Along with the Castle, Charles Bridge is the most recognizable image of Prague. This Gothic stone bridge, almost 520 meters long, has connected the Old Town with Malá Strana for more than 650 years, and it’s still the place everyone crosses to get from one bank of the Vltava to the other. Here’s its history, its famous statues and a few facts most visitors never hear.
Charles Bridge history and legends
Construction began in 1357 on the orders of Emperor Charles IV, who gave the bridge its name. Legend has it that Charles IV asked his astrologers to pick the exact moment to lay the first stone: July 9, 1357, at 5:31 a.m. Written out, that date and time form the numerical palindrome 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. People believed this numerology, together with a favorable alignment of the stars, would give the bridge exceptional strength.
Another legend says the architect Peter Parler (who also worked on St. Vitus Cathedral) mixed eggs into the mortar to make it stronger, which would explain how the bridge has survived more than six centuries, including several historic floods of the Vltava.
For centuries it was the only way across the river, so it has seen coronations, royal processions and, more recently, millions of visitors every year.
The 30 statues of Charles Bridge
What makes Charles Bridge unique is its gallery of 30 Baroque statues of saints and patrons, most of them added between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. A few things worth knowing:
- St. John of Nepomuk: the most famous statue on the bridge and the oldest (1683). Legend says he was thrown into the river from this very bridge on the orders of King Wenceslas IV. Touching the bronze plaque at its base, which shows him being thrown into the water, is said to bring good luck, which is why it’s polished bright by thousands of hands.
- The Crucifix with the Hebrew inscription: one of the oldest statues, surrounded by gold Hebrew lettering that was paid for as a fine by a Jewish resident convicted of supposedly mocking the crucifix.
- Most of the statues you see today are replicas. The originals are kept in Prague’s Lapidarium museum to protect them from erosion.
Best time to visit Charles Bridge without the crowds
Charles Bridge is easily the most photographed and busiest spot in Prague, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. To enjoy it in peace:
- Go at sunrise: the light is beautiful and there’s hardly anyone around before 8:00 a.m.
- Go after dark: with the lamps lit, the mood changes completely, and it’s still less crowded than at midday.
- Skip weekends in high season if you want photos without people in the background.
You can also see it from the water on a Vltava river cruise, which we also recommend in our guide to Prague with kids. It gives you a completely different view from walking across.
The bridge towers
There are Gothic towers at both ends of the bridge, and you can climb them with a separate ticket. The Old Town Bridge Tower in particular has one of the best panoramic views of the bridge with the Castle behind it, perfect if you want a different shot from the classic one taken on the bridge itself.
Our advice
Walking across slowly and stopping at each statue is one of the best things to do in Prague, but to hear the stories and legends behind them, go with a guide. The free walking tour of Prague Castle includes the bridge with all its stories explained. To plan the rest of your trip, see our Prague itinerary for 2, 3 or 4 days.
