (14th Century), best preserved and most beloved bridge - and has become a city
icon and a world famous gathering spot.
Charles Bridge
tips & insights
On fair weather middays, thousands of tourists, street musicians and artists, and souvenir hawkers pack
the cobbled road from one end of Charles Bridge to the other. This creates a fun, carnival-like atmosphere.
For a completely different ambiance, go when Charles Bridge is practically empty.
Best times are in the early morning (when the mist glides down the river)
and in the evening (when Prague Castle and other old edifices are
romantically illuminated).
The
Charles Bridge spans the Vtlava (Moldau) River, two main parts of Prague. It
measures 515 meters (about 1700 feet) in length and 10 meters (33 feet) wide.
Until
1840, it was the only means of crossing the river except by boat.
The
original structure (named Judith Bridge) was built in 1157. It stood for nearly
200 years before a severe flood ended its functional life.
Emperor
Charles IV commissioned the replacement (1347). It was solidly built as it has
lasted for about 650 years and counting. It even survived the disastrous 2002
megaflood.
The
bridge was named for the emperor, but not until 500 years after his death.
Previously, people called it the Stone or Prague Bridge.
Horses,
carriages, trams and cars once crossed the bridge. It is now for pedestrian use
only.
Steep
roofed fortified towers guard both ends of the structure.
The
single tower on the Old Town side is considered one of Europe's greatest Gothic
architectural masterpieces.
The other end has two towers (see photo). The shorter one on
the left was erected in the 13th century and is a leftover from the original
Judith Bridge. The taller one was put up about 200 years later.
Charles
Bridge is embellished with copies of Baroque ecclesiastical statues that were
removed for preservation's sake. Good thing. The replicas have acquired an
unsightly black patina from the coal soot discharged over time from Prague
chimneys. The soot is too deeply imbedded to be cleaned without defacing the
sculptures.
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