Charles Bridge Prague - ApartmentsInPrague.co.uk

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge

is a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague.

Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau), the Charles Bridge used to be the most important connection between the Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841. Also this 'solid-land' connection made Prague important as a trade route between east and west Europe.The bridge was originally called the Stone Bridge or the Prague Bridge but has been the "Charles Bridge" since 1870. The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side. The Old Town bridge tower is often considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world.

The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, erected around 1700.The alley 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. The most prominent Bohemian sculptors of the time took part in decorating the bridge, such as: Matthias Braun, Jan Brokoff and his sons Michael Joseph and Ferdinand Maxmilian. Among the most notable sculptures, one can find the statuaries of St. Luthgard, St. Crucifix or St. John of Nepomuk. Well known is also the statue of Knight Bruncvík, although it does not belong to the main alley. 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.

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