Charles Bridge, Prague
Charles Bridge, in Prague, as a stone Gothic bridge, makes the significant connection between the Lesser Town and Old Town. In reality, Charles Bridge was known as the Stone Bridge throughout its initial many centuries. The Holy Roman Emperor and Czech king commissioned its construction, which started in 1357. Architect Petr Parler took charge of the bridge's construction. His other work was the St. Vitus Cathedral, part of the Prague Castle. It's believed that egg yolks got combined into the actual mortar to reinforce the bridge's construction!
The Forerunner: Judith Bridge
Charles Bridge happens to be some of the monuments which were constructed during Charles' ruling period, but it isn't the first ever bridge connecting the Prague Vitava's banks. The other bridge which once stood there was the Judith Bridge, and first stone bridge across the river. That bridge was made in the year 1172 but in 1342 crumbled during a flood.
Unlike its obviously inferior forerunner, its replacement, Charles Bridge, proved superior, surviving several floods, and not too long ago in August 2002 the time the country underwent the worst possible flood in recorded history that includes the last 500 years. The addition of egg yolks must have worked. The Charles bridge length is 516 meters long.
Unlike its obviously inferior forerunner, its replacement, Charles Bridge, proved superior, surviving several floods, and not too long ago in August 2002 the time the country underwent the worst possible flood in recorded history that includes the last 500 years. The addition of egg yolks must have worked. The Charles bridge length is 516 meters long.
Charles Bridge Towers
A tower stands on either end of Charles Bridge. Visitors could climb the Staroměstská věž, located on the Old Town side, and the Malostranská věž, located on the Malá Strana side to enjoy a fine vista of the bridge and Prague.
Baroque Statues
No less than 30 Baroque statues started to be added along both sides of Charles Bridge during the seventeen-century. Today several of them are only replicas but you can still see the originals in the Lapidarium. The prevailing 5-starred statue-attraction is perhaps St. John of Nepomuk, who was a Czech martyr saint executed in Wenceslas IV's reign via drowning after getting thrown from the bridge into the Vltava. The statue's plaque has been repeatedly polished by numerous visitors having touched it throughout the centuries. Why? Because merely touching this statue in particular is thought to give good luck as well as increase the likelihood of a safe return to Prague.
As a pedestrian zone bridge, Charles Bridge today is nearly always swamped with people. If you wish to be the only one there, visit the bridge either at night or extremely early in the morning. Do not overlook the Charles Bridge Palace.
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