Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is one of the must see sights in Prague. It does not belong in ant quarter but joins the Lesser Town and Old Town. Due to the popularity of the bridge it is unlikely that you will ever get to see it empty, it is always filled with tourist - as most Czechs would use other quieter ways to cross the Vltava.
There are 30 statues on the bridge most of them from the beginning of the 1700’s - some have been replaced due to being swept away by flooding at various times. There is no charge to go onto the bridge - however there is a small charge to go up the tower, this is currently about €3 and well worth the price, once at the top of the tower there are great views of the bridge, but also to Prague Castle, the Lesser Town, and the roofs and spires of the Old Town.
Charles Bridge in Czech is Karluv Most (Most being bridge in Czech) is the most famous historical bridge Prague, Czech Republic. The construction of Charles Bridge started in 1357 under King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava, the Charles Bridge used to be the most important connection between the Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841. Also this ’solid-land’ connection made Prague important as a trade route between east and west Europe. The bridge was originally called the Stone Bridge or the Prague Bridge but has been the “Charles Bridge” since 1870.
The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side. The Old Town bridge tower is often considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, erected around 1700.
During the night Charles Bridge is a quiet witness of medieval times. But during the day it changes its face into a very busy place. Painters, owners of kiosks and other traders compete for the attention of numerous tourists crossing the bridge. The only time that you are likely to get a photo of the bridge empty or near that is sunrise.
This link will take you to a webcam page that has a updated view of the bridge.
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Prague City Street
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