The Prague Charles Bridge: everything you need to know

St. Charles Bridge is a must-see if you travel to Prague. It is, in fact, the most popular place in the Czech capital with permission of its castle. So much so that it is difficult to walk on this pedestrian bridge due to the large number of people. And yet it is almost 10 metres wide.

In addition to its historical value, being the oldest bridge in the city and the one that linked the old part of Prague with the castle, its popularity has been earned by its architectural beauty and its legends, among many other virtues. In this post you can discover all there is to see and do on and around St. Charles Bridge.

Whenever we visit a monument it is always advisable to know its history, as it gives us a different perspective when we visit it. And so we will briefly review the history of Charles Bridge. At its present location on the Vltava River was the Judith Bridge, which was demolished by a flood at the end of the 12th century. It was Emperor Charles IV who ordered the construction of a new bridge and entrusted the task to the architect Peter Parler, who was already in charge of the construction of the city's cathedral.

The emperor himself laid the foundation stone of the bridge in 1357, but its construction took until 1402. Once completed, the bridge spanned 500 metres and was the only point across the river through the city, so it quickly became a main artery. It remained so for over 400 years until other bridges were built.

Ithas survived 5 major floods but has been refurbished several times to keep it standing. To prevent its deterioration, vehicle access was banned in 1965 and in 1992 it was recognised as a World Heritage Site.

Of course, the bridge has a much longer history and hides many secrets and legends. If you want to discover them all, the best thing to do is to hire a guided tour with a professional guide who will tell you all about the San Carlos Bridge, for example by minibus.

One of the main charms of the Charles Bridge are its famous statues. Along the bridge there are more than 30 statues that escort the pedestrians crossing the bridge. All of them are Baroque in style and religious in theme, representing saints venerated at the time. The vast majority are copies of the originals kept in the National Museum in Prague. The oldest surviving original statue on the bridge, and also the most famous, is that of St. John of Nepomuk.

He is the patron saint of flood protection and his statue is located at the place where he is said to have been thrown into the river. It is a tradition for tourists and locals to place their left hand on the left side of the base of the statue, as it is said that this will either get you back to Prague or grant you a wish. You will know where to place your hand, as the wear and tear caused by touristswho take advantage of this belief is very noticeable.

Another original sculpture on the bridge is that of the crucifixion and Calvary of Jesus Christ. This scene is depicted in great detail and as a curiosity the cross used in this statue was made of wood and has been replaced on many occasions due to flooding and humidity. The current cross dates from 1657.

There are many legends and stories surrounding Charles Bridge. The first of these is related to St. John of Nepomuk and is that Emperor Wenceslas IV ordered him to be thrown into the river in 1393 from this very bridge, which was still under construction. His statue stands on the very spot where this happened and there is a brass cross marking what is said to be the exact spot where they were thrown into the river.

The other best-known popular legends have to do with its construction. The first tells that Emperor Charles IV commissioned different astrologers and numerologists to study the exact date on which to start building the bridge so that it would resist and not suffer the same fate as the Bridge of Judith, which collapsed after flooding.

They determined that the foundation stone should be laid on 9 July 1357 at 5:31 am, which the emperor himself did. This date can be represented as 135797531 and forms a capicua number made up of ordered odd numbers.

Another legend has it that eggs were used in its construction and mixed into the mortar in the belief that this would improve the luck and strength of the bridge. There are studies on this subject and some confirm it while others deny it. These are the best-known stories and legends, but there are many more to discover.

At both ends of the Charles Bridge there are three towers at the entrance to the bridge itself. The first and best known is the Old Town Tower, so called because it is on the Old Town side of Prague. It is a Gothic masterpiece and can be visited from the inside. Inside there are exhibitions on the construction of the bridge and the best part is the view of the bridge. The entrance fee is only 60 czk, which at the exchange rate is about 2.50 euros.

At the other end are the two towers on the Malá Strana side. The smaller one is the older one from the same period as the original Judith Bridge. The other tower is similar to the tower in the old part, also in Gothic style. Both are connected by a gallery which can be climbed to get a good view of the bridge.

During the day, thousands of pedestrians and tourists cross the bridge, making it somewhat difficult to contemplate its beauty and its sculptures. But when night falls, the bridge is completely transformed. The illumination of the bridge makes the sculptures and towers stand out and gives it a unique charm.

The fact that at night the traffic is much less crowded makes it an almost obligatory activity if you want to see the Charles Bridge in all its splendour. It is one of the essential monuments to see in Prague at night.

Another option for seeing the bridge from a different perspective is to take a cruise along the Vltava River. The itinerary of these cruises always passes under the bridge and gives us the opportunity to take a different kind of photo than usual.

They usually last for an hour and include a guide who tells us the history of the monuments we see during the trip. Prices start at 15 euros. We also have the option of hiring a night cruise through Prague with dinner included.

If you want a free alternative for a panoramic view of the bridge, the best option is to do it from the shore of the Malá strana district. Near the Kafka museum you can access the shore and take a walk where you will stop several times to take pictures of the bridge. It is also common for the swans that swim along the river to approach us begging for food.

Just 500 metres from Charles Bridge is St. Nicholas Church. This spectacular 18th century Baroque building welcomes us to the Malá Strana district and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague. It is worth visiting the whole building, from the façade to the interior, but especially the bell tower. From the bell tower we have one of the best views of Prague and we can see the Charles Bridge from the top as well as the castle.

It costs 4 euros to enter St. Nicholas Church and another 4 euros to go up to the bell tower. It always opens at 10:00 and the closing time changes according to the month. It closes at 18:00 from November to February, at 20:00 from March to October and at 22:00 from April to September.

Crossing the Charles Bridge you will see a spectacular building that crowns the city in the distance. This is Prague Castle. Although it is known as a castle, it is not really a castle as such. It is a complex of buildings that includes St. Vitus Cathedral, the former royal palace, St. George's Basilica and the Dalibo Tower, among many others.

These buildings are located 1 kilometre from Charles Bridge on a hill and are a must-see for all travellers to Prague. The complex can be visited on your own or by booking a guided tour of Prague. The latter is a good option if you want to get to know all the history, and there is a lot of it, that surrounds this unique complex. Here you have all the information about tickets to Prague Castle.

For Instagram lovers, there are two murals in Prague that are two of the most popular photos in the city. The first, known as the Kissing Wall, depicts a couple kissing passionately with the city of Prague in the background. It is located under the first pillar of the Charles Bridge in the Mala Strana district.

The second is the mural of John Lennon. Located on Velkopřevorské náměstí Square, in front of the Buquoy Palace near the bridge, this mural of the artist became a symbol. Shortly after the murder of the best-known Beatle, this colourful mural appeared with Lennon's face surrounded by phrases against the communist regime that ruled the Czech Republic in the 1980s. Today it has become a symbol of freedom and one of the most photographed places in Prague.

The Clementinum was originally the former Charles University and now houses Prague's national library. It is a huge complex, the second largest in the city after the castle, whose main attraction is its impressive Baroque library. It is one of the most spectacular places in the capital and a must-see.

The complex is located just 200 metres from the bridge at the exit of the Old Tower. It is open every day from 10:00 to 19:00, from April to October, and until 18:00 the rest of the year. Admission costs 9 euros for adults, 5 euros for students and children under 7 years old are free.

The last point close to Charles Bridge to visit is the Old Town Square. This emblematic square is one of the nerve centres of Prague and is home to several churches and emblematic buildings of the city.

It is in this square that we find Prague's famous astronomical clock. Located on the south façade of the old town hall, this clock represents, in addition to the 24 hours of the day, the positions of the sun and the moon, a circular calendar with the months of the year, a zodiacal ring and different astronomical elements that have made it one of the most special clocks in the world.