Charles Bridge or Karluv most

Since first day we decided to visit Prague we wanted to visit Charles Bridge. This 14th century stone bridge is linking the two sides of Prague. This magnificent structure is one of the city’s finest attractions, and is the main pedestrian route connecting the Old Town with Mala Strana and Prague Castle.

From Charles Bridge visitors enjoy fairytale views of the Prague skyline. The wide expanse of the river flows beneath it, flanked on both sides by elegant buildings. Prague Castle towers above in its eminent position. Here you are truly in the center of the city.

We fascinated about this place. During the day the bridge is full of tourists from many corners of the world. Street artists sketch and musicians play; look out for the jazz band, who are particularly entertaining. But for a truly romantic and less crowded stroll, try early morning or any time in the evening. Then you can see the beauty of this place.

From what we read from books King Charles IV commissioned the bridge. The foundation stone was laid in 1357. Charles IV’s favourite architect and builder, Peter Parler, oversaw the majority of the work. The initial idea was to build a functional construction for knight tournaments, and for many years the only decoration on the bridge was a simple crucifix. Later, the Catholic desire for ornamentation resulted in 30 statues being erected between 1600 and 1800.

There are now 75 statues on Charles Bridge, but most are copies, as floods and catastrophes over the centuries damaged the originals. Perhaps the most interesting, as well as the oldest, is that of John of Nepomuk (8th from the right as you cross towards Prague Castle).

The entrance to Charles Bridge is marked at both ends by towers: the Old Town Bridge Tower and the Mala Strana Bridge Tower.

The Old Town Bridge Tower is a beautiful Gothic tower guarding Charles Bridge, and heralding entrance to the Old Town. This blackened, aged gate was completed in 1380 and forms part of the old fortification system of Prague, built to protect the Old Town against northern invaders.

Although partially damaged by the failed attempt of marauding Swedes to occupy the Old Town in 1648, sculptures by Peter Parler (whose genius can also be seen in St. Vitus Cathedral) survive.

We climb the 138 stairs inside the tower to reach the tower gallery, for a bird’s-eye view over Charles Bridge, the Vltava River, the Old Town, Mala Strana and Prague Castle.

On the other side of Charles Bridge, guarding entrance to Mala Strana, is the very similar looking Mala Strana Bridge Tower.

If you come from the Old Town side of the city, this is the main entry point to Mala Strana, a lovely ancient quarter of Prague with restaurants, bars and boutique shops.

The Mala Strana Bridge Tower was built in the second half of the 15th century under the rule of King George of Podebrady. The model for its construction was the Old Town Bridge Tower.

Connected to the Mala Strana Bridge Tower by a walkway is a smaller tower, Judith’s Tower, the only remaining part of the original Prague bridge, the Romanesque Judith’s Bridge, which was destroyed by floods in 1342.

Inside the Mala Strana Bridge Tower is an exhibition which dedicated to the history of the bridge, with graphic descriptions of the invading armies that have passed along it.

Also this tower has stairs to the top, which we climb for a beautiful view over Mala Strana, Charles Bridge, the Vltava River and across into Prague’s Old Town.

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