Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic

Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. Photo: Øyvind Holmstad/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Charles Bridge connects Old Town with Lesser Town and is a bustling place of trade and entertainment, as musicians busk and artists sell their paintings and jewelry.

Street music on Charles Bridge. Photo: Ignaz Wiradi/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or Prague Bridge (Pražský most) but has been "Charles Bridge" since 1870. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau) until 1841, Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town and adjacent areas.

The bridge is 621 metres (2,037 ft) long and nearly 10 metres (33 ft) wide, following the example of the Stone Bridge in Regensburg, it was built as a bow bridge with 16 arches shielded by ice guards.

The avenue of 30 mostly baroque statues and statuaries situated on the balustrade forms a unique connection of artistic styles with the underlying gothic bridge. Most sculptures were erected between 1683 and 1714. They depict various saints and patron saints venerated at that time.

Statues on Charles Bridge. Photo: Interfase/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Beginning in 1965, all of the statues have been systematically replaced by replicas, and the originals have been exhibited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum. (Wikivoyage, Wikipedia)

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