Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge (Karlův most) is a historic bridge in Prague, Czech Republic, crossing the Vltava River. Its building began in 1357 under the rule of King Charles IV and was completed in the early 15th century. The bridge substituted the ancient Judith Bridge constructed in 1158–1172, which was severely damaged in 1342 by a flood.

Quick facts

• Name: Charles Bridge
• Location: Prague, Czech Republic
• Built 15th century
• Type of attraction: Architectural/Bridge
• Ticket price: Free to walk across; a separate paid ticket (around CZK 100) is required to climb either bridge tower

Originally, people called this new bridge Stone Bridge (Kamenný Most) or Prague Bridge (Pražský Most), but since 1870 it has been officially named “Charles Bridge.”

The reason Charles Bridge is famous is its importance from the day it was built. It was the most significant link between Prague Castle and the Old Town and neighboring regions of the city, serving as the only way to cross the river Vltava until 1841, which made Prague an important city at the time.

There is a tower on each end of the bridge. Climbers will get a bird’s eye view of Prague and the bridge from the Staroměstská věž (Old Town Bridge Tower) on the Old Town end and the Malostranská věž (Malá Strana Bridge Tower) on the Malá Strana end.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, a total of 30 Baroque statues were erected alongside Charles Bridge. Many of them are now copies, with the originals on display at the Lapidarium.

The most famous statue is possibly that of St. John of Nepomuk, a Czech martyr saint who was executed by being thrown into the Vltava from the bridge during the reign of Wenceslas IV.

Countless people have touched the plaque on the statue over the years, polishing it to a gleam. It is said that touching the statue would bring you good luck and guarantee your return to Prague.

The bridge is a very lively place, not only because of all the pedestrians passing across the river, but due to the many artists and performers showing their artworks, playing music, or running puppet shows.

The bridge offers great photo opportunities throughout the day and during the night, as it is lit nicely and is postcard-worthy.

Interesting facts about Charles Bridge

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing bridge:

• The bridge has been officially known as Charles Bridge only since the 19th century.
• According to a well-known Czech legend, Charles IV, who had a strong interest in numerology and astrology, chose to lay the bridge’s foundation stone at a specific date and time: 9 July 1357 at 5:31am. Written out as 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1, this forms a numerical palindrome, a sequence that reads the same forwards and backwards, which was believed to bring the bridge strength and longevity.
• The first monument to be built on the bridge was a bronze crucifix, the Statue of the Holy Cross with Calvary, which dates back to the 17th century.