Charles Bridge – Old Town Bridge Tower

Charles Bridge is the oldest standing bridge over the Vltava River in Prague and the second oldest preserved bridge in the Czech Republic. The Charles Bridge replaced the previous Judith Bridge, torn down in 1342 during the spring ice melt. The construction of the new bridge began in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV and was completed in 1402. Until 1841, when the Emperor Franz I Bridge was completed, the Charles Bridge was the only fixed communication link across the Vltava River in Prague. Thanks to the stone bridge, Prague has become an important stop on European trade routes. The bridge is 515 meters long and its width is 9.40 to 9.50 m. The height of the road is 13 m above the normal level. It consists of sixteen arches. It is bent three times in its length and is slightly convex upstream. The bridge is complemented by three towers. In the Lesser Town, there are the larger and smaller Lesser Town Bridge Tower. On the Old Town side, the Old Town Bridge Tower. The Old Town Tower does not stand on the outer abutment of the bridge, as is customary with bridge towers, but on the first inner pillar. The Old Town abutment of the bridge is now built into the cellars of house No. 193. The bridge was gradually decorated with thirty statues and sculptures. Originally, it was only called the Stone or Prague Bridge. The name Charles Bridge was used only around 1870 on the basis of an earlier initiative by K. H. Borovský. Charles Bridge is a national cultural monument.