The Charles Bridge (Karlův most), connecting the districts of Stare Mesto and Malá Strana, is one of the most important sights of Prague. When describing this bridge, only superlatives of the adjective come to mind: the most famous, the most beautiful, the oldest. Its length is 516 m, width is 10 m, and it stands on 16 supports. The construction of the bridge began in 1357 at the direction of Emperor Charles IV.

The bridge connecting the banks of Vltava for a long time served for the passage of kings from the Royal Court to Grad .For passage or passage through the bridge from ordinary citizens, a fee was charged .On the bridge fairs were held, knights tournaments were organized .In 1974, the Charles Bridge was made pedestrian, and now the bridge is completely left to merchants paintings, street artists and musicians, sellers of handmade ornaments and souvenirs .Walking on it, viewing towers and sculptures, bargaining for trinkets and truly valuable works of art, is a pleasant duty for every tourist .

Towers and sculptures of Charles Bridge

The Old Town Bridge Tower is built over the first bridge pillar on the Křižovnické nám side. in the Gothic style in the 1380s-1390s. At the top of the tower there is an observation deck (June-September 10.00-22.00, March-May, Oct. 10.00-19.00, November-February 10.00-17.00).

At the entrance to the bridge from the left bank of the Vltava there are two Malostransky bridge towers connected from the Middle Ages by the gates. The large tower (the second half of the 15th century) has observation areas and an exposition telling about the history of the Charles Bridge. The smaller tower (12th century) is part of the Roman fortress, which protected the approaches to the bridge.

At the end of the 17th century a sculptural gallery was created on the bridge, depicting the main Czech saints, now it consists of 30 statues. Some of the sculptures were replaced by copies, and the originals were taken to the Lapidarium of the National Museum on Vystavishte in order to protect them from destruction. The oldest and most famous of them is a statue of John of Nepomuk, a very revered martyr in Prague, whom King Vaclav IV drowned in the Vltava. According to the legend, the statue fulfills the wishes, if to make them, by touching the base of the statue.

If you go first along the northern, right, side of the Old Site, you can view the statues in the following order: c .Bernard of Clairvaux and Madonna (1709, copy); sv .Dominic and St. .Thomas Aquinas at the feet of the Madonna (1708, copy); The crucifixion (1629) stands in place of the cross, formerly the only decoration of the bridge; sv .Anna with her daughter, the future virgin Mary (1707); свв .Cyril and Methodius, reading the sermon to the Gentiles (1928); sv .John the Baptist (1857); sv .Norbert, St. .Wenceslas and St. .Sigismund (1853); sv .Jan Nepomuk (1683); sv .Anthony of Padua with the Child Jesus (1707); the apostle Judas Thaddeus (1708); Blessed Augustine (1708, copy); sv .Kayetan (1709); sv .Philippe Benicius (1714); sv .Wit with tame lions (1714); The Savior from Saints .Kosma and Damian, healers (1709) .

On the south bridge parapet are located: St. .Wenceslas (1858); sv .Johannes Bohemian, St. .John of Mata, St. .Felix from Valois (1714) - inside the pedestal is a dungeon, symbolizing a cave with Christians, the entrance to which is guarded by the Turks .Jan and Felix were the founders of the order, who bought Christians from the Turkish captivity .During the Second World War, this statue was a symbol of the hope of the Prague residents to be liberated from the invaders, every night the inhabitants of the city brought fresh flowers to the monument, which forced the Nazis to put a police post here; sv .Voitekh (1709, copy); sv .Luigar converses with Christ (1710, a copy) - the most valuable baroque sculpture on the bridge; sv .Nikolai Tolentinsky (1708, copy); knight Brunzvik with a hand-held lion (1884); sv .Vikenty Ferrer and representatives of the nations baptized by him, .Prokop Sazavsky with the angels (1712); sv .Francis of Assisi (1855); sv .Lyudmila teaches reading his grandson, sv .Wenceslas (1730s, copy); sv .Francis Borgia (1710); sv .Christopher carries the baby Jesus through the river (1857); sv .Francis Xavier and representatives of the nations baptized by him (1711, copy); sv .Joseph with the Child Jesus (1854); the mourning of Christ by the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene and John the Theologian (1859); свв .Varvara, Margarita (at her feet the dragon to whom she had chopped off her head) and Elizabeth (1707); sv .Yves and Themis judge the dispute between mother and son (1711, copy) . Author - Gulshat Zakirova

Reviews about Charles Bridge (10)

Evaluation 10

On the Charles Bridge it is worth to go February 23, 2015

Tatyana

was here in November 2014

Charles Bridge is a must for all pedestrian excursions around Prague, and this is not surprising, since the city's life flows here, a large number of people, merchants, street musicians, actors gather. Of course this is an old, perfectly preserved bridge and this is enough to walk along it. However, a lot of tourists are attracted here by the legend of Jana Nepomuk, who was once dropped from this bridge, as the grille with the figure of Saint now stands. Need to touch ... Read full review

Evaluation 10

Charles Bridge - a visiting card of the Czech Republic March 26, 2014

Lana orli

was here in January 2012

When you imagine Prague or the Czech Republic, the first picture arises in the imagination - it's the Charles Bridge. We were in Prague in May and for the New Year, and so the second option was winter, Gothic and gloomy - I liked it more. Sculptures of black stone on the bridge cause mystical sensations. There are always a lot of tourists on the bridge, even on January 1 at 9 am there were already a lot of people. If you go from the side of Old Mist, then to the left there is a descent to the island of Kampa. Very interesting place with retaranches, museums and a Christmas tree. And if you go ... Read the whole review

Evaluation 10

Charles Bridge is a majestic symbol of Prague February 14, 2014

Eleonora

was here in January 2014

Probably one of the most recognizable sights of Prague is rightly considered the famous Charles Bridge, which connects Stare Mesto and Mala Strana .It is majestic spread across the Vltava and annually it is visited by over a million tourists .Visit Prague without a walk on the Charles Bridge is simply unrealistic .Of course, it is better to get a sightseeing tour around the city, during which you will be told the history of the bridge and related interesting stories and legends (the cost of sightseeing tours in Prague of duration .Read the entire review

Evaluation 8

a bridge with interesting stories and legends! February 12, 2014

Marusya

was here in December 2012

In my opinion to visit Prague and not to visit Charles Bridge is barbarism! This place is worthy of all praise, not only thanks to its architectural ensemble, but also thanks to the many stories related to it!
Getting to the bridge is easiest to walk from any central metro station or tram. The road will take you from 10 to 20 minutes by walking along the streets of the fabulous Prague. Around a lot of souvenir shops and restaurants, but prices in this area is much higher. Moving on a couple of pro ... Read full review

Evaluation 10

Charles Bridge - the most beautiful, majestic, and mystic landmark in Prague November 29, 2013

Darianna

was here in October 2012

To visit Prague, and not to visit Charles Bridge is simply impossible. This is one of the main attractions of the whole Czech Republic, which, as it turned out, is really beautiful and very majestic.

Since we spent a whole week in the Czech Republic, Charles Bridge was visited many times, both with a guide and just during the evening walks. It is beautiful at any time. In the afternoon, I enjoyed watching amazing paintings and ornaments that numerous local artists put up on the bridge, and in the evening could ... Read full review

Evaluation 6

and did not understand the hype October 25, 2013

Alliry

was here in July 2012

Many bridges are thrown across the Vltava in Prague, but only one of them enjoys such wild popularity among tourists. In any weather, at any time of year on the Charles Bridge it is necessary to squeeze past hundreds of travelers and excursion groups. This bridge is included in the mandatory program of excursions in Prague, it shows sculptures depicting the saints of this land and its patrons and tell stories about St. John of Nepomuk, dropped here in the river. Somehow it happened that it was his ... Read the whole review

Evaluation 6

and did not understand the hype October 25, 2013

Alliry

was here in July 2012

Many bridges are thrown across the Vltava in Prague, but only one of them enjoys such wild popularity among tourists. In any weather, at any time of year on the Charles Bridge it is necessary to squeeze past hundreds of travelers and excursion groups. This bridge is included in the mandatory program of excursions in Prague, it shows sculptures depicting the saints of this land and its patrons and tell stories about St. John of Nepomuk, dropped here in the river. Somehow it happened that it was his ... Read the whole review

Evaluation 10

Charles Bridge must visit September 3rd, 2013

Vitalina

was here in September 2013

Charles Bridge had to be visited on their own in their spare time, as our guide for several days in Prague stubbornly avoided his side. Now I read reviews of other tourists and I think that it was still necessary to try, so that it turned out. It is good that many materials were read at home and legends were read.
One of the numerous figures on the bridge is the statue of Jan Nepomuk, an honest priest who kept a secret even under torture, as the wife of the king told in confession. Яна ... Read the entire review

Evaluation 10

Charles Bridge is a true architectural masterpiece August 29, 2013

Galina

was here in April 2012

All walking tours of Prague necessarily pass along the Charles Bridge, as it is one of the oldest and well-preserved sights of the city. We had an excursion from Malostranska metro station to Charles Bridge, then crossed it and headed towards Old Town Square. Charles Bridge is a completely pedestrian zone, thanks to which artists, musicians, animal trainers, souvenir dealers gather here. Therefore, a walk on the bridge is also a kind of visit ... Read the whole review

Evaluation 10

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Kaaaaaa

was here in August 2013

Charles Bridge, this is a must-see of Prague. Around him is the whole life of the guests of the beer capital, especially for him to see very few people, because all the tourist routes pass through him and during his stay in this city, walk on it at least 10-15 times.
On the bridge is a huge number of tents with souvenirs (prices by the way are not much different from the shops in other areas remote from the tourist centers). All year round in Prague there are many tourists, and on the Charles Bridge ... Read the whole review