Yuditin bridge

The first stone bridge across the Vltava was Yuditin bridge which has been in operation since 1172. In 1342, it collapsed due to the sharp melting of snow and ice (at first, huge ice floes clogged the space between the support piers, and then new ice floes created too much pressure on them). It was decided to build a new bridge 20-30 meters upstream.

History of the Charles Bridge

Each order next to its part of the bridge received large plots of land for the construction of monastic complexes. The first built a whole area, the center of which was the modern Maltese and Velkoprzhevorskaya squares, and the second built up a quarter around the Crusader Square.

Since the end of the 19th century, the line of the first public transport, known today as konka. Then it was replaced by a tram with a lower current collection, but after a couple of years the city authorities changed their minds and stopped checking the bridge for strength. It should be noted that until 1870 it was called Prague bridge, and was renamed only in the wake of the national revival of the XIX century.

Towers of Charles Bridge

old town tower

Old Town Bridge Tower (Staroměstská mostecká věž) - the eastern tower of the Charles Bridge; is a symbolic gateway to Stare Mesto. It began to be built simultaneously with the bridge under the leadership of Petr Parlerge, and completed in 1380. The Old Town Tower is considered the most beautiful medieval tower in Europe (surviving). And this despite the fact that in 1648 the sculptural decorations on the eastern side of the tower were destroyed by Swedish artillery shelling, when the bridge, as the only crossing to the right bank of the Vltava, became the site of a fierce battle.

In the Middle Ages, the roof of the Old Town Tower was covered with gilded sheets. The most important elements of sculptural compositions were also gold. Nowadays, the facade of the tower is decorated with the coat of arms of the Stare Mesto district, above which there is a horizontal row of coats of arms of the lands of the Czech kingdom during the reign of Charles IV. Above them rise the statues of the kings under which the Charles Bridge was built - Charles IV and Wenceslas IV. Between them (on a slight rise) is a statue of St. Vitus, the spiritual patron of the bridge. At the level of the third tier of the tower there are sculptures of the patrons of the Czech land - saints Vojtech and Sigismund. In addition, on the facade of the tower (in four different places) you can see the bas-reliefs of the kingfisher bird, the symbol of Wenceslas IV.

At the beginning of the 17th century, 12 severed heads of the leaders of the Revolt of the Estates, who were executed on the Old Town Square, hung on the Old Town Bridge Tower for ten years. Nowadays, the tower operates observation platform and a small historical gallery. Next to the tower is the Charles Bridge Museum.

Lesser Town Tower

Lesser Town Bridge Tower (Malostranská mostecká věž) is the high western tower of the Charles Bridge. Of all the three towers, it was built last - in the middle of the 15th century during the reign of King Jiří of Poděbrady. In the very first house from the tower (Mostetskaya st., 1) there is Klub Za starou Prahu - a civil association that has been active in the protection of monuments in Prague since 1900.

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Yuditina Tower

The Judith Tower (Juditina věž) is the smallest, but at the same time the oldest tower (dating back to the 12th century). It was built back in the time of the first in the Romanesque style, and in 1591 it was rebuilt in the likeness of the other two towers. In the city chronicle, a record of a tragic incident connected with the Judith Tower has been preserved. It is reported that in 1250 a broken piece of stone fell on the head of a knight named Pertolt. The unfortunate one, fully armored, but having removed his helmet, fell dead.

The Lesser Town Bridge Tower and the Judith Tower are connected by a gate, which depicts the coats of arms of Prague's Mala Strana and Stare Mesto districts, as well as the Bohemia region.

The sculptures of Charles Bridge were created with a deep ideological and political meaning. The Austrian Habsburg dynasty, ruling at that time Bohemia and Moravia (the main regions of the modern Czech Republic), with the help of Catholicism, tried to eradicate dangerous Hussite views from the Czechs, leading to the manifestation of national identity and the desire for independence. Therefore, all individuals on the Charles Bridge are ideological missionaries and distributors of the Catholic faith. There are no real defenders of Czech interests among them. Not even kings Charles IV and Wenceslas IV, during whose reign the construction of the structure was carried out, as they pursued a policy aimed at creating a strong national state.

Francis is depicted in the clothes of a priest. To the left of it is an angel with the image of the Holy Gifts, to the right - an angel holding the image of the Virgin Mary.

Details of the sculptural composition: Lyudmila holds a handkerchief in her left hand, with which, according to legend, she was strangled, and with her right hand she points to the Bible, from which she teaches young Vaclav to read. The relief on the pedestal depicts the scene of the assassination of Prince Wenceslas.

Details of the sculptural composition: the bronze plates on the pedestal depict scenes of the queen's confession and the execution of John of Nepomuk. There is a belief that if you rub them, a wish will come true.

Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) - famous preacher of the Franciscan Order.

Details of the sculptural composition: Anthony is depicted with little Jesus. In his right hand he holds a lily, which emphasizes his holiness. On the sides are two vases depicting scenes from the life of Anthony of Padua.

Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) - patron saint of environmentalists and founder of the mendicant Franciscan Order. It was he who deepened the idea of ​​poverty for the monks and turned it from a negative sign of renunciation of the world into a positive life ideal, which stemmed from the idea of ​​following the example of poor Christ. He also transformed the very idea of ​​monasticism, replacing the hermit monk with an apostle missionary who, having renounced the world inwardly, remains in the world to call people to peace and repentance. Francis set a personal example of such behavior, becoming a barefoot beggar, and "in the clothes of a shepherd" preached the need for love and humility. It should be noted that he came from a wealthy merchant family, and in his youth he was known as "the king of all revels and fun."

Details of the sculptural composition: Francis of Assisi is depicted with two angels. The inscription “St. Francis of Assisi for the miraculous rescue of Emperor Franz Joseph in 1853” is carved on the pedestal (the Hungarian revolutionary stabbed the monarch in the neck, from which he was saved by the golden collar of the uniform).

Judas Thaddeus - an apostle, preached in Palestine, Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia. He died a martyr's death in Armenia. Protector of people in hopeless cases.

Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted with a gospel and a club. On the pedestal is the inscription: "To the devoted friend of Christ."

Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419) – Spanish philosopher, theologian and preacher He came from a noble noble family, but voluntarily accepted the harsh life of an ascetic (he kept a strict fast all year round, slept on bare ground, and moved only on foot). Vincent devoted himself to missionary work and abandoned the cardinal rank;

Procopius of Sazava (970–1053) – Czech monk and missionary He founded the Sazava Monastery, which was the center of Slavic culture and the last place in the Czech Republic where worship was held in Church Slavonic. Procopius also led the life of an ascetic (he personally cut down the forest and cultivated the land). According to legend, once the locals saw a saint plowing a field on a devil harnessed to a plow, which he drove with a cross.

Details of the sculptural composition: St. Vincent, in Dominican attire, with one hand casts out the devil from a kneeling man, and with the other, he resurrects from the dead lying in the grave. Saint Prokop holds a rod over the pacified Satan, stepping on it with his foot, which symbolizes the victory of faith, truth and goodness over the forces of evil. There are several inscriptions on the monument: “8,000 infidels to the Catholic faith”, “70 devils to pacify” and “2,500 Jews to Christ.”

Bruncvik is a hero of Czech legends and tales, who wanted to get the right to place a lion on his coat of arms (a symbol of valor and courage). To do this, he embarked on a series of adventures and exploits. Knight Bruncvik is a fictional character and symbolizes one of the kings of the Přemyslid family, who changed the black eagle to a silver lion on the coat of arms of Bohemia in 1172.

Details of the sculptural composition: Knight Bruncvik is depicted with a sword and shield, which depicts the coat of arms of the Stare Mesto district. At his feet sits a lion. The monument is located behind the sculptural group of Saints Vincent and Prokop (No. 20), so to see it, you need to look down from the bridge.

Augustine Aurelius (354–430) – philosopher, preacher and theologian It is he who owns the interesting phrase “Good God, give me chastity and moderation ... but not now, oh God, not yet!”

Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted in episcopal attire. Under his right foot he has a heretical book (a sign of contempt for the Protestants), and in his right hand is a burning heart (a sign of love for the Lord). At the left leg of Augustine is a figurine of an angel.

Nicholas of Tolentinsky (XIII century) - missionary and monk of the Order of Augustine Aurelius. Before his death, his last words were: "My conscience does not reproach me for anything, but this does not mean that I am a righteous man."

Details of the sculptural group: the saint is depicted in a monk's cassock with an angel who prepared a basket of bread for the poor.

Luitgarda is a blind nun who regained her sight after kissing the wounds of Christ in a dream.

Cajetan of Tien (1480–1547) - defender against epidemics and founder of the Order of Theatines, which became the first order of a new type. Upon joining, the priests gave traditional monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but did not leave the world, but continued to perform the duties of parish priests. Such monks are called regular clerics. The new order fought heresy, but with humane methods (as opposed to the common medieval practice of using violent measures).

Details of the sculptural composition: the saint holds in his hands the open Gospel of Matthew with the word of God. Behind it is a plague column, symbolizing the Holy Trinity with the image of clouds and angels.

Philip Benicius (1233–1285) – one of the founders of the Order of the Servites

Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is dressed in the traditional white robe of members of the order. In his hands he holds a cross, a symbolic branch (or lily) and a book. A tiara (papal crown) is laid at his feet, since in 1268 he had the opportunity to become Pope.

Vojtech (X century) - the second Czech bishop, was killed during missionary work in Polabian Prussia. In the 11th century, the saint was considered the second patron saint of the Czech land after Saint Wenceslas and the main patron saint of Poland.

Details of the sculptural composition: Vojtech is depicted in archbishop's robes with the Gospel in his left hand.

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Vitus (290–303) - patron of the Czech lands. Reliable historical evidence of the life and martyrdom of the saint has not been preserved. According to legend, the 13-year-old youth went to Rome, where he cast out demons either from the son of Emperor Diocletian, or from the emperor himself. After that, Wit refused to pray to the Roman gods. He was arrested and for refusing to recognize the Roman religion they threw him to the hungry lions, but they did not touch Vitus. Then he was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil.

Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted in the attire of a Roman citizen, but with a medieval headdress. The pedestal is made in the form of a rock with a cave from which hungry lions climb out.

The young priest Jean de Mata (1150–1213) saw a vision during the first mass, which he interpreted as a sign that he should devote his life to saving Christian captives from Muslim imprisonment. His idea was supported by Count Felix de Valois (1127–1212). Together they founded the Trinitarian Order dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The motto of the monks was: "Glory to you, Trinity, and freedom to the captives." Trinitarians collected funds for the ransom of Christian captives through donations and alms.

John of Czech (IX century) - a righteous man and the first Czech hermit (hermit). The causal relationship with Saints Felix and John is unknown.

Details of the sculptural composition: a Turk with a dog guards Christian prisoners sitting behind bars and crying out for salvation. Felix de Valois holds out his hand to the prisoner, Jean de Mata holds the shackles, and Saint John silently watches them.

Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (III or IV century) - brothers, healers and miracle workers. It is believed that the Lord gave them the art of healing. From the sick they treated, the brothers never took payment, keeping the commandment of Jesus Christ, "freely you have received, freely give."

Details of the sculptural composition: two brother healers and the Savior as "the chief healer of the world" are depicted. Behind his figure rises a cross with the inscription: "In this cross is our salvation." To his right is St. Cosmas (the inscription on the pedestal: "Hippocrates among the saints"), and to the left - St. Damian (the inscription on the pedestal: "To the pious brother, Galen of heaven").

Saint Wenceslas (907–936) - prince, ruler of Bohemia and Moravia, who converted to Christianity.

Details of the sculptural composition: the inscription reads "In memory of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Society for Blind Children, held in Prague on October 4, 1857." It was the Prague Society of the Blind who financed the creation of the statue.

Country - Vltava, which divides the city into two parts. Therefore, its inhabitants cannot even imagine their life without numerous bridges connecting the two banks. However, the bridges of Prague perform not only a practical function, but also decorate the city, since some of them are real works of art.

Hlavkov Bridge - a unique building of Prague bridge building

Above the island of Štvanice and the Vltava passes the Hlavkov Bridge, connecting Karlin and Holesovice. This structure was built of iron in the twentieth century. A few years later, the iron structure was replaced with concrete. It is noteworthy that such structures were not characteristic of the bridge building of Prague until that time. The crossing got its name in honor of the great architect and philanthropist of the Czech Republic - Joseph Hlavka. An interesting fact is that this bridge has never been renamed, unlike many others that Prague has on its territory. The Black Bridge, for example, was originally called the Prague Bridge, today it bears the name of Charles V, and the Legia Bridge is the name of I.

It should be noted that the construction of the Glavkov Bridge was due to the urgent need to connect these two parts of the city. This was due to the construction of a central slaughterhouse in Holesovice and a power plant on the island of Shtvanice. The bridge was built in two stages. In 1900, a wooden structure was built, and 10 years later, a railway bridge, which was later connected to a concrete one. The appearance and structure that guests and residents of Prague have the opportunity to observe today, Glavkov Bridge acquired in 1962. On the south side, the building is decorated with relief images of L. Kofrank and B. Kafka, and on the north - sculptures by J. Stursa.

history and legend

The Charles Bridge in Prague deserves special attention. Photos of this design today can be found on the Internet in a huge number, but not one of them can convey its true beauty and grandeur. This crossing over 500 m long connects Old city and Malaya Strana. It was built back in the 14th century and to this day is not only one of the opportunities to move to the other side of the Vltava, but also one of the most famous sights Czech capital.

Prague - this is what today's Charles Bridge was originally called in connection with the construction of this bridge, claims that the structure owes its durability to the fact that the architect required the addition of raw eggs to the mortar used for its construction. And since there were not enough eggs for this in Prague, King Karl ordered this product to be brought from all over the Czech Republic. There is also a legend about a merman who lives under the fourth arch of the bridge and rejoices a large number collected souls.

Whatever it was in reality, but it is impossible to refute the fact that one of the strongest and most beautiful buildings in the Czech capital is the Charles Bridge in Prague. Photos that can be found on the Internet represent it in all its beauty. The design is decorated with 30 statues and three towers, which were originally assigned the role. Today, residents and guests of Prague have the opportunity to simply climb the tower from the Old Town and admire the beauty of the sculpture and Gothic art. To do this, they will have to overcome 138 steps.

Irasekov bridge

It took 5 years to build the Irasekov Bridge - from 1923 to 1925. His goal was to unload the already existing bridges from the ever-growing flow of traffic. The design was developed by the architects F. Menkl and W. Hofmann, who successfully combined high load capacity, elegant appearance and functionality in this design. Reinforced concrete was used for the construction.

The Irasekov Bridge has a length of 21 m, a width of 310.6 m, a span height of 14.5 m and connects the working suburb of Prague with Noviy Mesto. All bridges in Prague have their own name history. So, this design was named after Alois Irasek, who is famous for writing the book "Old Czech Legends", which has become a kind of poetic hymn to the people of this state.

Manesov bridge - a favorite place for tourists

Manesov Bridge is another construction that cannot be ignored when considering the bridges of Prague. Photos of this building, of course, can be found in various sources, but visiting it is completely different, because it offers a magnificent view of the Czech capital.

The construction of this crossing was completed in 1916. The project for the Manesov Bridge was developed by such famous Czech architects as Vlastimil Hoffman and Pavel Janak. Previously, Klarow and Stare Mesto were connected by an iron suspension bridge for pedestrians. And even earlier there was a ferry crossing to the fishing village. Initially, the bridge was built exclusively for the movement of vehicles, but over time, it became necessary for pedestrians to move along it, for which paths were equipped in the middle of the 20th century. The building owes its name to the famous artist 19th century Joseph Manes.

Nuselsky bridge - the youngest bridge in the capital of the Czech Republic

The Nuselsky Bridge differs from other bridges in the Czech capital primarily by its huge size - 26 meters wide, on which there is a six-lane road and sidewalks on both sides, and 500 meters long. Thousands pass over the bridge every day. Vehicle, and inside it is a subway tunnel.

This bridge was built between 1968 and 1973. So, this crossing is the youngest and highest in Prague. It has a height of 43 meters. The bridge was built to connect Novy Mesto and Pankats. It is worth noting that it does not cross the Vltava River, like many other bridges in Prague, but simply passes over the Nuselska Valley, from which it got its name. True, initially it bore the name of Kliment Gottwald, who was the first president of Czechoslovakia. The crossing is popularly called the bridge of suicides. This is due to the fact that many people took their own lives by jumping off the Nusel bridge.

Legia Bridge

Considering the bridges of Prague, it is also worth mentioning the Legia Bridge - the first crossing of the capital of the Czech Republic, built on the site of the existing chain suspension. It connects the Legia Bridge National Avenue with Malaya Strana and passes over Streletsky Island. The plan of this structure was developed by engineer Jiří Soukup and architect Antonín Balšank. The bridge has a length of 343 m and a width of 16. Its prototype is the Pont d'Alma bridge in Paris.

It is impossible to visit Prague and ignore its magnificent bridges, however, which of them should be preferred, everyone decides for himself.

Glavkov Bridge is one of oldest bridges in Prague. It crosses Prague's largest island, Štvanice, and its appearance combines two styles of architecture at once. But still, the main attraction of the bridge are its famous sculptures.

Glavkov Bridge was built in 1912 and immediately got its former name. This bridge has two parts. This is the result of a compromise between the proponents of iron and reinforced concrete structures.

Today, as in ancient times, trams run across the Glavkov Bridge, and the pedestrian roads are always full of people. And all because it has artistic features - this bridge is known for its wonderful relief sculptures, and sculptures "Labor" and "Humanity" are installed on the north side.

Chekhov bridge

Chekhov Bridge is a unique arched bridge designed in Art Nouveau style. It is not named after the Russian writer A.P. Chekhov, as one would expect, but after the famous Czech writer Svyatopolk Cech.

Chekhov Bridge is one of the shortest bridges across the Vtalva River. It is 169 meters long and 16 meters wide. It was built in 1905–1908 and changed its name several times, but until now, like many years ago, the famous Prague trams run across the bridge.

In addition, this bridge has not only a transport function, but also an architectural one. Four bronze statues, carved street lamps and arches - all this is on the bridge and is considered the historical heritage of Prague.

bridge of love

On the Chertovka River in Prague there is a small bridge called the bridge of love. This romantic place is popular with couples in love, as well as newlyweds, who leave locks with engraved names on the railing of the bridge, and send the keys to the bottom of Chertovka. The bridge of love has become a symbol of loyalty to hundreds of couples who have left their castle here. This ritual appeared relatively recently - in 2008, since then the bridge has had such a romantic name. The Chertovka River is small, but its branch created the island of Kampa in Prague, quiet and cozy place for walks and meetings. Next to the bridge of love is a watermill and a sculpture of a waterman recently placed here.

Bridge of the Legionnaires

Legionnaires' Bridge is located in Prague. It was built to replace the chain suspension bridge of Emperor Franz I.

The length of the bridge is 343 m, the width is 16 m. Apparently, the Parisian Pont d'Alma, named after the Crimean river Alma, served as a model for it.

The bridge was built at the expense of the Czech entrepreneur Vojtech Lann, according to the plan of the architect Antonin Balsank and the engineer Jiří Soukup in cooperation with the engineer Josef Lanu, who died shortly after the announcement of the competition for the bridge project. Of particular note are 18 historic cast-iron street lighting candelabra, almost 10 meters high, decorated in the lower part with craft reliefs and floral decorations (these pillars were replaced with copies in 1969).

The construction of the bridge began 7 years after the competition. It was carried out by the Budapest firm "G. Gregersen and sons. By the way, it was she who erected two new supports of the Charles Bridge, destroyed by the flood of 1890.

Branitsky bridge

Branicki bridge - a railway bridge across the Vltava river. It is located in the center of Prague and is rightfully considered one of the sights of the city.

Among the people, the Branitsky Bridge is better known as the Bridge of the Intelligentsia. It was indeed built by some intellectuals - the repressed intellectual elite and Czech dissidents punished for dissent. The construction lasted three years - from 1952 to 1954. The bridge was built according to the project of the architect Josef Klemesh, who had long nurtured the idea of ​​building a similar crossing over the Vltava.

As a result, the Czech designer got a monumental structure - the Branicky Bridge consists of fifteen spans, each of which is more than 50 meters in length. The bridge is completely reinforced concrete. The height of the entire structure is 19 meters, and the width is 14. Concrete paths for pedestrian traffic are left along the edges of the railway track.

Today, the Branicki Bridge is an important transport hub in Prague. And besides, it is also a historical monument, reminiscent of not the most pleasant times in Czech history.

The Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is one of the main symbols of the Czech capital. This is one of the 18 bridges in Prague, surprisingly enchanting with its beauty and antiquity.

An amazing story is connected with the laying of its first stone. Charles IV himself laid the bridge in 1357, on July 9 at 5:31. This date, which is a pyramid with the number "9" at the top, is 1.3.5.7.9.7.5.3.1. - was considered the most favorable for any undertaking, and now, after so much time, the bridge still makes us admire its charming beauty.

Modern legend has it that the Dalai Lama, walking over the bridge in 1990, said that the bridge was at the center of the universe and there was no negative energy around it. Perhaps that is why he is so attractive.

Bridge under Bulovka

What can be famous for an ordinary bridge? It would seem - nothing. But the bridge under Bulovka in Prague is real sight.

In May 1945, it was on this bridge that the townspeople held the defense of the city. At present, it is a railway bridge that connects the districts of Holesovice and Troja.

Today this building is quite modern look. In 1976, the historic bridge was placed on twin slanting supports, and it crosses the Vltava at an angle of 45 degrees.

Libensky bridge

Libensky Bridge is the youngest bridge in Prague. It is located above the Vltava River, connecting two districts: Liben (hence the name) and Holesovice. This bridge has its own history and unique design with arches.

The Libensky Bridge was opened in 1928 on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Czechoslovak Republic.

The bridge, 780 meters long, is made of concrete and is one of the strongest bridges in the city. It is made in the style of cubism and has a unique attraction - five majestic arches.

By the way, if you want to visit the famous Prague Zoo, then you will need to go through this beautiful bridge.

Bridge of Barricades

Beautiful Prague is known to everyone for its extraordinary, world-famous bridges. One of these is the Barricadnikov Bridge.

The bridge was built in 1983 and is part of a multi-lane ring road that runs through almost all of Prague. The bridge crosses the Vltava at an angle of 53 degrees. This is the largest bridge structure in the Czech Republic.

It got its name from the largest barricade in the city, which arose in May 1945 during the Prague uprising.

This is the last automobile bridge in Prague along the Vltava, then there is only a steel tram and suspension bridge for cyclists and pedestrians to the Troja Castle.

Palacky Bridge

The Palacký Bridge is one of the oldest in Prague. This bridge is 230 meters long and has seven arches. It is made of hewn stone of three colors: the columns and arches of the bridge are made of blue granite, the road is made of red sandstone, and the railings are built of white marble.

The Palacký Bridge was opened in 1878 to connect the industrial area with the city center. Prague was developing rapidly, and the city needed another crossing over the Vltava River.

During its existence, the bridge has been known by several names. It was called "Stone Bridge", "Podskalsky", "Mozart's Bridge". Only in 1945 the bridge got its former name in honor of the Czech writer, politician and historian Frantisek Palacky.

Manes bridge

Manesov Bridge connects the old fishing village (now one of the districts of the city) with the center of Prague.

The fishing theme was reflected in the external design of the bridge. These are sculptures of fishermen and carved street lamps. More recently, the bridge has also become an alley of fame for composers.

Manesov Bridge was built in 1916. Like many bridges in Prague, it has changed its name several times. At first, the bridge was called the Franz Ferdinand d'Este Bridge and only in 1920 received its former name in honor of the famous Czech painter, creator of the dial on the chimes of the Old Town Hall, Josef Manes.

Copper bas-relief on the Charles Bridge

A copper bas-relief depicting the acceptance of martyrdom by St. John of Nepomuk, installed in the 17th century on the Charles Bridge in Prague, today has not only historical significance. This place is popular with tourists and local residents the fact that, according to legend, heartfelt wishes made on the bridge and accompanied by touching this monument will surely come true.

According to legend, the Czech king Wenceslas drowned his wife's confessor, John Nepomuk, under the Charles Bridge because he refused to reveal her love secret. And above the water, at the place of the death of the priest, 5 stars lit up. Since then, St. John of Nepomuk has been considered the patron saint of lovers in the Czech Republic; in all images, his head is crowned with a halo of five stars.

Irasekov bridge

Irasekov was the first built in the 20th century in Prague, as the city could no longer cope with the increased traffic flow.

Architects V. Hofman and F. Menkl managed to combine the classic elegant look of the bridge, high load capacity and functionality. This bridge is 310.6 m long and 21 m wide. The spans of the bridge are 14.5 m high and have a traditional shape, although they are made of modern material. In 1931, the Prague tram was launched over this bridge.

The bridge got its name in honor of the famous Czech writer Alois Irasek.

Tourists can walk along the Irasekov Bridge and reach the square, where one of the most controversial, but at the same time popular architectural monuments Czech capital, the so-called Dancing House.

Nusel bridge

Nuselsky Bridge is the longest and highest bridge in Prague. It connects the outskirts of the city with the center of Prague. This bridge is striking in its scale. Indeed, in order to build a 100-meter bridge, 17 buildings had to be demolished, and dozens of military tanks tested it for strength.

Nuselsky bridge is considered the most interesting and unusual bridge in Prague. It was built in the 1970s, 485 meters long and 40 meters high. Because of such a large height for the bridge, it is often called the "suicide bridge".

Every day, hundreds of cars pass over the bridge, tourists and residents of the city pass, and the subway passes in the tunnel built under the bridge.

Stefanikov bridge

Stefanikov Bridge is the fifth tram bridge in Prague. It is built of concrete and has three huge arches.

By the way, earlier on the site of the Stefanikov Bridge was his predecessor. It was a small bridge, decorated with towers, which made it beautiful for its time and very similar to London.

Unfortunately, the towers have not survived to our times, but it was decided to leave some parts of the decor of the old bridge and today they are historical objects of Prague.

Stefanikov Bridge was built in 1951 and was first named after the communist Jan Shverma. But with the acquisition of independence of the country, the bridge was decided to be renamed. So, since 1997, the bridge got its current name in honor of the Czechoslovak general Milan Rostislav Stefanik.

One of the iconic sights of Prague is, of course, the Charles Bridge. To go from one coast to another over the bridge, whose length is 520 meters, and the history begins in 1380, every tourist strives, regardless of age and time of stay in the capital.

How to get there

Directly near the Charles Bridge there are three tram stops:

• Karlovy lázně - 2, 17, 18, 93 tram. ( , right bank)
• Staroměstská - 2, 17, 18, 93 tram. ( , right bank)
• Malostranské náměstí - 1, 12, 15, 20, 22, 25, 97 tram. ( , left Coast)

You can also get to the historical district of Prague with the help of. Staroměstská metro station (line A) on one side of the river, and Malostranská metro station (line A) on the other side.

Why are there so many tourists on the Charles Bridge?

Firstly, because the Charles Bridge is a kind of pedestrian crossing between the two legendary districts of Prague - and, where Prague's sights are located in a large volume.

Secondly, there are powerful sculptures on the Charles Bridge today that are of interest to tourists. Each sculpture has its own history and is closely intertwined with the history of the bridge and the country.

Thirdly, events that were important both for the history of the Czech Republic and for world history took place on the bridge, which undoubtedly attracts tourists to walk along the Charles Bridge, which began to be used since 1380!

The Old Town Bridge Tower is considered one of the most beautiful medieval buildings in Europe. You should definitely climb it, from here a magical landscape opens up to the bridge and Prague.

If you enter the bridge from the western (right) side, pay attention to those that were built at different times. The low tower was built after 1591 in the Renaissance style, and in 1464, when King Jiri ruled the country, a second tower was laid. If you compare these two towers and the Old Town Tower, you can compare them by similarity in style. Perhaps, rather, the Old Town Bridge Tower served as an example - a template for the construction of two western towers.

Until the time when the bridge began to be decorated with sculptures, three bridge towers were its only decoration.

Video from Charles Bridge

The playlist contains videos from different years. The list contains a video with a walk from one side of the bridge to the other, you can already pre-plunge into this said atmosphere.

virtual walk

Thanks to modern technology, you are invited to take a virtual morning walk along the main sights of Prague.

How the Charles Bridge appeared

On the site of the current bridge, once very long ago in the second century of the second millennium (1172), was built and put into operation Yuditin bridge. The bridge was named after Queen Jutta of Thuringia, wife of Vladislav II. King Charles IV also found this bridge, but even then there was an urgent need for its modernization due to the growth of trade, construction and public needs. After the flood of 1342, the Yuditin Bridge was almost completely destroyed, which led to the construction of a more advanced structure. There are many legends about the bridge, we have collected some of them in.

The name Charles Bridge is associated with the Czech king Charles IV, who not only oversaw the entire construction, but also laid the first stone of the building. This historical event took place on July 9, 1357, at 5:31 am Old Bohemian time.

Since in those days they trusted astrological forecasts, this date was chosen for a reason, because the numbers involved in both date and time are a series of odd numbers, namely: 1-3-5-7-9-7-5 -3-1.

Sculptures of the Charles Bridge

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Madonna with Saint Bernard - Madona a sv. Bernard



The sculptural composition represents images of the Madonna - the mother of Christ, as well as Bernard of Clairvaux - the founder of the monastic order of the Cistercians, whose task was to cultivate the Virgin Mary. Here Saint Bernard bows before the Madonna. An angel sits nearby, holding a headdress and a beehive, symbolizing the gift of eloquence.

To the left of Mary, the image of Jesus is depicted with the attributes of his cruel execution.

Madonna with Saint Dominic and Saint Thomas Aquinas - Madona, sv. Dominik a sv. Tomáš Akvinsky



All the sculptural groups of the Charles Bridge in Prague were erected during the reign of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, which, relying on Catholicism, tried to subjugate the people and suppress the independent Hussite sentiments that were dangerous for it. Therefore, the sculptures of the bridge are subject to one general idea - to glorify the Catholic faith.
Sculpture "Madonna with St. Dominic and St. Thomas Aquinas" is a striking example of the Baroque style. Made by Matej Vaclav Jakel in 1707, it depicts the Virgin Mary with the little Jesus hovering over the globe as the central figure of the composition, and thus symbolizes how widespread Catholicism is.

The Madonna passes the prayer rosary to her faithful missionary, Saint Dominic, who, being a representative of a wealthy Spanish noble family, renounced worldly goods and founded a religious order named after him. Already in his youth, this priest was distinguished by compassion and kindness to people, willingness to help those in need. Interestingly, it is St. Dominic is considered the author of the rosary - a Catholic prayer using a rosary. The dog at his feet with a torch in his teeth illustrates the emblem of the order (Domini canes in Latin - "dogs of the Lord").

The third figure of the sculpture is Thomas Aquinas with a book in his hand, a famous theologian, philosopher and educator, who was also a representative of the Dominican order and found five proofs of the existence of God, on which the Catholic Church relies to this day.

Crucifixion of Christ - Kalvárie, sv. Kriz

The sculpture of Christ crucified on the cross, as well as images of the Virgin Mary and John the Theologian, were gradually erected on the Charles Bridge. In total, the process took 50 years, from 1657 to 1707. In the center of the composition is directly Jesus on the cross, on the left is the Virgin Mary, on the right is John the Theologian. Looking at the cross, you can see the inscription laid out in the form of an arc, which tells about the holy savior, the Lord. The letters are made of gold, the money for which was seized as a fine from the Jew. The rest of the sculptural composition was paid for by Baron Karel Adam from Říčany. His coat of arms can be seen at the base of the monument. On the stand of the cross, one can read the translation of the "golden" inscription in different languages.

Saint Anna - St. Anna



The statue of St. Anne, mother of the Virgin is a masterpiece by the sculptor Matej Vaclav Jakel, created in 1709. Hetman-chamberlain of the Old Town, aristocrat Rudolf Lisovsky donated his funds for the erection of the statue. The original sculpture is kept in Gorlice, one of the underground halls of the Vysehrad Fortress-Museum, located in the historical district of Prague. A reproduction of the statue was made by Czech sculptors Vojtech Adamec and Martin Pokorny and installed in its original place on the Charles Bridge in 1999.

The central place in the composition of the sculpture is occupied by the mother of the Virgin Mary - St. Anna. The baby Jesus sits in the arms of the saint, holding a globe and a crucifix. Young Maria looks at her mother with infinite love and hands her a small bouquet of roses. The plot of the composition of the statue of St. Anne, mother of the Virgin and Virgin Mary on Karlovo implies the unity of the baby Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and St. Anna. This circumstance gave rise to a lot of controversy around the statue, because such a plot contradicts the basic canons of the Catholic Church.

Saint Anna is revered as the patroness of mothers, married life, babies and widows, therefore Catholics from all over Europe come to Prague to ask the saint for healthy offspring and a happy marriage.

Cyril and Methodius - St. Cyril a MethodEj



Cyril and Methodius is the only statue put up at the expense of the state, the newest one on the Charles Bridge. It was ordered in 1928 for the anniversary of the Republic. Karl Dvorzhek is the author of a statue depicting two famous people, missionaries who brought the light of Christianity to the people of that time and created a unique script - Cyrillic.

The place of the statue was formerly occupied by a sculpture from 1711 depicting Ferdinand Broccoff St. Ignatius of Loila. It was washed away by a flood in 1890. Now this statue can be admired in the Prague Lapidarium.

The statue, personifying the Slavic enlighteners, is one of three dozen sculptures of saints located on the Charles Bridge.

In 862, the Moravian prince Rostislav sent envoys to Constantinople with the following request: “Despite the fact that our people profess the Christian faith, we do not have teachers who can explain the faith in our native language. Send us teachers like that.” After that, the holy monks were sent to Moravia. Thanks to Cyril and Methodius, the Slavs learned to read, write, the basics of other sciences known at that time and began to conduct church services in the Slavic language.

John the Baptist - St. Jan Krititel



The sculpture of John the Baptist was created in 1857 by master Josef Max, funds for this project were allocated by J.N. Hermerich. In the place of St. John the Baptist, there used to be a sculpture that depicted the baptism by the author Michal Jan Josef Brokoff. But, unfortunately, in 1848 the sculptures were badly damaged, and they had to be removed from the bridge to the museum - the NM lapidarium.

The sculpture depicts St. John the Baptist, to whom Christ himself came for Baptism in the Holy Waters of the Jordan. According to legend, it was John the Lord Himself who revealed the true origin of Christ to his son. The legend also says that God himself baptized John, after which John began to actively promote baptism throughout the world. The sculpture is an image of John with a cross in his hand and a bowl for Baptism. The hand of John the Baptist gracefully indicates that the Lord himself ordered to accept Christianity. The hand gesture speaks of a blessing to anyone who passes by.

Today, the sculpture of St. John the Baptist is located almost in the very center of Charles Bridge. Every day, hundreds of tourists come here to admire the creation of Joseph Max!

Norbert, Sigismund and Wenceslas - Sv. Norbert, Vaclav a Zikmund



In the first version, created by Jan Brokoff in 1708, Saint Norbert was depicted together with Saints Andrian and James. In 1764, the decaying figures were replaced by a work by Platzer, where angels stood next to Norbert. The sculptural group, which can be seen now, was created in 1853 by Joseph Max in the neo-Gothic style.

Saint Norbert was born around 1080 and a sharp change in his life was made by one incident - frightened by thunder, his horse ran, and Norbert only miraculously did not die and took it as a sign from above. He began to lead a pious life, and donated part of his fortune to the creation of the abbey. Later, already a priest, as a result of a conflict with other canons, he resigned and went to Rome, where Pope Gelasius II authorized him to be an itinerant preacher. In 1120, Norbert founded the Premonstratensian Order.

Saint Wenceslas, a Czech prince who ruled from 924 to 935, built a church named after St. Vita. He enjoyed great love and reverence for his people, after his death he was canonized.

Saint Sigismund was the king of Burgundy, issued a set of fundamental laws and patronized the Orthodox clergy. In 522, at the slander of his second wife, he killed his own son in a fit of rage. Having come to his senses and horrified by the crime, the king went to the monastery of Mauritius founded by him, where he helped the poor and the afflicted, donating part of his fortune. Later, as a result of a devastating war for his kingdom, he hid in the monastery for a long time under the guise of a simple monk, but was discovered, transported with his family to Orleans and executed.

Saint John of Nepomuk - Sv. Jan Nepomucky



Many people know about St. John of Nepomuk, because many legends have been built around his death. The mysterious circumstances of death gave the sculpture a special popularity, as did the belief in the fulfillment of desires. On the pedestal of the sculpture you can see bronze images. Here you will see the confession of the queen, as well as the image of the execution of St. John of Nepomuk. It is at this sculpture that you can always see tourists rubbing bronze images in the hope of fulfilling their cherished desires.

Anthony of Padua - St. Antonin Paduansky



St. Anthony of Padua is a creation created by Jan Mayer, which is one of his first works. The statue was erected in 1707 at the expense of the highest burgrave of the city of Prague, K. M. Wittauer. The sculpture will be the ninth in a row among the sculptures of the bridge and there is a sculpture on the right side of the royal road.

The saint's attire is presented in the form of a cassock of the Franciscan order, in his right hand a metal lily is visible. A decorative lantern with a spark is another attribute of the saint. Mayer's work represents the Baroque era and is considered quite successful due to the incredibly natural gestures, the elegantly crafted flowing waves of the robe.

St. Anthony of Padua was born in 1195, was brought up in an ordinary school at the church, among the first entered the Order of St.. Augustine. He carried out missionary service in Morocco, and when he heard that St. Francis is still alive, he decided to find the creator of the Franciscan order. The search was successful and the meeting took place, Anthony was instructed to read sermons. In the end, St. Francis, being strongly impressed by the young man's oratorical abilities, showed him confidence and called on him to carry out the educational activities of the order. Anthony quickly became the best student and confidant of St. Francis. St. Anthony of Padua - the patron saint of Portugal, died in 1231, and a year later he was canonized.

People pray to the face of a saint and ask for assistance in finding a once lost thing. Women suffering from infertility turn to him in the hope that a miracle will happen.

Judas Thaddeus with a club - Sv. Juda Tadeas



St. Jude Thaddeus, depicted on this sculpture, is revered as one of the first twelve apostles. According to some versions of church tradition, he was the son of Joseph the Carpenter from his first marriage and, therefore, the half-brother of Jesus himself, although modern researchers distinguish between "the brother of the Lord, Judas" and the apostle Judas. St. Jude is attributed to one of the epistles of the New Testament, he himself is known for his preaching work in Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Persia and Armenia. Accepted martyrdom at the hands of the pagans. Since St. Jude was confused by many uneducated believers with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ, his veneration was never particularly widespread. For the same reason, in the Catholic tradition, he is considered the patron saint of people who have fallen into hard and stalemate, undeservedly forgotten and fallen into disfavor, suffering from general misunderstanding. The detailed circumstances of the martyrdom of Judas Thaddeus are not known for certain and differ in different sources. According to one version, more common in Catholicism, he was beaten with clubs. Obviously, it was this legend that served as a source of inspiration for the sculpture - the saint is depicted leaning on a club, in his hand is the Gospel.

Blessed Augustine trampling heretical books - Sv. Augustine



The famous Charles Bridge is adorned with a large number of wonderful sculptures from the Baroque period. And of course, all their subjects are only of a religious nature.
The sculpture of Blessed Augustine was built in 1678, the master was famous at that time, the sculptor - John Frederick Kohl.

Blessed Augustine was born in the year 354 on November 13 in Africa, in small town- Tagaste. He was a remarkable scientist, Bishop of Hippo, philosopher, Christian theologian, preacher and prominent politician. He became the founder of Augustinism, and the Father of the Christian Church. Saint Augustine for all his contribution to the development of religion was canonized as a saint.

He wrote a large number of books, The Book of Genesis, as well as world-famous moral treatises, The Confession, On the City of God, which he dedicated to the fight against the Manicheans and heresies.

Also, Blessed Augustine did a lot for people, there were legends about his kindness, he helped absolutely everyone. Blessed Augustine taught the word of God at the church.
The sculpture depicts Blessed Augustine with a golden stick, who, to the delight of many tourists, tramples heretical books.
This sculpture inspires, it simply exudes fighting spirit and the will to fight.

Kajetan - Sv. Kajetan



St. Cajetan is the second sculptural composition of Ferdinand Brokoff, it was created in 1709 and at the same time the twelfth in a row, installed on the right side of the Charles Bridge.

Creation symbolically marks the Holy Trinity. The work of the master is dedicated to St. Cayetana - protector of people from a ferocious plague. The three-sided obelisk, shrouded in clouds of stone, is located behind the saint and is very similar to the Plague Pillar, which, according to local traditions, means gratitude to heavenly patrons for the expulsion of the disease. Small angels circle above the obelisk and hold on to a massive, fiery heart attached to its upper point. In the hands of St. Cayetana there is an open Gospel of Matthew with the Scriptures of God.

Cajetan was born in the Italian city of Vincenza. In 1505 he received a doctorate in jurisprudence and became secretary to Pope Julius II. Eleven years later, Caetan took the priesthood and worked tirelessly for the benefit of the reforms carried out by the highest church leadership in Rome. Together with a group of priests, he became the founder of the Roman congregation of regular clerics, their main goal was the spiritual and religious education of the common people. In 1519 he returns to the city of childhood and joins the brotherhood of St. Jerome, whose main task was to help the sick and poor population. At the end of his life, Caetan was active in saving lost souls and, as the chronicle says, he was endowed with the power to work a miracle. He died in 1547.

Cajetan was canonized as a saint in 1671. His relics are in the church of St. Paul in the city of Naples. St. Cajetan - the patron of Bavaria, is the main patron during childbirth, a savior from plague and famine.

Philip Benicius - St. Philip Benicius



The only light sculpture of Charles Bridge depicts St. Philip Benicius, the founder and general of the Servite order. The Servites are a religious monastic order founded in 1280 to sing the deeds of the Virgin Mary.

The statue of the general was designed by the Austrian sculptor Michal Mandl in 1714. The museum of the city of Salzburg has a clay sculptural model, it was on it that the statue was made after the death of Mandl. The work used white Austrian marble, the sculpture was sculpted in Austria, and subsequently transported to Prague.

Funds for the production were allocated by the Prague Servite Order at the Church of St. Michal.

Saint Philip is dressed in traditional white robes for the order, in his left hand he holds a branch of a lily, a cross and a book, a tiara is placed at his feet, symbolizing the rejected title of the pope. In November 1268, after the death of the incumbent Pope Clement IV, Benicius proved to be the most suitable candidate for the pontiff's seat. One of the legends says that Philip was a very modest man, he got scared and hid in a cave until a new pope was elected. The inscription on the pedestal of the sculpture confirms this assumption: "The fifth general of the Order of Servites, St. Philip Benicius, is loved by God for his modesty."

Sculpture of St. Vita - Sv. Vit



Sculpture of St. Vitus, created by Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff in 1714. The saint in the clothes of a city dweller of Rome and a medieval headdress is located on a pedestal of stones on which lions are placed, depicted not as ferocious and bloodthirsty predators, but feeling sympathy for their captive and, as it were, protecting him.

Like all martyrs of the Christian faith, St. Vitus accepted Christianity with all his soul in adolescence. His father, a senator of Sicily and a pagan, gave the boy to be trained by a mentor who professed Christ. The emperors Diocletian and Maximian persecuted the bearers of the teachings of Christianity, his teacher was killed before Vitus' eyes, this event only strengthened his faith and desire to convert fellow citizens to the mercy and love of Christ.

The legend of St. Vitus says that Vitus, who expelled demons from the soul of Emperor Diocletian, refused to pray to the Roman gods, for which he was placed in a cage with ferocious lions. The animals did not touch the Saint, so they threw him into a cauldron of boiling oil.

St. Vitus has patronized the Czech lands since the reign of St. Prince Wenceslas, who received a part of the sacred relics of the saint as a gift from Heinrich the Fowler. Saint Vitus protects from lightning strikes, bites of poisonous snakes, he is the patron of actors, he is able to heal patients with epilepsy, and all who are possessed by demons.

This is the seventh sculpture in the set, made under the signature of Brokoff's sculptural workshop for the Charles Bridge, commissioned by the Visegrad Chapter.

St. Cosmas, Damian and Savior - Sv. Kosma a Damian se Salvatorem



The sculptural group of three statues was made by Jan Oldrich Mayer in the Baroque style in 1709. It was ordered and installed with funds allocated by the Medical Faculty of Charles University.

Saints Cosmas and Damian are known as patrons of the sick and doctors, healers and miracle workers. Only a few facts about their life have been established for certain: they were born in the second half of the third century on the territory of modern Turkey, and received their medical education in Syria. For gratuitous assistance to the poor, people called them the nickname "unmercenaries." During the persecution of Christians, the brothers were caught for preaching and spreading this religion, tortured and eventually beheaded.

The composition of the sculpture is built in such a way that the brothers stand on both sides of the Savior. Each of the figures is located on a separate pedestal, and at first it may seem that the sculpture does not look like a single whole and that each statue is individual. Cosmas and Damian are twin brothers, so it is not known how it was established that Cosmas is on the right, and Damian is the one on the left. They are dressed in university robes, holding martyr branches and medical mortars with the inscriptions: "This is the medicine of life" and "This is how the art of healing was born." In the center is the Savior, he leans on the cross, the inscription on which reads literally the following: "In this cross is our salvation."

Head of the Bearded Man - Bradáč

According to folk legends, this small bas-relief depicts the same sculptor who built the Judith Bridge, the first of the stone bridges thrown across the Vltava. According to legend, he was a man with a huge beard, and he was from Italy, where at that time (the twelfth century) the art of architecture was just flourishing. Historical evidence partly confirms the legend, specifying only that the sculptor was invited at the initiative of the Bishop of Prague, and did not come on his own, as in the folk version of the legend. After finishing the work, the master allegedly carved his own portrait on one of the stone blocks at the base of the bridge. This bridge was located on the very spot where Karlov is located today, and the workers preserved the stone with the sculptor's head, building it into the pylon of the new bridge. The sculpture depicting the Bearded Man served the citizens of Prague for many years as a mark for determining the water level, the spirit of the sculptor, who lives in the Head, played the role of a kind guardian deity. As they say, if the water reaches the mouth of the bas-relief, then the river has already overflowed to the level of the streets of the Old Place, and if the water hid the Bearded Man with his head, then through central square will have to go boating soon.

Saint Ivo in the company of Themis - Sv. Ivo



The Charles "gallery" is opened by the sculptural group "Saint Ivo in the company of Themis" - the creation of the hands of the most talented Czech sculptor Matthias Braun.
The sculptural composition depicts a trial at which Saint Ivo, together with Themis, the goddess of justice, resolves a dispute between a son and a mother. In the center, dressed in a mantle and with laws in his hands, stands Ivo of Brittany, originally from Kermanten, a saint of the Catholic Church who lived in the 13th century. During his lifetime, Ivo, who received a good legal education, acted as a church judge. He paid special attention to the protection of ordinary poor people, for which he was often called the "lawyer of the poor." In addition, he organized orphanages, hospitals for the poor, shelters for the homeless. After his death, this outstanding jurist was canonized as a Catholic saint and is considered the patron of widows, orphans and the poor.

The stern look of St. Ivo is turned to mother and son, who could not find reconciliation between themselves. Next to the judge is the goddess Themis, as the embodiment of justice and fair retribution for those who are brought before the court. There is a bandage on the eyes of the goddess - a symbol of the impartiality of the judge.
Brown's work "Saint Ivo in the company of Themis" was created by the master in 1711 by order of Charles University, the oldest and main educational institution in the Czech Republic, as a tribute to a fair judge and a virtuous person. Currently, a copy created in 1908 by the sculptor Frantisek Gergesel is on display on the bridge. Those who are interested in the original should visit the Lapidarium of the National Museum of the Czech Republic, where the sculpture has been moved to storage.

Barbara, Margarita and Elizabeth - Sv. Barbora, Marketa a Alzeta



The sculpture "Barbara, Margarita and Elizabeth" belongs to the second group of statues on the south side of the Charles Bridge. The sculptural group dates back to 1707, the master of its manufacture is Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff (the signature of the elder Brokoff, Ferdinand's father is at the foot of the central sculpture).

About the sculptural composition

The image of the three patron saints is depicted in this sculpture. Saint Barbara is the patroness of miners and miners, people associated with mining; Saint Elizabeth - the protector of the sick and the poor, the patroness of bakers; Saint Margaret was considered an assistant in childbirth to expectant mothers and patronized the harvest.

The image of Elizabeth coincides with the princess of the Hungarian Arpad dynasty. She was a generous woman who helped the poor and beggars, who are depicted on the sculpture, raising her eyes to her benefactor with a prayer.

The Great Martyr Margaret of Antioch was expelled from her home for the veneration of Jesus Christ and became a mendicant wanderer. According to legend, the Roman prefect, seeing in her the nobility of origin, took her under his guardianship and protection, but when Margarita refused such protection, after severe torture he killed her.

Barbara, after accusations of being passionate about the Christian religion, was beheaded, and the father was the initiator of the trial of her daughter. Both Varvara and Margarita are depicted on the sculpture with crowns of martyrs on their heads.

Pieta - Pieta (Oplakávaní Krista)



One of the most famous sculptures of the Charles Bridge is Pieta. This sculptural composition depicts the dead Jesus Christ, already taken down from the cross. The Mother of God herself and Mary Magdalene (a repentant harlot who followed Jesus after he healed seven demons) bent over the body of the Savior in prayer. Behind the grieving women is John the Evangelist (or the Theologian), who bowed his head - the author of the fourth Gospel and one of Christ's favorite disciples.

The sculpture in question has its own history. A very long time ago, the place of this unique composition was occupied by a crucifix made of plain wood. According to the legends, here, on the Charles Bridge, the executions of sinning bakers and artisans took place - they were chained in cages and lowered into the water. Due to a flood in 1496, the pylon under the crucifix collapsed and the crucifix was washed away with water.

The first Pieta was made in 1695 by Jan Brokoff. In 1848, his work came under fire and was badly damaged, after which, in 1859, it was transferred to the monastery, where it remains to this day. The modern Pieta was made by Emanuel Max in 1858 with money collected from donations and from the city treasury.

Saint Joseph and little Jesus - St. Josef's Jezisem



If you walk along the Charles Bridge from the Old Town Tower to Lesser Town, then on the southern side of the bridge you can see a sculpture depicting the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. In his left hand he has a lily, and with his right he supports the little Jesus Christ, who blesses the city. The inscription on the high pedestal says that the sculpture was put up at the expense of Josif Bergman and dedicated to the long memory of the inhabitants of Prague and merchants.

Righteous Joseph was the guardian of the virginity of the Theotokos Mary and the adoptive father of Jesus Christ. By profession, he was a carpenter, so he is depicted standing on a log. And so everyone whose profession is related to woodworking, lumberjacks, carpenters, joiners, chose him as their patron. Customs officers also joined them, and King Ferdinand lll, by his decree, "appointed" him as the patron of the Czech lands. Lily in the hand of St. Joseph - a symbol of the Virgin Mary, means purity and purity.

The first sculpture of Saint Joseph carved in sandstone by Jan Brokoff was erected in 1706. But during the uprising of 1848, she was badly damaged by the shelling of the Austrian artillery. The current statue was made by the Czech sculptor Josef Max, also from sandstone, and installed in place of the damaged one in 1854. And the work of Jan Brokoff took its place in the Lapidarium of the National Museum of Prague on Vystavist.

Francis Xavier - St. Frantisek Xaversky



Francis Xavier himself, and the composition itself are worthy of writing about them separately.

So who was it, a man with a cross, immortalized in stone and placed on a pedestal, supported by a Negro, a samurai and a Tatar? Francisco Xavier is the second person in the Jesuit order, whose members from the 16th century. actively participated in almost all, both religious and political events on all continents. So, Francis Xavier, or the "Indian Apostle", as his contemporaries called him, was one of those missionaries, thanks to whom the Catholic Church today has a flock in the most remote corners of Asia and Africa. He managed to convert more than a million pagans to Christianity. In 1711, the Faculty of Philology and Philosophy of Charles University commissioned a statue of St. Ferdinand Brokoff. However, the original sculptural composition has not survived to this day, as it was swallowed up by the waters of the Vlatva during the catastrophic flood of 1890. A copy of the statue was made by Vincenz Vozmig and erected on the bridge only 23 years later.

By the way, in addition to the saint himself, the figures symbolizing the peoples converted to Christianity, the Asian ruler bowing before the cross, and the boy supplying water for baptism in the sink, there is one more figure in the composition. According to some experts, the sculpture of a man standing next to Francis Xavier is a self-portrait of the sculptor Brokoff.

Christopher with baby Jesus on his shoulders - St. Krystof



This statue was created at the expense of the burgomaster V. Vanka, by the sculptor Emanuel Max and installed in 1857. Earlier, on the site of this sculpture, there was a watchbox, but in 1784 this part of the bridge was washed away by water and the booth was washed away. All five guards who were there were killed. After that, traffic on the bridge was limited, but the post was not restored. It was decided to erect a sculpture depicting Saint Christopher carrying little Jesus on his shoulders. This patron saint of sailors, travelers and wanderers. According to legend, before baptism, the saint bore the name Oferrus. He was a giant with the head of a dog, which he begged from God because he was very handsome, but did not want to succumb to temptation. Once, the Lord asked him to move the pilgrims to the opposite bank of the river, among them was Jesus. Putting Christ on his shoulders, he went across the river, and every minute it became more and more difficult for him, the stream was stormy, and under the weight of the burden, in the middle of the river, he went headlong into the water. But an unknown force led Offerus and they crossed to the other side. Putting the boy on the ground, he said: "It seemed to me that I was not carrying a child, but the whole world, on my shoulders." Jesus answered: “No wonder, because you carried not only the whole world, but also the one who created it, for I am the King of Heaven - Jesus Christ.” This was the giant's baptism, and Jesus named him Christopher, which means "carrying Christ." Such a beautiful and symbolic legend formed the basis for the creation of this beautiful sculpture.

Francisco Borgia - Sv. Frantisek Borgias



The author of the remarkable sculpture was the good master Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff. The sculpture was created in 1719. The sculpture depicts Saint Francisco Borgia between two angels dressed as a priest. Both angels are holding holy images in their hands, the first is the image of the Mother of God, the second is the image of the Holy Gifts.
Saint Francisco Borgia was born on October 28, 1510, in Rome. He was a Catholic saint and the third general of the Society of Jesus.

In 1551, having completed his theological education, he accepted ordination. After he was elected the third general in 1565. He often called this day the day of his crucifixion, and in his prayers he asked the Lord to take him away or take away his position from him. Francisco Borgia made a significant contribution to the development of religion, not to mention his good deeds, which are still legendary, and helping a large number of people. He never refused to help anyone.

Francisco Bogia died on September 30, 1572. He was, at the request of Pope Clement X, canonized in 1671. Many saints speak of him as one of the most successful and best generals of the Jesuit Order.

The sculpture is incredibly beautiful and exciting, it is filled with goodness and greatness.

Saint Ludmila with little Wenceslas - Sv. Ludmila's malym Vaclavem



In February 1784, during a flood, a sculptural composition by the Italian master Ottavio Most, depicting St. Wenceslas, accompanied by guardian angels, collapsed in the Vltava. In the same year, its place was taken by the sculpture of the Czech princess, the first martyr saint Ludmila with her little grandson Wenceslas by the sculptor Matthias Bernard Braun. It was completed around 1730 and was originally intended for the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary, which was located at Prague Castle.

Lyudmila devoted her whole life to raising her grandson and preaching Christianity, and this was reflected in the plot of the sculptural composition. A majestic statue of the Czech princess rises in the center, young Wenceslas is standing on her right, a crown is put on his head - evidence of his future stay on the throne, and a small guardian angel is located on the left. In her left hand, the saint tightly clutches the veil, with which, according to legend, she will later be strangled, and with her right hand she points to one of the psalms of the Bible, which little Vaclav needs to read. The pedestal of the sculpture is decorated with a bas-relief depicting the moment of the murder of Prince Wenceslas in Stary Boleslav Castle.

Francis of Assisi - St. Frantisek Serafinsky



The sculptural group of three figures headed by the Italian monk and preacher Francis of Assisi was made by Emmanuel Max in 1855 and installed at the expense of the President of the Royal Scientific Society of the Czech Republic, Count Franz Kolowrat-Libstein.

Saint Francis is considered the patron saint of Italy, "the most attractive of saints" and the founder of the Franciscan order. Francis is dressed in a monastic robe with a hood, stigmata are clearly visible on his palms and chest - bleeding ulcers-signs that open on the body in those places where the wounds of the crucified Jesus Christ were located. Their appearance is usually preceded by a state of divine ecstasy, into which the saint plunges at the moment of reading the prayer.

The pedestal with the statue of the saint was pushed a little forward, behind him - at a distance, the figure is accompanied by two guardian angels. One of them tightly presses a huge book - the Bible - with both hands.

The pedestal itself is made in the Baroque style and topped with the inscription: "Saint Francis of Assisi in gratitude for the miraculous rescue of Emperor Franz Joseph in February 1853."

Saints Vincent Ferrer and Procopius of Sasau - Sv. Vincenc Ferrerský a sv. Prokop



This sculptural group was installed in 1712 and belongs to the chisel of Ferdinand Maksimmilian Brokkoff, one of the great masters of the Czech Baroque. The sculpture is considered one of the most dramatic in terms of overall composition; two saints are depicted here - St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Procopius of Sazavsky, who cast the demons to the ground and trample them underfoot. The bas-relief on the pedestal supporting the composition depicts a Turk, a Jew and a devil, who are also symbolically under the heel of the saints.

The plot of the composition is clearly intended to depict the merits of the mentioned saints in the matter of converting the pagans to the true faith, as well as their success in the spiritual struggle. But even with a cursory acquaintance with the lives of St. Vincent and St. Procopius, there is some surprise, because they have little in common, except for the neighborhood in this sculptural group. Vincent Ferrer was a Spanish Dominican who preached to the Cathars and is especially revered in the Catholic tradition, while Procopius of Sazavsky, one of the most famous Czech national saints, advocated worship in Slavic languages ​​and is equally revered in both Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Most likely, there is some kind of mystery associated with the Prague ecclesiastical and national politics of the 18th century.

Bruncvik - Bruncvik



I have a friend in Prague, a stone knight... He stands on the bridge and guards the river.... He is about five hundred years old and very young: a stone boy. (M. Tsvetaeva 1923)

These lines of the world-famous Russian poetess are dedicated to the sculpture, towering on a high pedestal behind the railing of Charles Bridge. The sculpture was made in 1884 in the workshop of the Czech sculptor Ludwig Simek and installed with funds raised by the citizens of Prague. The former statue that stood on this site was badly damaged during the Thirty Years' War during the siege of Prague by the Swedish army, its fragments can still be seen in the branch of the National Museum.

The figure of a lone knight, dressed in armor of the 16th century, stands motionless, in his right hand is a legendary magic sword, in his left hand is a shield with the emblem of the Old Town, at his feet is a lion - a devoted servant and faithful friend, who, after the death of Bruncvik, died on his grave .

The Prague youth Bruncvik, according to legend, went on a journey to find a lion for his coat of arms. During the journey, he not only saved the life of a lion, but also acquired a magic sword, which he himself cut off the heads of enemies. There is no exact answer to what became of this sword. Some argue that this sword was allegedly immured in the foundation of the Charles Bridge, others that Bruncvik threw it into the Vltava. Everyone agrees on only one thing: when the Czech people need help, the sword will appear and protect the city.
Did Bruncvik really exist?! Perhaps this is one of those many beautiful legends that old Prague is covered with.

Nikolai Tolentinsky - Sv. Mikulas Tolentinsky



Since 1708, St. Nicholas of Tolentinsky has been protecting the Charles Bridge from the rampage of the “wild river” of the Vltava. The sculptor Jan Kol depicted the Saint in the traditional robes of an Augustinian monk with a lily in one hand and a book in the other. An angel holds a bowl with bread that can heal the sick and save from misfortunes.

The canonical paraphernalia is evidence of the lifetime feat of the Saint, who entered the Augustinian order at an early age. Diligence in the study of theology and renunciation of the world led to an early ordination to the priesthood.

Once the angels called him to Toleto, where he lived until the end of his life, preaching right on the streets calling to stop civil war. When a particularly strict fast led the ascetic to a serious illness, he saw the Virgin Mary and Saint Augustine. They taught him how to make bread with a cross and eat it. This cured the priest. With this bread he raised the dead and healed the hopelessly sick.

The sculpture of Nicholas of Tolentinsky was created by order of the Order of the Monks named after St. Augustine. The sculpture was made in the workshop of Hieronymus Kolya from wood, after some time, with the approval of the order, the younger son of Hieronymus Jan Kohl sculpted the image in stone. The sculpture was installed on the bridge in the place where you can see the place where the icon of the Virgin Mary was found, opposite the figure of St. Augustine. In 1969, the statue was replaced with a copy, placing the original in the Visegrad Lapidarium of Gorlitsa.

Vision of St. Luitgard - Sv. Luitgarda neboli Sen Sv. Luitgardy



One of the most valuable sculptural compositions presented on the Charles Bridge is the sculptural group "The Vision of St. Luitgarda", created in 1710 by the 26-year-old Czech sculptor Matthias Bernard Braun.

The sculpture visually depicts for us the legend of the deathbed vision of Luitgarda, a nun of the Cistercian Order. In a dream, Jesus Christ appeared to her, crucified on the cross. He bent over the blind nun so that she could heal his wounds with her kiss. The legend tells that after that the nun and Jesus exchanged hearts. On the sculpture, angels frolic around Jesus and Luitgarda, which speaks of the blissful nature of her vision. Jesus himself came for her, came not only to announce her imminent death, but also for healing; she brought joy to people, but her life and service on earth had already ended. Of course, this is just a legend, with which Prague is full, but the life of a nun was indeed legendary.

Born Luitgarda in Belgium in 1182, she was sent as a twelve-year-old girl to the Benedictine monastery of St. Catherine, and at twenty-three, already a nun, she became the abbess of the community. Luitgarda joined the order of the Cistercians, known for their strict orders, in 1208. By this time, many people already knew about her gift of prophecy and healing. For the last eleven years of her life, being already blind, she did not stop meeting people and helping them. Saint Luitgarda died in 1246. In a tradition that has come down to us through the centuries, it is said that before her death, Luitgarde had a vision in which Jesus Christ came to her to inform her of her death. This vision was embodied in the sculpture by the hands of master Brown. The creation of the sculpture was financed by the abbot of one of the Cisterian monasteries.

After Luitgard's death, she was beatified. For centuries and until today, she has been revered in the Roman Catholic Church and is the patroness of people with disabilities, and it is also believed that she protects the mother and child during childbirth. The memory of St. Luitgard is immortalized not only in stone, but also in other works of art.

At present, taking into account the historical and cultural value of the sculptural composition "The Vision of St. Luitgarda", in order to preserve it, the original has been replaced with a copy made in 1995 by J. Nowak and B. Rak. The work of the hand of Matthias Braun is kept today in Prague in the Lapidarium - a museum of stone sculptures.

Adalbert of Prague - Sv. Vojtech



The Czech sculptor Mikhail Brokof in 1709 completed another sculpture for the Charles Bridge, it was St. Adalbert (Vojtech) of Prague depicted in stone.

The national saint is depicted in the vestments of an archbishop with a gospel and a staff, the symbol of wanderers. The second after St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech land, St. Vojtech, with ascetic zeal, attached the Czech Republic to the Catholic Church. He was martyred at the hands of the barbarians while on a missionary campaign in Prague.

Vojtech was born sickly. His parents, in an effort to heal the baby, placed him on the altar of St. Mary, and a miracle of healing happened. In gratitude for his salvation, he was appointed to serve the church and the Holy See of Rome. The name Vojtech literally means "consolation of the crowd."

Praguers several times expelled Adalbert, who demanded too strict observance of church canons. Calling for mercy, preaching humility, he was brutally murdered. The creation of monasteries and monastic orders in the Czech Republic is considered a special merit of the Saint.

At the moment of death, the ropes that bound him were untied, the body took on the shape of a cross, and a radiance emanated from it. The body, dismembered by the barbarians, has grown together miraculously. To redeem the body, it was decided to pay in gold for its weight. But it turned out to be weightless, and was transferred without ransom. This was the last return of the Saint to his native city.

Sculpture of St. Adalbert commissioned by Markus Gioanelli, a member of the Council of the Old Town of Prague, whose coat of arms is placed on the pedestal of the sculpture. Made in the Brokoff family workshop, father and son, now a copy is installed on the bridge, the original is placed in the Visegrad lapidarium of Gorlitsa.

St. John de Mata, St. Felix de Valois and John of Bohemia - Sv. Jan z Mathy, Felix z Valois a Ivan



At the same time, the most popular, large-sized and intimidating sculptural group of Charles Bridge, the work of the Czech sculptor Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, was made in 1714 by order of a wealthy aristocrat, Count J. Thun.

The composition depicts the hermit John of Bohemia, accompanied by the French saints John de Mata and Felix de Valois, who in 1199 founded the Catholic monastic order of Trinitarian, which allowed them to redeem captive Christians from the Gentiles.

The pedestal of the sculpture is made in the form of a cave, where captive Christians beg for mercy behind bars in the dark. The captives are guarded by a colorful figure of a Turk, personifying the collective image of all Muslims and a dog. Above the grate hangs a cartouche with the image of an angel. Saint Felix holds a cartouche with one hand, and gives the freed prisoner the other.

Behind the saint, on a rock, the hermit John of Bohemia sits on his knees, in his hands is a golden cross, he silently watches what is happening. On the right side of him rises the figure of St. John de Mat, holding shackles, at the feet of the French saint, a magical deer dutifully settled down, with a golden cross between the horns. According to legend, it was the image of this animal that prompted the saints to found the order.

St. Wenceslas - Sv. Vaclav



The statue of St. Wenceslas I, the most revered prince of the Czechs, the patron of the Czech lands and Prague, was created in 1858 by the hand of the sculptor Josef Kamil Böhm according to the sketches of the artist J. Führing. The order for this sculpture was received by J. Böhm from the Prague Society of the Blind, founded in Prague in 1832. A year earlier, the society celebrated its 25th anniversary, and this event is evidenced by the inscription engraved on the pedestal: “In memory of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Society for Blind Children, held in Prague on October 4, 1857.”

The Grand Duke stands, leaning on his left leg, his right leg is bent at the knee and slightly laid aside. On his right hand hangs a shield depicting a coat of arms with the emblem of an eagle and she, as if "embracing" the banner. Wenceslas is dressed in princely clothes, his head is crowned. The prince's neck is stretched out, his chin is turned slightly upward, his eyes are closed, his hands are folded in front of him, he prays, pressing his palms tightly to each other. The pose betrays in the prince an adherent to Christianity, it was his grandmother St. Ludmila who raised him in the bosom of this religion and instilled in him a love for it. Her sculpture is also on the Charles Bridge.

Most of the sculptures are the result of the work of the best sculptors Matthias Bernard Braun and Jan Brokoff, as well as their sons Michael and Jan with the participation of Ferdinand Maximilian.

Charles Bridge is a work of art where each sculpture tells a story.

Don't forget to make a wish on the Calovy Bridge, and it will definitely come true!

Also pay attention to the neo-Gothic staircase, which is part of the architectural complex of the bridge. The current staircase leading from the bridge to Kampa Island was built in 1844 and successfully replaces the wooden predecessor.

In addition to sculptures, here you can see musicians, artists, souvenir merchants who entertain and earn money on the most legendary bridge in Europe - the Charles Bridge!

Hello friends! The Vltava River in Prague, in my opinion, is an additional decoration of the city. The capital of the Czech Republic is very well located on both banks of the river, not afraid of rocky cliffs. For more than a thousand years, the city has grown and built up, and at present, the Vltava quite equally divides Prague into two parts, moreover, they are equally interesting for their sights.

If there were no river in the central part of the city, would such excellent views be on these famous sights:

In the old days, the bridge in this place was much more exotic - it was hanging and was called Rudolph's shop. Pedestrian Lavka with a width of 3.35 m existed from 1869 until 1914, after which the chain structure was replaced with reinforced concrete. At first, the bridge was named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and later renamed Manesov, perpetuating the name of the famous Czech artist.

The Charles Bridge

We are approaching the center and the most popular bridge of Prague - Charles. Founded in 1357, the bridge-history serves the people of the seventh century:

The pedestrian bridge with a sculptural gallery is, of course, the most memorable attraction, and complemented by bridge towers, it has become nothing more than a symbol of Prague:

I have already described in detail the history of the construction of the bridge, its sculptural richness and atmosphere in articles and. I recommend you follow the links. Charles Bridge deserves close acquaintance.

The Bridge of the Legions or Legias is the name of the bridge that stretches from the National Theater to the foot of Petrin Hill. This is one of the longest connections between the two banks of the Vltava. At this point, the river is wider and includes several islands - Streletsky, Zhofin Island and Detsky.

The Legia Bridge also replaced its predecessor, dedicated to Emperor Franz Joseph I. From the middle of the 19th century, the Franz I Bridge was made of iron, but at the turn of the century it was rebuilt into stone, decorated with pylons with baroque turrets:

Nine spans of the bridge rest on powerful, but not devoid of grace, figured supports. The bridge is good no matter how you look at it. This view opens from Streltsy Island, which is located under the Legia Bridge:

Actually, you can only get to and from this bridge, going down the front stairs. The Legia Bridge changed its name several times, but in 1989, this issue was finally decided.

The bridge, named after the Czech public figure and writer Alois Jirasek, is relatively young, as it was built in 1929-31. A 6-span bridge connects Nove Mesto at the Masaryk embankment with the Smichov district on the opposite bank:

The Jiraskov Bridge stretches for 310 m. It is convenient to get to the Children's Island along it. This bridge does not have any attractions, but there are interesting objects. From the side of the embankment, this is the modern and medieval Shitkovskaya tower.

Do you think the bridges over the Vltava within Prague have been exhausted? Not at all. There are more than a dozen of them. If you look from Vysehrad towards the center, the Iron Bridge and Palacky will be in the foreground. To help tourists understand, on one of viewing platforms Vysehrad established a stone map depicting bridges and sights along the banks of the Vltava that come into view:

By the way, the Vltava from the Visegrad Rock pleases the eye. IN sunny weather the river, like a mirror, reflects the rays, and everything sparkles when you look at it from a height.

Friends, if you have already visited Prague, walked along the Charles Bridge and enjoyed the views of the Vltava in the center, but have not yet reached or reached the Letensky Gardens, next time include these points in your routes. The Vltava and its bridges look great from the named heights.

Your euro guide Tatiana