Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge over the Vltava River is surely one of the most beautiful places in Prague. It is the oldest bridge in the city, built between XIV and XV centuries, linking the banks of the river. Embellished with statues and lamps, the bridge forms together with the gothic towers at each end a breath-taking historical monument. There is no better place in Prague for an evening walk.
The construction of the Charles Bridge began in 1357 and it was completed in the early XV century. It has 515 meters long and 9.50 meters wide, it has 16 pillars (with heights between 16 and 23 meters) and the paving is 13 meters above the Vltava River. Charles Bridge is decorated with 30 statues on both parapets. Most of them were placed there between 1706 and 1714. The first cross was placed on the Charles Bridge in the XIV century.
The Bruncvik statue was placed there before 1503, but only its pedestal is exposed there. The statue is in the National Museum Lapidary and on the bridge there is a replica that's exposed. The oldest preserved statue is the statue of St. John of Nepomulk from 1683 and the newest one is the statue of St. Cyril and St. Methodius from 1928.
Charles Bridge in Prague manages to attract thousands of tourists, captivated by that magical moment, as if lost in time. It may happen due to its venerable and noisy history, to the gallery of saints keep here to eternity or maybe due to the unique view that we can admire in the direction of the Prague Castle. Whatever the reasons why the Charles Bridge in Prague is so appreciated and admired, tourists along with locals love to walk or idle along the wide sidewalks of hundreds of years, giving to the Czech capital that unique character that we can enjoy every day.Less