Charles Bridge is the most famous attraction not only in Prague, but throughout the Czech Republic. Today tourists love it and photographers adore it, and in past centuries it played a huge role in the life of the Czech capital.
During its long history, the bridge has witnessed many triumphs and falls, magnificent celebrations and cruel executions, has become a battlefield several times, but has always remained a reliable support for the townspeople, no matter what passions rage around.
Of course, such a vivid history could not pass without a trace, so the Charles Bridge is literally covered with numerous legends.

The bridge links the two most important districts of old Prague - Stare Mesto and Lesser Town. In the 12th century, in its place, there was an ancient Judith Bridge, named after the beautiful Queen Judith of Thuringia, wife of Vladislav II. However, a couple of centuries later, this bridge was destroyed by a flood, and only one tower from the Lesser Town side, miraculously surviving, keeps its memory.

A new bridge across the Vltava was built in 1357 by order of Emperor Charles IV. It was later named after this monarch.

First legends

The bridge was built for quite a long time, more than half a century, and was completed only at the very beginning of the 15th century. It was erected by the famous architect, Peter Parler, who was also involved in the construction of the capital's Cathedral of St. Witt.
To make the structure more resistant to the vagaries of the often overflowing Vltava, egg white was mixed into the concrete solution. This trick has become the key to the high strength of the bridge, which for several centuries has successfully resisted all floods and does not need major repairs.

Charles Bridge is a majestic structure, 10 meters wide and 16 spans long. Such a grand construction for those times could not leave the townspeople indifferent, so mystical legends immediately began to be added about the construction of the bridge. Some of them may seem funny, but there are also creepy ones.

lucky date

Traditions say that Emperor Charles chose the date of laying the first stone with the active participation of astrologers. It is known that this significant event took place in 1357, on June 9, exactly at 5.31 am. This date is read the same way both from left to right and from right to left: 135797531, and therefore has a special energy. In addition, it was at this time that a small parade of planets happened - the Sun, Earth and Saturn lined up in one line.
According to astrologers, such a favorable combination of astrological "circumstances" should have brought good luck and prosperity to the future construction. And it cannot be said that the wise men were wrong.

sneezing baby

A rather gloomy legend tells of an unfortunate builder who was commissioned to create one of the spans of the bridge. The master still could not make an accurate calculation, and then one day, when he once again pored over the drawings, the devil appeared to him. The unclean one promised his help in exchange for the soul of the first one who will pass through the new span after its opening. The builder agreed, but he decided himself to be the first to let a black rooster across the bridge, because the question that the soul should be human was not even stipulated.
However, the devil was also not so simple, and at the end of the work, he lured the master's pregnant wife to the bridge, who decided to be the first to congratulate her husband. The next day, the woman died, the child also did not survive ...

Since then, passers-by have heard children's sneezing over the Vltava more than once. It was said that this ghost of an unborn baby was freezing on the bridge, and no one was able to help him.
Fortunately, this time the people were wrong. Once, a man in a hurry somewhere, hearing a sneeze, automatically wished the invisible man to be healthy. Surprisingly, the ghost immediately calmed down and never bothered anyone again.

Bridge Tower Legends

The Old Town Bridge Tower is recognized as one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in all of Europe. It began to be built simultaneously with the bridge, and the rich decor was due to the fact that the tower, in addition to its protective functions, served as a kind of front gate through which ambassadors of other states entered Prague Castle.

But the tower did not always play the role of an impromptu triumphal arch. More than once she became the object of intimidation. So, after the suppression of one of the Prague popular uprisings, the heads of 12 of its instigators hung in iron nets for a whole decade on the upper gallery of the tower. According to legend, their souls still live here, and at night you can even hear their quiet whisper.
In memory of these unfortunates, 12 white crosses were inscribed right on the pavement of the Old Town Square, which can still be seen today.
The tower is open to the public, and the view from the 47-meter observation deck certainly deserves the attention of every guest of the Czech capital. And if you visit this observation deck on June 22, then the setting sun, with its last ray, will accurately indicate the place where St. Vitus, a Christian martyr and one of the patrons of Prague, is buried.

There is another interesting belief. On the eastern wall of the Old Town Tower, among numerous coats of arms and statues, there are five images of kingfishers. Residents of Prague are sure that only a person with a pure and bright soul can find them. Many tourists enthusiastically accept the challenge, but most of them manage to find only four birds, only a few find the fifth ...

legendary statues

Initially, Charles Bridge was devoid of any decorations. 30 graceful statues and sculptural groups, which are now admired by tourists, appeared much later, in the 18th century. The material for all the sculptures was soft sandstone, so over time, under the influence of rains and winds, they lost their freshness and beauty. Now on the bridge there are copies of them, created from material that is more resistant to bad weather, while the originals are stored in the National Museum of Prague.

Statue of John of Nepomuk

The most legendary statue of Charles Bridge is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk.

This saint - the patron saint of Prague is very loved and revered by the townspeople. His appearance here is not accidental. After all, it was from here, from the bridge, that the holy martyr was thrown into the river. The reason for such a terrible execution was the anger of King Wenceslas IV that Jan, who at that time was the queen's confessor, greatly honored the secret of confession and refused to confirm the monarch's suspicions of betraying his wife.
Today, on the very spot where the saint was executed, there is a small marble tablet with a cross surrounded by five stars.

The statue of John of Nepomuk is resoundingly popular with guests of Prague. Thousands of people come to it every day, because, according to legend, the statue of the saint has the ability to grant wishes. To do this, it is enough, standing in front of the statue, to tell Jan about your dream, and then alternately touch the reliefs on the right and left sides of the pedestal.

bearded man

The only truly ancient sculptural image present on the bridge today is a bas-relief, popularly referred to as the Bearded Man. Presumably, it depicts one of the ancient builders and previously occupied a place above the third span of the Yuditin Bridge.

During the construction of a new crossing, they decided to move the miraculously preserved statue closer to the shore and decorated the stonework of the embankment with it. And so that Borodach does not get bored in a new place, he was assigned an important mission - to monitor the water level in the river. The bas-relief was deliberately set quite low, and now every resident of Prague knows that if the Bearded Man's beard gets wet, one should prepare for a flood.

Evil Charles Bridge

Despite the abundance of statues of saints, there are also evil spirits on the Charles Bridge, which, by the way, feel great and are not embarrassed by anyone. So, in rainy weather, you can see a small nimble imp on the railing of the bridge. His favorite pastime is to draw his own self-portraits, and then pester passers-by, hoping to profitably sell his art.

And under the fourth span lives a real merman, whose name is Pan Josef. He is considered the most important waterman in the Czech Republic and is highly respected not only by his subordinates, but also by the townspeople. In the old days, Pan Josef liked to go out to people, chat and smoke a pipe with them. It is said that several centuries ago he even owned a small boat station. However, in the modern world, mythological characters have a hard time, so Pan Josef prefers not to show himself once again, but continues to do his main job - to collect the souls of all the drowned in clay pots. And so that the waterman does not lack "containers", local potters still bring and leave their products under the bridge. After all, you never know when another misfortune will happen and a new soul will fall into the possession of Pan Josef.

The keeper

The Charles Bridge also has its own Guardian - the knight Bruncvik - a character as popular in the Czech Republic as Odysseus in Greece or Ivan Tsarevich in Russia.
The majestic statue of Bruncvik on a high pedestal is installed next to the bridge, on the very bank of the Vltava, from the Malaya Strana. The stone knight holds a Magic Sword in his hands, capable of chopping the heads of enemies without even touching them. However, according to legend, the real Bruncvik sword was walled up somewhere in the masonry of the Charles Bridge, and it is this relic, and not egg whites in cement, that the bridge owes its centuries-old strength.

The inhabitants of Prague believe that if the city is in real danger, Bruncvik will come to life again, step down from a high pedestal, wave his wonderful sword and instantly hit all enemies. True, in its history, Prague has experienced many enemy invasions, but Bruncvik has never come to the aid of the townspeople. Apparently, the enemy was not so strong and the knight felt that people could handle it themselves.
And even in 2002, when a catastrophic flood occurred in the Czech capital, and the water almost completely covered the Charles Bridge, the statue of Bruncvik continued to proudly rise above the raging waves. He did not leave his post, and adequately withstood the pressure of the elements, which, by the way, did not cause much damage to the bridge.

Charles Bridge is the decoration and pride of Prague. It is crowded almost at any time of the day and, perhaps, due to the abundance of tourists, it is now difficult to notice a small imp on the railing or hear the sighs of executed rebels at the Old Town Tower. In order to better feel all the beauty, grandeur and mystical atmosphere, it is better to visit the bridge at night or early in the morning. At this time, there are much fewer tourists here and there is a chance that only St. John of Nepomuk will know about your innermost desire, and then it will certainly come true.

- is no exception, which can be seen by looking at the view of the city from above.

But among all these structures there is a unique one - Charles Bridge. He not only connected the banks of the river, but also took an important place in the history of the city. This bridge is completely pedestrian, although this was not always the case. Built six centuries ago, it has undergone some changes, but it has become more attractive for tourists and local residents. As a rule, there are a lot of passers-by, regardless of the time of year and day. I first visited this bridge on Christmas Eve, when most of the people went to their homes and restaurants to celebrate. It was deserted, very snowy, which gave the impression that I was straight into a fairy tale.

A bit of history

The bridge was conceived by Charles IV, it was supposed to connect the Prague Castle and the Old Town area. In its place, there used to be another, the Yuditin Bridge, destroyed by the flood. The dates for the beginning of the construction of the date were chosen by astrologers. In those centuries, numbers were of great magical significance, and the bridge, built according to all the rules, was considered to stand forever. It was opened in 1402 and has been subject to some changes until now: until 1908, a horse-drawn railway ran along it, then a tram ran there for a short time. Sculptures also did not appear immediately, only in the 17-18 centuries.

How to get there

You can get to the bridge from two sides, through any of the towers. From the west, you can get to the stop "Malostranské náměstí" by bus or tram, as well as to the metro station "Malostranská" on the green line. It is difficult to say which way will get there faster. On the one hand, the distance from the metro to the bridge is greater than from the bus or tram stop. On the other hand, the subway goes straight and at a higher speed.

From the east side, you can also take the metro to the Staroměstská station - this is the next (or previous, depending on which side you are coming from) after Malostranska. You can also get by tram to the stop "Karlovy lázně", "Národní divadlo" or "Staroměstská".

From each stop to the bridge itself, you need to walk, but it will take no more than 10 minutes.

What to see

Noteworthy is the architecture of the Charles Bridge and the towers framing it: take a close look at the sculptural compositions - some of them are simply unique. In addition, there are always a lot of counters with souvenirs: magnets, badges, earrings or handmade beads. Local artists are also located here, who in a couple of tens of minutes will draw your portrait in various styles (airbrush, charcoal, watercolor), and also sell ready-made landscapes or other paintings.

There are also musicians who perform not only their own compositions, but also songs known to you in an unusual arrangement. You can walk on this bridge all day and constantly find something new. Somehow I got from its western part to the eastern one in 3 hours: I managed to listen to two string quartets. The guys played so exciting and contagious that passers-by started dancing.

It turns out some kind of endless performance in the open air.

In addition to street performers, you can also meet local beggars: they stand in a characteristic pose, leaning on their knees and elbows, begging. The place is profitable, as among the visitors there are many people who give them change. Perhaps tourists see this as a kind of secret ritual that allows them to join the local rules and customs?

Towers of Charles Bridge

On both sides, the bridge is fortified with towers: Staromestskaya and Lesser Town. The first is located in the east and is a passage to the Old Place, in connection with which it received its name. The second is located on the western side and serves as a gate to the area of ​​the city, called the "Small Country". What can be said about these structures?

old town tower

It is a classic example of medieval European architecture.

Its facade is decorated with sculptures, which indicates that it was built not only as a fortification, but also functioned as a "triumphal arch": the king's path often ran through this bridge. The facade is decorated with coats of arms of the cities of the Czech crown, and above are the key figures in the history of the country: St. Vitus sits on the throne, King Charles IV to his left, Wenceslas IV to his right.

In the basement of the tower there used to be a prison, which has now become part of the exposition: you can go down and see what conditions the prisoners were in here. And on the upper tier there was a debtor's prison for people from the noble and rich classes. Now one of the most beautiful viewing platforms in Prague is located here, from which you can see the river and Prague Castle.

It is open from 10 am to 6 pm from November to February, 8 pm from March to October and 10 pm from April to September. An adult ticket will cost you 90 CZK, while students and children can get in for 65 CZK upon presentation of the relevant document. There are 136 steps to climb to the top, but the magnificent view that opens up to visitors (especially at sunset) is worth it.

Lesser Town Towers

Settled on the other side of the bridge.

They have an individual design, as they were built at different times, which in no way spoils their appearance. Rather, it adds zest. The small tower (the one on the left) was built in the 12th century. It was used as a fortification in front of the passage to the Prague Castle, and later was a prison for especially dangerous prisoners. The tall one, also known as the right tower, was built only in the middle of the 15th century. In its place there used to be another, similar to a small one. This building is decorated only with niches on the facade. The gates located between the towers are two walls with arched openings, which were once closed with oak doors and iron bars. As decorations, there are teeth along the upper edge, and coats of arms hang below.

There is also an observation platform on a high tower, from which you can clearly see Prague Castle, the Church of St. Nicholas, Petrin Hill, the TV Tower and much more. You can climb it by 146 steps.

Almost immediately behind the towers there are cafes and restaurants where you can have a bite to eat after an exciting pastime. Looking into a couple of establishments right at the high tower, I was very surprised: in a city where bars and pubs are considered the cheapest in Europe, prices bite. Restaurants U modré boty, Casanova and summer cafes under umbrellas turned out to be very expensive. I really wanted to eat, and I found a way out: for this it was necessary to cross the street and look into a fast food restaurant. To be honest, I don’t remember its name, but standing with your back to the Charles Bridge and the Small Tower, you will find it on your left hand. Burgers, local sausage, a kind of shawarma, beer and soda - everything you need to satisfy your hunger. From the recommendations: I suggest everyone at least once taste the local sausage sold in such establishments and street pavilions. Personally, I ate all six or eight kinds and was completely delighted.

sculptures

During the Baroque era, Charles Bridge was decorated with unique sculptures. There are 30 such groups in total (if we count the statue behind the fences, then 31), most of which were installed in the late 17th - early 18th centuries. It is noteworthy that in order to preserve most of the sculptures, they were transferred to the branch of the National Museum, and now their exact copies are located on the bridge. If you walk along the Charles Bridge from the Old Town Tower to Malostranska, on your right hand you will see:

1. A copy of St. Bernard of Clair with the Madonna.

2. A copy of the sculptural group depicting Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Dominic at the feet of the Madonna.

3. Crucifix made of bronze. On the sculpture there is a tablet in Hebrew with laudatory words addressed to Christ.

4. St. Anne with her daughter (who later became the Virgin Mary).

5. Saints Methodius and Cyril, who read a sermon to the pagans. It is noteworthy that this sculpture was designed and supplied at the expense of the Ministry of Education.

6. St. John the Baptist.

7. Saints Norbert, Wenceslas and Sigismund.

8. St. John of Nepomuk - the personal clergyman of the queen and the priest. According to historical information, he was thrown into the river because he refused to reveal the secret of the queen's confession to her husband (emperor). He is the executor of the desires of tourists and the patron of the drowning. Don't forget to touch it and make a wish when passing by.

9. St. Anthony with baby Jesus.

10. Apostle Jude Thaddeus.

11. A copy of the statue of Blessed Augustine.

12. Saint Keatin.

13. St. Philip Benicius.

14. St. Vitus with his tame lions.

15. Healers of St. Cosmas and Diamin. Delivered on the initiative of the Medical Faculty of Charles University.

In the same direction, but on the left hand, you can consider:

1. Saints Themis and Iva, who fell to judge the dispute between the son and mother. As many may have noticed, some of the statues on the bridge were installed at the initiative of the universities. And you probably already guessed that this sculpture is in the department of the Faculty of Law of the University of Prague.

2. Saints Elizabeth, Margaret, Barbara. At their feet is a dragon, whose head Margarita cut off.

3. A group depicting the mourning of Christ by John the Theologian and Mary Magdalene.

4. St. Joseph with baby Jesus.

5. A copy of the sculptural composition depicting St. Francis and the people baptized by him.

6. St. Christopher carrying baby Jesus across the river.

7. Saint Francis Borgia.

8. A copy of the statue of St. Ludmila, who teaches her grandson to read; later he became Saint Wenceslas.

9. St. Francis of Assisi.

10. A group depicting St. Prokop of Sazava with angels, as well as St. Vincent Ferrer and the peoples baptized by him.

11. A copy of the statue of St. Nicholas of Talentinsky.

12. A copy of the sculpture depicting St. Luitgar, leading a conversation with Christ.

13. A copy of the sculpture of St. Vojtech.

14., Saint Felix of Valois, Saint John of Mata. The sculptural group is located on a pedestal, inside of which there is a dungeon, symbolizing Christians in captivity.

15. Statue of St. Wenceslas.

Between 10 and 11 sculptures there is a statue of the Knight of Brunswick with a tame lion. This sculpture is the only one not located on the bridge, but placed behind its fences on a support.

Staircase to Campo

On the side of the Lesser Town Towers is the island of Kampa, rich in architectural and sculptural curiosities. It is separated from the shore by a small ridge of Devil's. You can get to Kampa from the mainland or directly from the Charles Bridge along the monumental neo-Gothic staircase located on the left side, if you have almost reached the Old Town Tower to Lesser Town.

Legends of Charles Bridge

Like any historical building, this object has collected many legends about itself:

• Sometimes an owl flew to the Old Town Tower, which, with its sad cry, foreshadowed a fire or a flood. The locals even tried to shoot the bird, but it invariably returned.
• During the construction period, wanting to improve the quality of the mortar, Karl ordered eggs from all over the country to be delivered to Prague. But the peasants of one of the villages, in order to please the emperor, boiled these eggs and sent them to the court like that.
• There is also a legend about the knight Brunsvik: it is similar to the Odyssey, the only difference is that he killed his wife’s suitors not with arrows, but with a sword.
• Under the fourth arch of the bridge, the ghost of a waterman once lived and was friends with the potter of old Prague.
• On the eastern side of the bridge, only a pure holy soul can count five images of kingfishers. But most tourists manage. In order not to make it easier for those who are interested, I can hint: it’s better to look at the statues.
• And if you make a wish on the Charles Bridge and touch one of the sculptures, then it will definitely come true. Wishes come true for lovers who kissed on the bridge.

There are other legends, more precisely, there are countless of them. Which of them to believe in, and which one to treat with doubt and skepticism - it's up to you. But you must admit that all these stories give the Charles Bridge a special mystery and uniqueness.

I would like to advise you to give this place at least a day, and preferably two. Choose clear, warm weather to catch as many interesting things as possible: unusual artists, musicians, or even an organ grinder.

Charles Bridge was not always Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge was not the first bridge connecting Prague Castle and the Old Town. Its predecessor was the Judith Bridge, which was almost completely destroyed by a flood in 1342. By the way, elements of one arch of this bridge are still kept in the center of Prague (in the basement of the Church of the Order of the Crusaders with a red star) and are included in the exposition of the Charles Bridge Museum.

Fragment of the Judith Bridge, exposition of the Charles Bridge Museum in Prague.

The heyday of construction and trade in the Czech Republic required the construction of a new, strong bridge. The development of the project was commissioned by King Charles IV to the architect Petr Parlerge, who had already proven his talent in the creation of the Cathedral of St. Vita. The date of the start of construction was long calculated by court astrologers. As a result, they got a combination of numbers "1357-9-7-5-31". Therefore, the construction was decided to start on July 9, 1357 at 5:31 am. The bridge continued to be built until 1402. Thanks to him, Prague increased its prestige and became a significant stop on European trade routes.

The people called the bridge "Stone" and "Prague" for a long time. Only in 1870 a new name was assigned to it with a light suggestion of the writer Josef Rudl.

View of Charles Bridge, photo positivetravel.ru

The only bridge with milk, cottage cheese, wine and eggs

A popular legend says that Charles Bridge is so strong because eggs, wine and milk were added to the mortar connecting the stones. In Prague, these products were scarce, so they were collected throughout the Czech kingdom. There are many funny stories associated with this collection. For example, the inhabitants of Velvar were so afraid that the eggs would break on the road that they decided to boil them first. And the inhabitants of the city of Ugnosti sent not only milk, but even cheese and cottage cheese. So Charles Bridge became the only bridge in the world, in the construction of which stones, eggs, milk, cheese, cottage cheese and wine were used.

Moss found on the Charles Bridge. www.muzeumkarlovamostu.cz

New mysteries of Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge continues to amaze people today. For example, a new mystery has recently been revealed: when scuba divers explored the ninth base of the bridge under water, they found a new layer between the mill stones and the gravel base. It consisted of compressed moss that does not grow underwater. The find confirmed that as early as the 14th century, this moss was collected in a fir forest and specially laid between gravel and mill stones. Perhaps the moss served to distribute the weight of the bridge. It could also be used as a stuffing compound to fill gaps, or put into a bridge for magical purposes.

Charles Bridge destroyed by the 1890 flood, starapraha.cz

Charles Bridge destruction

In its original form, the Charles Bridge was preserved only until 1648, when the Swedes came to Prague. The bridge was the line of defense of the city, so it was partially destroyed in the battles. The next catastrophic destruction occurred in the 1890 flood. It was a terrible catastrophe that deeply touched the hearts of the people of Prague. The bridge was restored by masters from Budapest, although many Czechs considered it outrageous that the construction was entrusted to foreigners. Their outrage was ignored, and the bridge was restored in a short time. In the 20th century (1966-75) Charles Bridge underwent another major overhaul.

Charles Bridge: interesting facts

1. Of all the 30 sculptures on the Charles Bridge, only the statue of John of Nepomuk is cast in bronze, and the statue of St. Philip Benitius is made of marble. The rest of the sculptures were made of stone.

Statue of St. John of Nepomuk, Charles Bridge in Prague.

2. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk is the longest on the bridge (since 1683). It is located between 9 and 10 pillars. According to legend, Jan was thrown off the bridge because he, against the will of King Wenceslas IV, appointed a new abbot or refused to reveal the secret of his wife's confession. At the place where the saint was thrown down, they strengthened a board with a metal cross and five stars. It can be seen on the right side of the bridge at 8 supports on the railing.

3. Why is John of Nepomuk always depicted with five stars? This is also explained by the legend. When he was drowned in the river, five stars appeared above the water. Their reflection helped find the body.

The place where they threw St. Jan Nepomuk. Charles Bridge in Prague

4. At the end of the 19th century, a horse-drawn tram ran along the Charles Bridge. The people of Prague called it a horse. Konka was very popular in the Czech Republic. In 1883, a tram route was solemnly opened in Prague, which led from the National Theater to the Crusader Square and across the Charles Bridge to Lesser Town Square. These were the first tram lines in the history of the Czech Republic. By the 20th century, the horse tram was replaced by an electric tram. In 1908, tram traffic on the Charles Bridge was finally banned for fear that heavy trams would destroy it. Cars drove over the bridge until 1965.

Charles bridge, horse-drawn carriage. photo milujuprahu.cz

5. One of the beliefs says that if you touch any sculpture on the Charles Bridge with your hand and make a wish, it will come true. If lovers make a wish and kiss on the bridge, it will also come true.

Charles Bridge kiss. photo Jakutsevich.ru

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 stimulated 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.

Options 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, extensive reconstruction was carried out.

In 2004-2005, work was done to preserve the two pillars, and in 2007 the complete reconstruction of the Charles Bridge was again carried out, this should eliminate some of the adverse effects of past floods.

Construction 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 down 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:

1. The inhabitants of one village wanted to please the emperor so much that they boiled eggs so that they would not break.
2. 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:

1. "The Turk who guards the Christians in captivity" is a work by Jan Brokoff from 1714.
2. The Crucifix is ​​the oldest group, brought from Dresden in 1657.
3. "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

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 is perhaps the most famous and visiting card of the entire Czech Republic. It is known not only for the many legends associated with it and the statues of saints that adorn it and are able to grant wishes, but also for the fabulous views of the banks of the Vltava with towers, churches and palaces, and also for the fact that it is the main walking route between the Old Town ( Stare Mesto) And .

The Charles Bridge

A bit of history and legend of the Charles Bridge

At the beginning of the 12th century, next to the site of the current Charles Bridge, instead of the old wooden one in Prague, the first stone bridge was built - Yuditin. It received this name in honor of the wife of King Vladislav II, who ruled at that time. However, already in the middle of the 14th century, the Judith Bridge was destroyed by a flood, and only the tower remained of it, which still adorns the Charles Bridge on the Lesser Town side. On the site of the destroyed bridge, King Charles IV ordered the construction of a new bridge, which now bears his name.

There are many legends about the construction of the Charles Bridge, one of the most famous tells about the date of laying its first stone. They say that Charles IV chose the date and time for the start of construction, guided by the advice of court astrologers - the laying of the bridge began in 1357 on the 9th day of the 7th month at 5 hours 31 minutes. The magic of numbers 1 3 5 7 9 7 5 3 1, equally read both from right to left and from left to right, promised prosperity and well-being.

Another legend is about a young builder of the Charles Bridge, who tried to restore the arch of the bridge, which had been demolished by floods. When, after several unsuccessful attempts, the frustrated builder stood alone on the bridge, he saw the devil. The devil offered his help in restoring the arch, on the condition that he get the soul of the first person to cross the bridge. The builder was so eager to finish the job successfully that he agreed to everything, and, of course, he hoped to outsmart the devil. After the successful completion of the repair of the bridge, he decided to be the first to let the black rooster go over the bridge, because in the agreement with the devil it was not stipulated that the first should be a man. The devil was also cunning and tricked the builder's pregnant wife onto the bridge to visit her husband. The next day, the builder's wife died after giving birth to a stillborn child. For many years, the soul of a newborn sneezed at night on the bridge from the cold, until one day a passerby, hurrying across the bridge at night to the other side, hearing someone sneezing and not even seeing who was sneezing, threw on the go: “Be healthy!”. And so, thanks to chance, bringing the Charles Bridge to rest forever.

Well, in fact, the bridge, which is one of the main attractions of Prague, was built under the guidance of the architect Petr Parler, who also worked on at. The construction of the Charles Bridge lasted about 50 years, and was completed at the very beginning of the 15th century. This majestic building, standing on 16 powerful arches lined with sandstone, more than half a kilometer long and about 10 meters wide, for several centuries was the only means of communication between the main districts of Prague.

Knightly tournaments were held here, fairs and courts were held; executions also took place here - unscrupulous artisans and merchants were lowered in a large wicker iron cage from a bridge into the waters of the Vltava; royal coronation processions to Prague Castle also passed along the Charles Bridge.

Charles Bridge for centuries had not only public, but also military-strategic importance for Prague: at the end of the bloody Thirty Years' War, the Swedes were stopped on the Charles Bridge, and in the middle of the 18th century, the Prussians were also defeated here.

The work of the brothers Adolf and Karl Liebscher"The battle of students with the Swedes on the Charles Bridge in 1648"

Towers of Charles Bridge

Located on the eastern side of the bridge, the Old Town Bridge Tower, one of the symbols of medieval Prague, is at the same time one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Europe. Its construction began simultaneously with the Charles Bridge. The rich decoration of the tower's side-facing facade indicates that the tower was not only part of the medieval city fortifications, but also a triumphal arch on the "".

Old Town Bridge Tower

For centuries, the Old Town Bridge Tower has been a participant and witness of Czech history, including its saddest pages: for 10 years, the heads of 12 executed participants in the class uprising hung on the gallery of its roof in metal nets. You have probably already seen the white ones laid down in memory of them on the pavement near the Old Town Hall.

If you want to admire the panorama of Charles Bridge and fabulous views of Prague, climb 47 meters along 138 steps to the observation deck of the Old Town Bridge Tower.

View from the bridge tower

Two bridge towers, located on the western side of the Charles Bridge, were built at different times, but are connected by a wall with a gate and are fortifications, so they are almost not decorated. The lower and more powerful tower was left from the Judith Bridge, originally it was Romanesque, but at the end of the 16th century it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. The taller tower was laid in the second half of the 15th century, and according to the plan of the architects, it was supposed to resemble the Old Town bridge tower, but it was never decorated accordingly.

Lesser Town bridge towers

An observation deck is also open on the higher Lesser Town Tower at a height of 40 meters. Climbing it, you will again be able to enjoy the wonderful views of the beauty of Prague.

You can read more about the bridge towers of Charles Bridge.

Statues of Charles Bridge

Initially, Charles Bridge was not decorated with statues. Most of the thirty sculptures that adorn the balustrade of the bridge in our time were installed at the beginning of the 18th century during the Baroque period. The authors of the sculptures were the best masters of that time: Matthias Bernard Braun, Jan Bedrich Kohl, Jan Brokoff and his sons. Most of the statues have now been replaced by replicas, since the statues were mostly created from sandstone and over time suffered greatly in the open, and some of them were even washed away by the waters of the Vltava during frequent floods. The original statues of Charles Bridge can be seen in the Lapidarium of the National Museum of Prague.

Statue of Saint John of Nepomuk

The most popular statue among tourists, of course, is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, a saint especially revered in Prague and the patron saint of the Czech Republic, created by Jan Brokoff. The place for the statue was not chosen by chance: according to one of the legends, at the end of the 14th century, on the orders of King Wenceslas IV, John of Nepomuk was tortured to death and thrown into the river in a bag. He was the queen's confessor and refused to give the king, who suspected adultery, the secret of confession, which earned the sovereign's wrath. The reason for the popularity of this statue among tourists is another legend of Charles Bridge, which promises the fulfillment of a wish if, having made it, first touch the right side of the relief on the pedestal of the statue, and then the left. The reliefs have already been polished to a shine by thousands of hands, so you can easily recognize this statue among all the others. Just in case, the statue of St. John of Nepomuk is the eighth from the right, if you go to the side