Charles Bridge in Prague – a detailed description with a photo. All sculptures Charles Bridge and its location on the map.
Contents
Charles Bridge – Karlův most
Charles Bridge is one of the main attractions of Prague and its main character. It is the oldest stone bridge of the city, built across the Vltava on the site of the old Yuditin bridge of sandstone blocks. WITH on each side of his side are fortified gothic towers. A famous feature of Charles Bridge is Sculptures of saints, installed in the period from the end of the 17th century 20th century.
The first bridge over the Vltava was put in this place already at 10 century. It was a small wooden bridge, which in 1170 was replaced by the stone Judith Bridge, named after Judith Thuringian, wife of King Vladislav II. This bridge was practically completely destroyed by the flood of 1342, and then restored was not.
Winter on Charles Bridge
Construction of the new bridge was entirely associated with the name of Karl Iv. The new bridge was laid by the king on 9 .7.1357 at 5:31 a little higher flow. The date and time were not chosen randomly. At the court of Charles IV There were many astronomers and alchemists. This date and time created a kind of magic numbers, which was considered a good sign.
9
7 7
5 5
3 3
1 1
The architect of the bridge was the famous Peter Parler, who participated in the creation of the cathedral of sv. Vita in Prague Castle. The Charles Bridge was completed only after the death of Charles IV and his chief architect in 1402. The length of the bridge was just over 515 meters and a width of 9.5 meters. At that time it was one of the most the largest stone bridges in the world. It was strengthened by special bridge structures in the amount of 16.
The Charles Bridge – morning
In 1723, the bridge was lit with oil lamps. In 1844 a new staircase to the island of Campo was built.
For a long time, the bridge served to drive kings and carriages to Prague Castle. In 1905 a tram line was launched on the bridge, which was replaced by a bus service in 1908. Since 1965 Charles Bridge is completely pedestrian.
Bridge towers
Bridge towers are one of the main decorations of Charles Bridge. it fortified gothic masses that are mounted on each of its sides. From the side of Stare Mesto is the Old Town Tower, Sides of Mala-Strana – Little-country.
Old Town Tower
Old Town tower
The Old Town Tower is one of the most impressive. gothic structures in the world. The tower, like Karlovmost, was designed by Peter Parler in mid 14th century. She was conceived as symbolic the triumphal arch under which the Czech kings passed at coronation from the Old Town Square. Its height is 47 meters. Now here is a gallery and observation deck, climb to which can be overcome 138 steps. Decorated tower interesting sculptures created between 1380 – 1400 over the years: sculptures of lion, eagle, griffon, kingfisher, emblem and sculpture of Charles IV and others.
Lesser Town Bridge Towers
Little countries bridge towers
Little Mostransky tower towers – two different in height and the style of the tower on the Charles Bridge. The lower tower is called Yuditina, because She built the Romanesque style in the second half of the twelfth century as part of the first stone bridge. The modern Gothic tower was laid at the beginning of the 15th century. the place of the second Romanesque tower. The Gothic gates were built, probably already under Wenceslas IV. They consist of two pointed arches and were closed with oak doors and iron lattices.
Sculptures of the Charles Bridge
Sculptures Charles Bridge
A famous feature of the Charles Bridge is the sculptures of saints. They were established from the 18th to the early 20th century. amount Sculptures has exactly 30 pcs. Most sculptures are made from sandstone (the oldest were made of bronze). Should note that at the moment almost all sculptures are copies modern sculptors (originals were destroyed in due to flooding or weather damage conditions). Some of the original sculptures are in Prague museums.
Scheme the location of the sculptures of Charles Bridge
List of sculptures
- Virgin Mary and St. Bernard, 1709
- St. Ivo, 1711
- Virgin Mary and Tomash 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, Wenceslaus and Sigismund, 1853
- St. Francis Borgia, 1710
- St. Jan Nepomuk, 1683 – the oldest sculpture the bridge
- St. Lyudmila and Vaclav, 1720
- St. Anthony of Padua, 1707
- St. Francis of Seraphim, 1855
- Judah Thaddeus, 1708
- St. Vincent Ferrer, 1712
- St. Augustine, 1708
- St. Nikolai, 1708
- St. Cayetan of Tyensky, 1709
- St. Lutgard, 1710
- St. Philip, 1714
- St. Voitech, 1709
- St. Vit, 1714
- St. John, Felix and Ivan, 1714
- St. Cosma and Damien, 1709
- St. Vaclav, 1859
Of course, one should also mention the sculpture of Brunswick (No. 31 on scheme), which is not among the sculptures of Charles Bridge, but also very interesting.
Brunswick
Brunswick is a late Gothic work of the unspecified Prague sculptor of the early 16th century. According to legends, the Czech Prince Brunswick in his adventures struggled with terrible animals and monsters. One day, he rescued a lion by killing a scary dragon. Since the lion stayed with him and was reflected in the princely coat of arms. In their Adventures Brunswick also received a magic sword. The legend says, that it is hidden somewhere in the pillars of the Charles Bridge.
How to get there:
Metro – Staroměstská or Malostranská, line A
Tram:
- 2 6 14 17 18 22 23 41 53 57 59, Karlovy lázně or Staroměstská
- 1 2 5 7 9 1eleven 2 15 17 18 20 22 23 25 41, Malostranskénáměstí
