In the 10th century, a wooden bridge located more or less on the same place crossed the Vltava River. It was replaced in the 12th century by the city’s first stone bridge, the Judith Bridge, of which a few remains can still be found today (among others at the boarding spot of the Prague Venice cruises, on the Old Town side). In February 1342, sudden and major melting of the ice destroyed two thirds of the structure. The Emperor Charles IV decided to build a new bridge bearing his name, that would be slightly curved against the stream, and which strong pillars would stand on oak stilts. The construction work was partly led by the court’s main architect and sculptor Peter Parler, who also showed his talent with the St Vitus Cathedral. In spite of various floods and partial renovations throughout history, the bridge that visitors walk on when crossing the river in the historic center is still the same old medieval bridge…

On the side of the Old Town, the contemporary Gothic tower of the Charles Bridge marks its entrance and is adorned with magnificent sculptures, masterpieces made by Petr Parleř: you can notice the Emperor and his son Wenceslas IV, as well as the saints Vitus, Adalbert and Sigismond, patron saints of the kingdom. On the other side, the bridge is bordered by two towers, each having a different height. The older one, the Judith tower, dates back to the Romanesque era (12th century). The higher one dates back to the 15th century and offers a beautiful view on the city.

The sculpture gallery that adorns the bridge is just as exceptional. We know that very soon a wooden Cross adorned the bridge, and the next sculpture set on the site in the 16th century represented the legendary Brunswick knight.
But the bridge received most of its religious sculptures at the turn of the 17th century. Imitating the pattern of the Bridge of Angels in Rome, it forms an extraordinary triumphant alley that connects both banks of the city, the earth and the sky. The best artists of that time distinguished themselves in a particularly fruitful climate of artistic competition and rivalry (see the best pieces in the photo gallery). In the 19th century, other more academic works completed the set, which had been partially damaged by floods or artillery fire.
The sculptures that you can see today are usually copies of the original pieces.
It is sometimes a bit difficult to walk across Charles Bridge because of the discontinuous flow of tourist crowds. If you can, we recommend that you step on the bridge during snowy winter months, at the first rays of dawn or late at night under a starry sky… to enjoy the full magic of the place…