Charles Bridge

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The Charles Bridge, which you can see out the window from our Kampa Apartment, is the oldest bridge in Prague. Construction was ordered by Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1357 to replace the Judith Bridge, which collapsed a decade and a half earlier.

Adorning either end of the bridge are towers, the Malostranske vez on the Mala Strana side of the river and the Staromestska vez on the Stare Mesto side of the river. From the Vlasska Apartments or the Prokopska Apartment the Malastranske vez can be reached in under five minutes. The towers on both sides can be climbed for a better view of both the bridge, the Vltava River and the city.

A variety of Baroque statues line either side of the Charles Bridge and were placed there in the 17th century. Of course the originals are no longer there, they were replaced by reproductions in the 20th century.

Vendors also line each side of Charles Bridge, selling everything from postcards and photographs to works made of wire and ceramic. There are also musicians who play along to recordings, full Dixie-land jazz bands, solo recorder players, guys playing wine-glasses and the occasional operatic soloist.

If you wish to have the Charles Bridge to yourself, the only way to accomplish this is to come during the summer between four and five in the morning or during some of the coldest days of winter. Otherwise you can expect to walk across the bridge with thousands of others as everyone seeks to beautiful views the Charles Bridge affords.

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