Charles Bridge is one of the main attractions of the Czech Republic, a kind of visiting card of the capital. Fanned by many ancient legends, it attracts tourists with its architecture, statues that can grant wishes and, of course, wonderful views of the city.
How Charles Bridge was built: legends and facts
At the beginning of the 12th century, two more structures stood on the site of the modern bridge. They were destroyed by a flood, so King Charles IV ordered the construction of a new structure bearing his name. The construction gave rise to a large number of legends.
The most famous of them sounds like this: to determine the date of laying the first stone, the king turned to an astrologer for help. On his advice, a date was set - 1357, June 9 at 5:31. Ironically, the current number - 135797531 - reads the same from both sides. Karl considered this a sign, and it was on this day that the first stone was laid.
Another legend says that during the construction of the building there was not enough quality material, so the builders used egg white. A large-scale construction required a lot of eggs, so the inhabitants of the surrounding settlements brought them in huge quantities. The irony of the situation is that many people brought boiled eggs. And yet the material turned out to be good, which is why the Charles Bridge is so strong and durable.
Another legend tells of a young man who tried to restore an arch after a flood. Nothing came of it. But suddenly on the bridge he saw the devil, who offered him a deal. The devil will help with the restoration of the arch, and the builder will give him the soul of the person who will be the first to cross the bridge. The young man was so anxious to finish the job that he agreed to terrible conditions. After construction, he decided to lure a black rooster to the Charles Bridge, but the devil turned out to be more cunning - he brought the builder's pregnant wife. The child died, and his soul wandered and sneezed for many years. Once a belated passer-by, hearing this, said "Be healthy" and the ghost rested.
Historical facts say that the construction was supervised by the famous architect Peter Parler. The construction continued until the beginning of the 15th century, that is, it lasted half a century. As a result, the viewers saw a powerful structure standing on 15 arches, more than half a kilometer long and 10 meters wide. Today it gives citizens and tourists a magnificent view of the Vltava River, churches and palaces of Prague. And in the old days, knightly tournaments, executions, trials, fairs were held here. Even the coronation processions did not bypass this place.
Charles Bridge towers
The Old Town Tower is a symbol of medieval Prague, the most beautiful building in Europe in the Gothic style. The façade of the tower, facing towards Křížovnice Square, is striking in its splendor and suggests that the building served as a triumphal arch in the Middle Ages. Tourists wishing to admire the panorama can climb the tower by overcoming 138 steps. The view from it is fantastic.
Among the interesting facts about the tower is the fact that in the Middle Ages its roof was decorated with plates of pure gold. The most important elements of the composition were also gold. Now the facade is decorated with the coat of arms of the Staraya Mesto district (at one time it was a separate city) and the coats of arms of the lands and territories that belonged to the country during the reign of Charles IV. At the end of the composition are statues of Kings Charles IV and Wenceslas IV (it was with them that the legendary bridge was built). On the third tier, Vojtech and Sigismund are located - patrons of the Czech Republic.
The two western towers were built in different years, but now they are connected by walls and gates. Since at one time they served as fortifications, the decor is almost absent. On the gate there is the coat of arms of the Mala Strana and Old Town. The coat of arms of the Bohemia region is also located here. The low tower remained from the destroyed Juditin bridge. It was originally built in the Romanesque style, but now the tower is rebuilt and belongs to the Renaissance style. The higher Lesser Town Tower, like the Old Town, has an observation deck.
Statues on the bridge
The description of the Charles Bridge cannot be complete without mentioning its statues. The statues were not built at the same time, but appeared already at the beginning of the 18th century. They were created by the famous masters Jan Brokoff with his sons, Matthias Bernard Braun and Jan Bedrich Kohl. Since the statues were created from brittle sandstone, replicas are now replacing them. The originals are on display at the National Museum in Prague.
The statue of Jan Nepomuk (revered saint in the country) was created by Jan Brokoff. According to legend, at the end of the 14th century, by order of Wenceslas IV, Jan Nepomuk was thrown into the river. The reason for this was disobedience - the queen's confessor refused to reveal the secret of confession. Here the statue of the saint is installed. The statue is a favorite among tourists, as it is believed that it can fulfill cherished desires. To do this, touch the relief on the pedestal on the right and then on the left. There is a sculpture of a dog near the statue. Rumor has it that if you touch her, the pets will be healthy.
The gate at the entrance to the Charles Bridge is another favorite place for tourists. It is believed that kingfishers carved on it can also grant a wish. To do this, you just need to look for all the kingfishers (there are 5 of them). It's not that easy the first time!
We recommend taking a look at Prague Castle.
Among the sculptures of the Charles Bridge, the most ancient is the image of the Borodach. This is a self-portrait of one of the builders. Now it is in the embankment masonry. It is located at the water level so that the residents of the city can see if they are in danger of flooding.
There are 30 stone figures in total. In addition to the above, the following are popular:
Included in the architectural complex and the staircase to Kampa - a monumental neo-Gothic monument. The staircase leads directly to the island of Kampu. It was built in 1844, before that there was a wooden structure.
How to get there?
The bridge connects the historical districts of the Czech capital - Mala Strana and Old Town. The address of the attraction sounds simple: "Karlův most Praha 1- Staré Město - Malá Strana". The nearest metro station and tram stop have the same name "Staromestska".
Charles Bridge is full of tourists in any season. Thousands of people are interested in towers, figures and the history of architecture in general. In addition to curious tourists, you can often find artists, musicians and traders here. If you want to feel the mysticism of this place in peace and tranquility, come here at night. Good photos are taken in the evening.
Charles Bridge is the most romantic, beautiful and mysterious place in Prague. This is the pride of the entire Czech people. You should definitely visit here, because everyone, without exception, can make wishes, admire the surroundings, admire the statues and decor of the towers.
