Charles Bridge in Prague, history, information and interesting facts

Charles Bridge in Prague, the most famous monument of the Czech capital and its symbol.

Czech Prague is one of my favourite European capitals. Besides the vast number of remarkable landmarks and attractions that have accumulated over centuries of city development, Prague boasts a fantastic atmosphere that can rival only a few cities on our continent.

Prague also embodies traditions and the care for their preservation. At every turn, you encounter traces of the city’s extraordinary history. Thanks to such a combination, the Czech capital attracts millions of tourists from around the world each year.

Charles Bridge in Prague, an extraordinary monument and symbol of the city

We will write about Prague’s landmarks many times, but today we will focus on one of the most recognizable structures of the city, the Charles Bridge. It spans the banks of the Vltava River, flowing through Prague, and connects two important districts of the Czech capital: Mala Strana and Old Town.

Currently, Prague boasts many bridges, but there was a time when the Charles Bridge was the only such structure in the city. The only one, but not the first. The present stone bridge was built on the ruins of an older, Norman construction, called Judith Bridge. It was a mighty and very modern construction for its time. To this day, Judith Bridge in Prague is considered one of the oldest stone bridges of such dimensions in Europe.

One of the dark legends tells that Judith Bridge became a meeting place for witches with the devil himself. It was there at nights they practised their rites in his honour, for which God sent a great flood upon the city, destroying the bridge and the witches dancing on it. Whether it was due to the witches or not, in any case, the swollen river waters destroyed the bridge in just a few hours.

The remnants of the Judith Bridge can be seen in the basements of many houses in the promised part of the old Mala Strana district. Another remnant of the former crossing is the stone tower of Judith on the Mala Strana bank, which today, along with the latter added Gothic tower, forms the entrance to the Charles Bridge.

Charles Bridge in Prague The history of Prague’s Bridge

Construction of the new bridge began in 1357 during the reign of Emperor Charles IV, after whom the bridge is named. The decision to build was made several years after a mighty flood destroyed the previous structure.

City officials opted for a traditional stone bridge, consisting of sixteen arches and fifteen piers. Furthermore, to protect the structure from the spring ice floes flowing down the river each year, wooden icebreakers were installed on the bridge piers.

It was calculated that the bridge would be over half a kilometre long and nearly ten meters wide. These dimensions made the Prague Bridge one of the largest such structures in Europe at that time. Construction was completed in 1402.

An additional attraction for tourists is the surrounding buildings coexisting with the bridge itself. These include stone approaches, barriers also made of stone, and towers standing on both sides of the river. One of them still remembers the times when the previous bridge stood on the river.

The Charles Bridge has been repaired and rebuilt many times. Interestingly, nature rather than human activities was often responsible for the damage.

The most serious damage was caused by spring floods, which plagued the Czech capital from the 17th to the 19th century. During one such flood, a part of one of the bridge spans was destroyed, and the guardhouses erected on top of it collapsed. Another major disaster in 1890 tore the bridge into two parts and destroyed two piers along with the spans.

The last flood, one of the largest in the city’s history, hit Prague in 2002. Fortunately, the old monument was not damaged. This event contributed to the start of restoration and protective works.

Baroque sculptures on Charles Bridge in Prague

The Prague Bridge is a beautiful structure, and it is adorned with Baroque sculptures, which were added from the late 17th to the early 20th century.

There are 30 sculptures in total, forming an extraordinary open-air art exhibition. Mostly, they depict saints, including the famous statue of Canon Jan Nepomucen. He became renowned for refusing to reveal the confessions of Queen Sophia, wife of King Wenceslaus IV, to the jealous ruler.

The brave priest did not betray the confession secret even after the king threatened to throw him off the Charles Bridge into the waters of the Vltava River. Eventually, the monk cunningly stated that he would confess the queen’s sins to a being present in the room. The king agreed to this solution, but he became enraged when the canon leaned down and whispered the secret in the dog’s ear.

The enraged ruler finally fulfilled his threat. The monk’s body was thrown into the river, and his monument was erected on the Charles Bridge. After some time, Jan Nepomucen was canonized and became the patron saint of Prague, as well as of drowning victims and bridge builders. The statue of the monk was the first to be placed on the bridge walls. In addition to it, there are also sculptures of John the Baptist, Saint Adalbert, and Saint Joseph.

Bridge towers at Charles Bridge in Prague

It’s worth mentioning the incredibly interesting buildings that are an integral part of the Charles Bridge. These include two towers standing on the side of Mala Strana and the beautiful Gothic Old Town Bridge Tower located on the side of the Old Town district.

The two towers on the Mala Strana side come from different periods. The smaller and older one, called Judith Tower, was part of the old bridge, and the second one was added when the Charles Bridge was built. It served various functions, including defence and storage. Unfortunately, the old tower is inaccessible to visitors.

The tower on the Old Town side is considered the most beautiful bridge tower in the world. It was under this tower that kings passed before their coronation. Additionally, condemned prisoners marched under this very gate on their way to execution. Today, the tower is open to tourists, and there is an observation deck at its top.

Charles Bridge in Prague how the bridge in Prague was built

Even today, with access to sophisticated technology, building a bridge across a river remains a tremendous challenge. So, imagine what an enormous undertaking it was to construct stone spans in the water almost seven hundred years ago!

The construction process of the Charles Bridge was vividly depicted in an animation created by the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

As seen in the video, the main task and the greatest challenge for the builders was erecting wooden barriers in the water to reach the riverbed. Then, using elaborate pumps, they drained the water and constructed a stone pier and span.

Once the work on one section was completed, they moved on to the next stage, and the process started anew.

Charles Bridge in Prague museum

Near the Charles Bridge, there is a museum dedicated to it. It’s worth visiting to delve into the history of this landmark and uncover its secrets and interesting facts. The museum offers an engaging and fascinating presentation of the entire bridge-building process, as well as the historical background of the times in which it was constructed.

The museum is located at: Křižovnické náměstí 3, 110 00 Prague 1-Staré Město.

Ticket prices are: 170 Czech crowns for adults and 70 for children.

Remember to check the latest information on the museum’s website. During the pandemic, nothing is certain or guaranteed, including entry to the museum.

Charles Bridge in Prague practical information

The Charles Bridge in Prague is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. Consequently, it’s easy to find; just follow the crowd of tourists.

The famous Karlova Street leads to the bridge, where you’ll have the opportunity to admire the incredibly beautiful Prague architecture and visit one of the many museums. Moreover, traditional restaurants, souvenir shops, or enjoy a delicious Pilsner Urquell beer, originating from nearby Pilsen.

Personally, I believe that taking a stroll through this part of Prague is a great pleasure and an extraordinary adventure.

What was happening in the world when Charles Bridge in Prague was being built

While the Charles Bridge was being built, many interesting things were happening in the world:

• Charles IV of Luxembourg was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.
• Further away, the Turks seized Adrianople to make it a fortress defending the access to Constantinople.
• At the same time, the Crusaders captured Alexandria.
• Further north, a giant storm killed tens of thousands of people on the coasts of England, the Netherlands, and Germany.
• The French began the construction of the Bastille, and the Germans built a massive cathedral in Ulm, the city where Albert Einstein would be born in the future.
• The queen of Bohemia became Elizabeth of Pomerania.
• In England, King Richard II lost the throne, which was seized by Henry Bolingbroke.

It’s no less interesting on the other side of the world:

• In China, the Buddhist monk Zhu Yuanzhang proclaims himself emperor, initiating the famous Ming Dynasty.
• In Korea, the first type foundry is established, marking the beginning of the era of printed writing in Asia, while King Yi Song-gye moves the capital from Kaesong to Hanyang.

Charles Bridge in Prague information and interesting facts

• Until 1841, the Charles Bridge was the only bridge in Prague.
• In 1870, the bridge’s name was changed to Charles Bridge. Previously, it was called the Prague Bridge or the Stone Bridge.
• The Old Town Bridge Tower is considered the most beautiful in Europe.
• At the top of the Old Town Bridge Tower, there is an observation deck with a beautiful view of the city.
• The exact moment to start building the bridge was advised by one of the Prague astronomers. He calculated to the minute the moment of the conjunction of the Sun and Saturn. This moment was supposed to be auspicious for the construction and the future of the investment.
• The bridge is built of sandstone blocks, and the road surface is paved with cobblestones, remaining original to this day.
• For the mortar that binds the stone blocks of the bridge, allegedly, hen’s eggs, wine, and milk were added.
• The bridge consists of 16 pillars, 12 of which are placed in the water.
• The foundations under each of the pillars reach over two meters below the riverbed.
• In 1989, a record number of people simultaneously on the bridge was set. The crowds gathered on the Charles Bridge exceeded 1500 people.
• On the bridge, there are 30 Baroque-style sculptures. Currently, only some of them are original, the rest are in the museum, and their place is taken by exact copies.
• Right next to the bridge, there is a museum dedicated to its history.
• The Charles Bridge Museum is located in the building of the Order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star.
• In the past, coronations of Czech kings took place on the Charles Bridge, and executions were also carried out there.
• The Charles Bridge is a meeting place for artists, souvenir traders, caricaturists, and musicians.
• From a similar period as the Charles Bridge, there is a very similar Gothic bridge in Klodzko (Poland).

Polish version