Vltava divides Prague into two parts. If you look at the map, you will see that the river runs right in the middle of the Czech capital. Now several magnificent bridges have been thrown across the river, decorating both the city and the river itself. Curious is the fact that most of the bridges currently existing in Prague were built literally in the last 150 years. Prior to this, the city managed only one, the most ancient -.
The magnificent bridges of Prague The first bridge built in this city was located exactly where Charles Bridge is now located. It was built in the first half of the 10th century from wood. The body of the late Wenceslas from Stara Boleslava was transported to the Castle over this bridge. For several decades, the bridge faithfully served the city, however, the flood of 1157 destroyed it to the ground, and Vladislav II, who ruled at that time, was forced to build a new bridge. Thus, soon the Vltava was crossed by the Yuditin bridge, which was located a little to the north. The building got its name in honor of Queen Judith, who oversaw the construction process. In those years, this bridge was considered the only technical structure of such a significant scale in Europe.
The Judith Bridge existed for almost 200 years, until another flood hit Prague. After the flood of 1342, the bridge was almost completely destroyed. The remains of the pillars of this Romanesque structure are the only thing that reminded of the once powerful structure.
A few years later, in 1357, the construction of the bridge began, which still stands today -. The half-kilometer structure stands on sixteen pylons connected by arched vaults, while the Yuditin Bridge was supported by as many as 24 pillars. Apparently, that's why he suffered, because he obstructed the flow of the river too much.
The Charles Bridge The bridge, erected by decree of Charles IV, attracted the attention of engineers and architects throughout Europe from the moment it was built. The longest bridge in Europe - Dresden - has long been considered the most spectacular. Prague has always been known as the most durable. The impressive (at that time) width of the bridge, which was almost 10 meters, made it possible to hold tournaments on it, which was actively used by the organizers of such events. As an example, we can mention the tournament of 1436, held here in honor of King Sigmund.
The direct creator of this building was Peter Parlezh. The Baroque period gave the bridge three dozen statues and several groups of saints. A number of these architectural embellishments became the longest gallery of its kind in the world. Many sculptors of this era contributed to the process of creating these masterpieces of architectural art. In addition to other architects and sculptors of that time, the masters of the Brokoff family, as well as Jan Bedrich Kol and Matthias Braun, took the most active part in the creation of the elements of this one. Of all the sculptures, the sculptural group of St. Luittard, the author of which is the same Matthias Braun. It is worth noting that this work glorified the master.
The Charles Bridge Many floods fell on the Charles Bridge, but to this day it stands firmly on the Vltava. Stronger than all the others was the flood of 1890, which raged so much that not all the sculptures that adorned the building remained in their places. The bridge successfully survived many severe trials, including numerous wars and floods. It became a real battlefield in 1848, during the revolution, and before that, in 1648, the battle of the inhabitants of the Old Town with the Swedish troops took place here. The bridge witnessed the flight of Frederick the Palatinate, who was defeated in the Battle of Belogorsk. All the rulers who ruled the Czech Republic after Charles IV were crowned here, on this bridge. The bridge received its current name relatively recently, in 1870. Prior to that, he was known as "stone", or "Prague".
Charles Bridge for about five centuries was the only link between the banks of Prague. The idea of building another bridge across the Vltava was born only at the beginning of the century before last. The bridge itself appeared in 1842, having received the name Schnierchow. This Empire chain building connects the shores of the Czech capital in the place where it is currently located. This building stood until 1901, and then it was replaced by a more modern design, which is now called Lehi's bridge.
As the railway network developed, it became necessary to connect the left bank of Prague with the right bank by constructing an appropriate building, as a result of which a bridge appeared, through which trains got from to Smichov. This building is successfully functioning in our time. The year of his birth is considered to be 1878, and it is called - which, among all the stone structures of Prague, is in second place after Karlov. Not far from the island of Štvanice, another railway bridge was built. At the same time, the Franz I chain bridge stood on the site of the current one.
It is unthinkable, but the people of Prague in modern times quite successfully managed with such a small number of bridges. The river itself had a completely different look: when there were few bridges, one could see the silvery expanse of the Vltava, stretching for many kilometers. Now bridges break the river into many small segments, which completely changes the appearance of the reservoir. Nowadays, a completely different landscape appears before the eyes of citizens and visitors of the city: a number of bridges, lined up in order, look charming in their own way and give the capital of the Czech Republic a unique flavor of a big city.
Each of these structures deserves a separate mention, so we will consider them in more detail. As already mentioned, Palacky Bridge stands in second place among the stone structures after the Charles Bridge. This magnificent building was once decorated with sculptural groups, the author of which was I.V. Thoughtbeck. They had to be removed after the attack by American aircraft, which took place on February 14, 1945. From the side of the New Place, a statue of Libusz with Přemysl was installed, and not far from them stood the legendary singer of that time - Lumir. On the other side of the bridge one could see Zaba with Slava and Tstirada with Sharka. Sculptures that were severely damaged during this raid were moved to a safer location in Vysehrad.
Palacky Bridge The first bridge structure built in the last century is called (Jiráskův most). The width, which greatly simplified the transport problems of the citizens of Prague. The bridge was built in 1928, and it is named after the writer Alois Jirasek, who was the author of many historical novels. He worked and lived near the place where the bridge now stands. On the side of Novy Mesto, a monument to the writer is erected on the bridge, and next to it is an apartment building with a memorial plaque on it.
Moving further down the river, we will meet May Day Bridge ( , Legionnaires' Bridge), and behind it the Charles Bridge. However, we have already spoken about these structures above. Next in line - (Manesuv most), which was first commissioned in 1916. Its construction began in 1911, however, in subsequent years, during the First World War, it was not possible to complete the construction. This concrete bridge was built near Red Army Square.
The next building we will mention is the former Svatopluk Cech Bridge (), which is the shortest of all. Its length is only 170 meters, and it serves as a connecting link between and the Legen coast.
This building is followed by Štefánikův most, ferrying transport to the Legen tunnel. This concrete structure, where a chain bridge once stood, has been in use since 1951.
A little further down the river is located, consisting of two separate parts. The first of them was built of metal and put into operation in 1910, the second part was built of concrete, and the first transport passed through it two years later, in 1912. This second structure was the first concrete bridge in the city. Such well-known masters as Marzhatka, Stursa and Gutfreind were invited to decorate the building. Hlavkov Bridge can be divided into two parts as it passes through the largest island in Prague - Štvanice.
Glavkov bridge A separate topic for discussion will be one of the longest bridge structures in Prague -. Its length is 341 meters, and it is twice as wide as the Charles Bridge. The distance from the left side to the right side is 21 meters. This bridge connected Liben and Holesovice. The structure was built of concrete in 1982.
Construction was completed almost at the same time. Barricade Defenders Bridge (Most Barikádníků)- the last building in the chain of Prague bridges. This bridge helps to get from the center of Prague to. Historically, information says that this place was the stronghold of the Prague Uprising.
Having visited Prague, and having risen to Letna, the tourist will discover a marvelous view of the city, with its magnificent towers, gates and bridges. And here and there, the Vltava is crossed by many bridge structures that create a kind of cascade. Among them is the legendary Charles Bridge, which today is not the only one of its kind, but invariably remains a unique world-class monument. the project continued to hang in the air. However, as always happens, anything becomes possible as soon as there is a need for it, and when the time came, another bridge was built from the Pankratska Valley to Novy Mesto, . This happened in the 60s, because tens of thousands of inhabitants of the Southern City could not otherwise quickly get to the center of Prague. Among other things, there was also a need to build a North-South highway, which could only be laid in this place. In length, this bridge structure stretches for 490 meters, and a metro line has been laid under its foundations. Cars and other vehicles pass over the bridge, standing over the “bowl” of the Nusel Valley, at a height of 40 meters. It is supported by four capital pylons. It is worth noting that the main problem in the design and construction of this structure was overcoming the difficulties of the relief in this place, and not at all the fight against the reservoir.
Nusel bridge The freeway overpass connecting Vysochany with the Northern City is in many ways similar to the bridge over the Nuselskaya Valley. Another bridge will soon be built in Prague, which will become part of the North-South highway. This structure will pass over the Prague-Strsed railway station. To some extent, we can assume that it will become a continuation of the Glavkov Bridge.
Prague bridge structures deserve respect not only because of their excellent technical parameters. Bridges differ from each other both in the material taken as a basis in construction and in architectural design. Each of them is beautiful and majestic in its own way. Driving along the bridges of the Czech capital in turn, you will discover more and more new landscapes and panoramas, which you can enjoy endlessly. The city will appear in front of you more than once in an unusual perspective, and this will help you better understand it. You should definitely take a look at the Prague bridges from above, because from above everything is perceived in a completely different way.
The history of the construction of Charles Bridge began in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and ended at the beginning of the 15th century. Its predecessor was the Judith Bridge, built in 1172 during the reign of Vladislav II and his wife, Queen Jutta of Thuringia, after whom it got its name. Charles IV found the bridge in the period of its active use, however, due to the growth in construction, trade and public needs, even then it became necessary to modernize it. During the flood that occurred in 1342, the Yuditin Bridge was severely destroyed. Then the king decided to build a new, more advanced bridge that would meet all modern needs.
According to legend, before starting construction, Charles IV asked for help from astrologers. They determined the ideal time (year, day and hour) to start building the “eternal” bridge. The ruler waited for a favorable moment determined by astrologers and laid the first stone. Until today, the Charles Bridge has not needed major repairs, only occasionally there is a need for a small restoration.
The structure connecting the two banks of the Vltava River was originally called the Stone Bridge or the Prague Bridge, but in 1870 it was officially renamed in honor of the creator, Charles IV. Charles Bridge has served as a link between the Prague Castle and the Old Town since those distant times. For many years it was used as the main road by which the monarchs traveled from the Royal Court to the territory of the Castle. Ordinary citizens had to pay a fee for travel and passage along it.
In 1974, it received the status of a pedestrian bridge. Today you can see street artists, musicians, art dealers and sellers of various decorations and souvenirs there.
Charles Bridge is a majestic structure supported by 16 powerful arches. The supports are finished with hewn sandstone slabs. Its height is 520 m, and its width is about 10 m. On both sides, the bridge is protected by three towers - two of them are on the side of Malaya Strana, and the third is located on the banks of the Old Town. The latter is often referred to as one of the most amazing civil structures in the Gothic style.
The main bridge of Prague is decorated with a sculpture gallery of 30 statues depicting Czech saints. Most of them were created in the Baroque style between 1683 and 1714. The most famous Czech sculptors of that time participated in the design of the bridge: Matthias Braun, Jan Brokoff, as well as his sons, Ferdinand Maximilian and Michal.
The most famous sculptures of the unique gallery are the "Crucifixion" group, "The Vision of St. Luitgard", the stone face of John of Nepomuk, as well as the work of the sculptor Brokoff depicting a Turk who guards captured Christians. The statue of John of Nepomuk depicts a martyr honored in the Czech capital, whom Wenceslas IV drowned in the waters of the Vlatva River. It is very popular on the Charles Bridge - there is a belief that if you touch it and make a wish, it will certainly come true in the near future.
Sculpture "Crucifixion":
Statue of the martyr John of Nepomuk:
Turk guarding Christians:
Starting from 1965, all the statues were gradually replaced by copies, and the originals were moved to the National Museum on Vystavist, where they are to this day.
The closest public transport stop to the Charles Bridge on the left bank of the Vltava is Malostranská. You can get to it by trams No. 1, 8, 12, 18, 20 and 22, as well as by metro (line A). On the right bank, next to the attraction, there is the Staroměstská stop, which can be reached by trams No. 17, 18 and by metro (line A).
general information
Before the Charles Bridge was built across the Vltava, Praguers tried twice to build bridges, but none of them lasted long. They were destroyed by floods. It seemed to the locals that higher forces did not allow to build a crossing between the left and right banks. But King Charles IV decided not to give up and approach the construction of the bridge thoroughly. To do this, he gathered astrologers and ordered them to calculate a favorable time for construction. The date has been set. Construction began in 1357 on 09.07 at 5.31. As you can see, such a time is not accidental and is a palindrome, that is, it is equally read in both directions.
Charles Bridge, built on such a magical date, and, however, turned out to be strong. Not a single flood touched him. In addition, it still does not require major repairs and is only occasionally restored. Another noteworthy fact is that the architect of the bridge, Petr Parler, was still quite a youngster when he was offered this project. He was barely 22 years old. This is quite unusual, because in order to receive such an order, one had to have considerable experience and fame. But Peter did an excellent job and justified the hopes of the king.
The construction of the Charles Bridge also has its own legend. It is believed that instead of a cementing mixture for bonding stone blocks, the architect ordered the use of egg white. Therefore, by order of the king, the messengers went to collect tribute from the population with chicken eggs. Thanks to this material, according to popular rumor, the Charles Bridge is so strong.
However, there is a more frightening legend. It is believed that Peter Parlerge made a deal with the Devil so that the bridge would stand forever and not collapse. In exchange, the Devil demanded the immortal soul of the first person to cross this bridge, and the architect agreed. But the insidious Mephistopheles decided to lure little son Peter, who was playing nearby, to the bridge, only at the last second the father noticed the boy and saved him. And the first to let a black rooster over the bridge, which drove out the devil and cleared the bridge.
Despite such a frightening legend about the construction, the Charles Bridge itself is considered a very bright place with positive energy. Even the Dalai Lama, who walked across the bridge back in 1990, said that walking in this place is good for health.
But the bridge itself is not all, it received a special charm only in 1683, when sculptures began to appear on it. They were added until 1714. A little earlier, the bridge looked more intimidating and not at all attractive, because from 1621 to 1631, the heads of executed Czech nobles who joined the uprising against the Habsburgs were hung on the bridge. But now all these terrible massacres are forgotten, and the sculptures do not remember the horror of bygone days.
There are 31 sculptural compositions on the Charles Bridge. However, almost all of the presented sculptures are copies, and the originals are kept in the museum, but this makes them no less charming and attractive. Many sculptures also have their own legends and beliefs, and some even bring good luck. Especially loved is the statue of John of Nepomuk. Finding it to make a wish is as easy as shelling pears, because tourists have rubbed it to a shine and it stands out against the background of other statues.
The bronze figurine of Nepomuk has 5 stars located around his head. For the wish to come true, each finger of the right hand must be leaned against the star. And with your left hand touch the feet of the saint. In this case, the right foot should touch the golden nail on the pavement. A wish must be made in this position, only then it will come true.
You can also make a wish at the entrance to the Charles Bridge if you manage to find the 5th Kingfisher. And at the sculpture of a naked boy, those women who want to get pregnant make a wish. The Charles Bridge itself is a rather amazing and colorful place, which is probably why it has so many legends and tales, as well as true stories that have turned into epics and fairy tales. So, when visiting Prague, be sure to walk along this picturesque bridge and don't forget to make at least one wish.
Charles Bridge in Prague is a visiting card of the Czech capital and a very atmospheric place, saturated with the spirit of antiquity. Here you can admire beautiful views of the city, look at sculptures and make wishes. Since 1992, the Charles Bridge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History of Charles Bridge
The destruction of the Judith Bridge by a flood in 1342 became an incentive for the construction in 1357 of a more modern crossing over the Vltava. Master Otto was the first architect of the new bridge. In what exact year construction was completed is unknown, but the funeral procession carrying the remains of Charles IV in 1378 passed over the already installed bridge.
Parameters The Charles Bridge were stunning in their time and are awe-inspiring even today:
- length - 520 meters;
- width - 9.5 meters;
- height - 13 meters above the river.
Over the centuries, floods have destroyed the bridge many times. Ancient monuments miraculously survived and the building looks almost the same as six and a half centuries ago. After a catastrophic flood in 1890, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out.
Work was carried out in 2004-2005 to preserve the two pillars, and in 2007 the complete reconstruction of the Charles Bridge was carried out again, this should eliminate some of the adverse effects of past floods.
Building Legends
According to legend, in those distant times, figures were given great importance. Therefore, before starting the construction of the bridge, Charles IV turned to astrologers for advice. And on their recommendation, the first stone of the crossing was laid by the emperor himself on July 9, 1357 at 5.31 am. If you write the numbers in the following sequence: year, day, month and time, then you get 135797531 - a number that reads the same in both directions, or as it is also called - a "palindrome". According to legend, only thanks to the right date, the bridge stood for centuries and will stand for the same amount more.
There is another explanation for the strength of the bridge: to improve the solution, raw eggs, milk and wine were added to it, and products were collected throughout the country. Many funny fables are associated with this legend, some of them are:
- The inhabitants of one village wanted to please the emperor so much that they boiled eggs so that they would not break.
- From one small town, people sent not only milk, but also cottage cheese and hard cheese. Thus they wanted to curry favor with Charles IV.
Sculptures and towers on the Charles Bridge
It is not for nothing that Charles Bridge is considered the main architectural landmark of Prague, because it is decorated with a free open-air gallery. There are 30 sculptures on the bridge, and each of them has its own history, which is intertwined with the history of the Czech Republic. Most of the statues were created in the 17th-18th centuries by Czech sculptors: Matthias Bernard Braun, Jan Brokoff and Ferdinand Maximilian. Almost all sculptures depict Czech saints and are made of baroque stone. To date, the bridge is mostly replicas of the statues, and the originals are stored in the National Museum.
The statue of John of Nepomuk is the oldest and only bronze sculpture; it has been on the bridge since 1683. According to legend, Jan was thrown off a bridge in 1393 for not revealing his wife's confession to King Wenceslas IV.
The most famous sculptural groups:
- "The Turk who guards the Christians in captivity" is a work by Jan Brokoff from 1714.
- The Crucifix is the oldest group, brought from Dresden in 1657.
- "Virgin Mary with Child and Saint Anna" - the work of the sculptor Matej Vaclav Jakel from 1707.
The towers at both ends of the Charles Bridge were its only decorations until the middle of the 17th century. The eastern tower is located at the entrance from the bridge in Stare Mesto and is called Staromestskaya. Its construction was supervised by the architect Peter Parler from 1357 to 1380. The East Tower is the most beautiful building of the 14th century in Europe, its height is 47 meters above the level of the bridge. The Old Town Tower is decorated with the coats of arms of the Holy Roman Empire and figurines of St. Vitus, Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, St. Vojtech and Sigismund (the patrons of the Czech Republic), and pointed spiers complete the tower.
The western towers were built at the entrance from the bridge to Mala Strana and are called Lesser Town. These towers were built in different centuries: the taller tower was completed in 1464, while the lower tower was completed in 1591. In architectural style, the two western towers are similar to the eastern tower.
The neo-Gothic staircase to the island of Kampa is part of the architectural monument of Charles Bridge, its construction was completed in 1844.
Making wishes near St. John of Nepomuk
There are several places on the Charles Bridge where you can make a wish. Every day, crowds of tourists gather near the statue of St. John of Nepomuk (John Nepomuk), a Czech Catholic martyr, in order to make a wish. Under the sculpture of the saint are 2 bas-reliefs:
- if you rub the bas-relief on the right, your wish will come true;
- if you guess a person and rub the bas-relief on the left, friendship with the hidden person will be strengthened.
Tourists rubbed the "magic places" on the bas-reliefs to a shine, so finding the right place is not difficult.
For a wish to come true, it must be intangible.
One more wish can be made at the very place from which St. John of Nepomuk was thrown into the river. There is a belief that when the body sank under water, 5 stars shone over the Vltava, and since that time St. John of Nepomuk has been depicted with 5 stars above his head. The bronze figurine of the martyr is located in the middle of the bridge on a pedestal; when making a wish, the fingers of the right hand must be placed on the stars, and the left hand on the feet of the saint or on the copper cross.
Charles Bridge has been a pedestrian bridge since 1974. It immediately became a favorite place for tourists, as well as a concentration of street musicians, dancers, artists, antiques and souvenir dealers. Walking along the bridge, you can meet more than one jazz band.
Where is it located and how to get there
The address: Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge is located in the historical center of Prague, close to popular attractions such as the Powder Tower, Prague Castle, and Klementinum. Within walking distance from the bridge there are a variety of accommodation options, ranging from inexpensive hostels to 5-star ones.
How to get there
Metro(nearest stations line "A"):
- Staroměstska (right bank of the Vltava);
- Malostranska (left bank of the Vltava).
By bus: No. 194, No. 207 - to the Stare Mesto stop.
By tram:
- to the Staroměstska stop: No. 1, No. 2, No. 17, No. 18, No. 25, No. 93;
- to stop Malostranska: No. 1, No. 2, No. 12, No. 15, No. 18, No. 20, No. 22, No. 23, No. 25, No. 97.
Distance from Wenceslas Square Charles Bridge is only 1 km away and can be reached on foot, heading first along Melantrichova street and then along Karlova street.
Charles bridge on the map of Prague
Charles Bridge in Prague is a visiting card of the Czech capital and a very atmospheric place, saturated with the spirit of antiquity. Here you can admire beautiful views of the city, look at sculptures and make wishes. Since 1992, the Charles Bridge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History of Charles Bridge
The destruction of the Judith Bridge by a flood in 1342 became an impetus for the construction..." />
Charles Bridge in Prague - a detailed description with a photo. All sculptures of Charles Bridge and its location on the map.
Charles Bridge - Karlův most
Charles Bridge is one of the main attractions of Prague and its main symbol. This is the oldest stone bridge in the city, built across the Vltava on the site of the old Yuditina bridge from sandstone blocks. Fortified Gothic towers rise from each of its sides. A famous feature of Charles Bridge are the statues of saints erected between the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
The first bridge across the Vltava was built on this site already in the 10th century. It was a small wooden bridge, which in 1170 was replaced by the stone Judith Bridge, named after Judith of Thuringia, wife of King Vladislav II. This bridge was almost completely destroyed by a flood in 1342, after which it was not restored.
The construction of the new bridge was entirely associated with the name of Charles IV. The new bridge was laid by the king on 9/7/1357 at 05:31 a little upstream. The date and time were not chosen by chance. There were many astronomers and alchemists at the court of Charles IV. Such a date and time created a kind of magic numbers, which was considered a good sign.
The architect of the bridge was the famous Peter Parler, who participated in the creation of the Cathedral of St. Vitus in Prague Castle. Charles Bridge was completed only after the death of Charles IV and his chief architect in 1402. The bridge was just over 515 meters long and 9.5 meters wide. At that time it was one of the largest stone bridges in the world. It was reinforced with special bridge structures in the amount of 16.
In 1723 the bridge was lit with oil lamps. In 1844, a new staircase was built to the island of Campo.
For a long time, the bridge served for the passage of kings and carriages to Prague Castle. In 1905, a tram line was launched over the bridge, which was replaced by a bus line in 1908. Since 1965, the Charles Bridge has been completely pedestrianized.
bridge towers
Bridge towers are one of the main decorations of the Charles Bridge. These are fortified Gothic bulks that are installed on each of its sides. From the side of Stare Mesto, this is the Old Town Tower, from the side of the Mala Strana, the Lesser Towns.
The Old Town Tower is one of the most impressive Gothic structures in the world. The tower, like the Charles Bridge, was built according to the design of Peter Parler in the middle of the 14th century. It was conceived as a symbolic triumphal arch under which the Czech kings passed during the coronation from the Old Town Square. Its height is 47 meters. Now there is a gallery and an observation deck, which can be reached by breaking 138 steps. The tower is decorated with interesting sculptures created between 1380 and 1400: sculptures of a lion, an eagle, a griffon, a kingfisher, an emblem and sculpture of Charles IV, etc.
Lesser Town bridge towers are two towers on the Charles Bridge, different in height and style. The lower tower is called Yuditina, because. it was built in the Romanesque style in the second half of the twelfth century as part of the first stone bridge. The modern Gothic tower was founded at the beginning of the 15th century on the site of the second Romanesque tower. The Gothic gates were probably built already under Wenceslas IV. They consist of two pointed arches and were closed with oak doors and iron bars.
A well-known feature of the Charles Bridge are the sculptures of saints. They were installed between the 18th and early 20th centuries. The number of sculptures is exactly 30 pieces. Most of the sculptures are made of sandstone (the oldest were made of bronze). It should be noted that at the moment almost all sculptures are copies of modern sculptors (the originals were destroyed as a result of floods or damaged as a result of weather conditions). Some original sculptures are kept in Prague museums.
List of sculptures
- Virgin Mary and St. Bernard, 1709
- St. Ivo, 1711
- Virgin Mary and Thomas Aquinas, 1708
- St. Barbara, Margaret and Elizabeth, 1707
- Calvary, 1707
- Pieta (Lamentation of Christ), 1859
- St. Anna, 1707
- Saint Joseph with Jesus, 1854
- St. Cyril and Methodius, 1928
- St. Francis, 1711
- St. John the Baptist, 1855
- St. Christoph, 1857
- St. Norbert, Wenceslas and Sigismund, 1853
- St. Francis Borgia, 1710
- St. John of Nepomuk, 1683 - the oldest sculpture of the bridge
- St. Ludmila and Vaclav, 1720
- St. Anthony of Padua, 1707
- St. Francis of Seraphim, 1855
- Judas Thaddeus, 1708
- St. Vincent of Ferrer, 1712
- St. Augustine, 1708
- St. Nicholas, 1708
- St. Cajetan of Tien, 1709
- St. Lutgard, 1710
- St. Philip, 1714
- St. Vojtech, 1709
- St. Vitus, 1714
- St. John, Felix and Ivan, 1714
- St. Cosmas and Damian, 1709
- St. Wenceslas, 1859
Of course, we should also mention the Brunsvik sculpture (No. 31 on the diagram), which is not among the Charles Bridge sculptures, but is also very interesting.
Brunsvik is a late Gothic work by an unidentified Prague sculptor from the early 16th century. According to legend, the Czech prince Brunsvik fought terrible animals and monsters in his adventures. One day, he saved a lion by killing a fearsome dragon. Since then, the lion has remained with him and was reflected in the prince's coat of arms. In his adventures, Brunswick also received a magic sword. Legend has it that it is hidden somewhere in the pillars of the Charles Bridge.
How to get there:
Metro - Staroměstská or Malostranská, line A
- 2 6 14 17 18 22 23 41 53 57 59, Karlovy lázně or Staroměstská
- 1 2 5 7 9 11 12 15 17 18 20 22 23 25 41, Malostranské náměstí
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