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This spectacular ancient Gothic stone bridge, which is a link between the Old Town and the Lesser Quarter, once stood on a key trade route between Eastern and Western Europe. It was therefore a very important connection between the Old Town and Prague Castle, and remains so to this day.

Charles Bridge was built where the ancient Romanesque Judith Bridge, destroyed by floods, once stood. The astrologers and numerologists of King Charles IV advised him that the best time to start building the bridge was at 5:31 am on 9 July, 1357, which can be written as “135797531“. This palindromic sequence of ascending and descending odd digits is inscribed on the Old Town Bridge Tower.

Construction of the bridge was entrusted to one of the most famous medieval Czech architects, Petr Parler. Large quantities of Bohemian sandstone were used in building the structure, and legend has it that eggs were added to the mortar in order to stabilise it. Although this story is only a legend, laboratory tests have proved that inorganic and organic materials have indeed been found into the mortar.

Thirty statues of various saints and patrons, most of them from the Baroque period and venerated at that time, line both sides of Charles Bridge. The statues date from the 17th century, although those you can see on the bridge today are mostly copies: the originals can be seen at the Lapidarium, a collection of statues at the Exhibition Ground (Výstaviště) in Prague’s Holešovice district. They include the works of leading Bohemian sculptors such as Matthias Bernhard Braun and Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokof.

The most famous statue is undoubtedly that of St John of Nepomuk, who was thrown into the river Vltava from Charles Bridge on 20 March, 1393. There are several reasons given as to why he was killed. The first says that St John was an opponent of King Wenceslas IV; another says he was the confessor of the queen and refused to tell the king her secrets. On the statue is a plaque that has become polished to a shine as a result of people touching it over the centuries. It is said that doing so will bring you luck and ensure that you return to Prague.

There are many other stories connected to Charles Bridge. One of the most famous concerns the knight Bruncvík. His sword is walled up somewhere in the bridge, although no one knows where. When the Czech lands face their greatest danger, St Wenceslas will return on horseback, with the Blaník Knights behind him. His horse will stumble over a stone, marking the spot where the legendary sword lies. St Wenceslas will raise it and shout: “Off with the heads of all the enemies of the Czech Lands!“ And from that time on all people will live in peace.

As you walk along the bridge you will see many artists, Czech and foreign, and other stallholders, selling handmade products. You will also hear the sound of countless melodies thanks to the many musicians and music students on the bridge, including groups playing traditional Czech music called dechovka.

The best time to visit Charles Bridge is sunset, when you can see the breathtaking views of Prague Castle silhouetted against the evening sky. If you want to enjoy the bridge alone, you should go there very early in the morning; at all other times it is always extremely crowded.

Charles Bridge is undoubtedly the most popular monument in Prague. You can feel the touch of history with every step, and when you brush against its ancient sandstone walls you will feel the work of our forefathers, which was, is and will remain forever.