Charles Bridge, Prague

The Charles Bridge, or Karluv most, was built over the Vltava River, in 1357, although there was an earlier bridge which collapsed during a flood. Considering the weight of tourists it has to bear, it's surprising this one hasn't collapsed too! Part of it did fall into the river in 1890, but the basic structure is built of solid stone.

The bridge, which is 520m long and 9m wide, was named after the Czech king, Charles IV.

At the entrance to it is the impressive Old Town Bridge Tower, which was added in 1373. The thirty statues which line the sides of the bridge were added much later, in the seventeenth century.

Even more recent additions are the vendors, artists and buskers who make their living off the thousands of tourists wending there way from the Old Town to the Castle and back.

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On Mala Strana south side of Charles Bridge, on the pillar stands a statue of the knight with golden sward – prince Bruncvik, who, according to legend, ruled the Czech people in ancient times. The statue is artwork of Czech sculptor Ludvik Simek and it was cast in 1884. It had replaced a statue of Roland, erected in 1502 damaged by cannon fire of Swedish forces in 1648.

It’s a "must" (thing to do) now whenever one walks along the Charles Bridge in Prague:

To make a wish at the St. John of Nepomuk Statue, the statue with the that gold metal plate whose carvings have been made shiny by the millions of tourists who have touched it.
But you have to touch it with your left hand!!! Then you make a wish (it supposedly gives you good luck and assures a return to the city of Prague). I heard about the LEFT HAND from Samantha Brown.

But there is a lesser more unknown place to make a wish near the statue --- it is a Five-star cross (also metal) a few feet away from the statue and not so many tourists go there.

You place your five fingers (left hand) on the five stars and then send a wish to someone – or just send it to yourself – as you look into the river. I heard that this spot where the five star is is exactly where St Jon was actually thrown off and died. Morbid...

John of Nepomuk was a priest in Prague under a suspicious King Wenceslas IV (son of Charles IV). He received the confessions of the Queen and the King wanted to know the Queen’s confessions which Nepomuk would not reveal. Priest Nepomuk was therefore executed by being thrown into the Vltava River from the bridge with “weights” (I read somewhere that something heavy was tied to him) which caused his drowning.

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Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Malá Strana. It was actually called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) during the first several centuries. Its construction was commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357. In charge of the construction was architect Petr Parléø whose other works include the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge.
Charles Bridge is on the top of every Prague visitor's must-see list. It is also popular with Czech artists, musicians and souvenir vendors whose stands line both sides of the bridge year-round. A great time of day to come to the bridge is at sunset when one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the fully lit Prague Castle against the evening sky. The bridge is now a pedestrian zone (although both tram and car traffic were allowed there in the past) and is almost constantly filled with people. If you want to have it all to yourself, go there at night or very early in the morning.

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The Old Town Bridge Tower marks the entrance toKARLUV MOST or CHARLES BRIDGE. The 500 meter long stone bridge is an exceptional example of medieval building technique with sixteen arches and a Sculpture Gallery. Works include 28 statues of the Saints by artists lik Braun and Brokoff.
The Bridge foundation stone was laid in 1357 by King Charles IV.

Uniting the Stare Mesto or Old Town to the Castle District or Hradcany, is the CHARLES BRIDGE. There are numerous statues along the Bridge. Its cobblestoned surface gives the bridge a medieval charm.
Days and evenings you will find Venders selling paintings and Artists entertaining the crowds.

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For many years, only a single cross decorated the Charles Bridge, but in 1683 a single statue of St. John of Nepomuk was placed at the site of his martyrdom. Now (replicas of) 30 statues line the bridge, 15 north and south, placed by the Catholic rulers of Prague during the 17th and 18th Centuries. The most popular remains the first. Touching the cross and stars in the right lower panel is supposed to bring good luck, while touching the dog on the left panel brings bad luck. The bridge has become so crowded with tourists today that apparently the bad luck associated with the dog has conveniently been forgotten and visitors touch anything on which they can lay their fingers. By legend, this court priest of King Wenceslaw IV was thrown to his death after torture from this site on the bridge. As he hit the water, 5 stars appeared as shown around his head in the statue. The legend attributes his bad fortune to failing to divulge to the king the content of the queen's confession, but in reality it was all about politics. He invited to Prague a bishop disliked by the king, simple.

The remaining statues feature other saints including Wenceslas, John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi, Vitus, and Christopher, as well as the Madonna, Jesus on the Cross, and a Pieta'. The cross contains gold Hebrew letters supposedly a fine to a Jew who ridiculed the cross in mixed company.

The Charles Bridge may be overrun by tourists, the Hare Krishne dancer (yes, really) visit on a regular basis, and peace marchers occupied the bridge on the evening we visited. Nonetheless it represents a do-not-miss feature of Prague.

Karlov Most or Charles Bridge as it is more commonly known is a fantastic place to people watch!!
There are street sellers, artists and street musicians all lining the magnificent bridge.
Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Mala Strana.
It was originally called the Stone bridge.
There are towers standing on each end of the bridge and these can be climbed for a view of the bridge form above.
There are statues on the bridge and touching one of these will ensure good luck and guarantee your return to Prague. It must be true as we have just returned for the second time!!