charles bridge

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 and insights
Ambiance
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).

For pedestrian use only
Today, Charles Bridge is strictly for foot traffic. However, in the past, horses, carriages, trams and cars would cross the bridge.

Towers
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 late

Statues
Charles Bridge is embellished with copies of Baroque ecclesiastical statues. The originals 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.

History in brief  

• 1157
  The original structure (named Judith Bridge) was built in 1157. It stood for nearly 200 years before a severe flood ended its functional life.
  
• 1347
  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.
  

Measurements
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.

Name
The bridge was named for the emperor, but not until 500 years after his death. Previously, people called it the Stone or Prague Bridge.