Charles Bridge and Prague Old Town

Charles Bridge as viewed from Petřínská rozhledna - lookout tower

Charles Bridge (Czech: Karlův most listen (help· info)) is a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Location: 50°5′11.21″N, 14°24′42.68″E. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river in Prague, 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 (Kamenný most) or the Prague Bridge (Pražský most) but has been the "Charles Bridge" since 1870. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 1570 KB) Sumario Puente de Carlos una mañana temprano, antes de llenarse de turistas. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2272x1704, 1570 KB) Sumario Puente de Carlos una mañana temprano, antes de llenarse de turistas. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x800, 220 KB) View of Charles Bridge in Prague from Petřínská rozhledna tower (2004) Widok Mostu Karola w Pradze z wieży Petřínská rozhledna (2004) Author:Maciej Dembiniok File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x800, 220 KB) View of Charles Bridge in Prague from Petřínská rozhledna tower (2004) Widok Mostu Karola w Pradze z wieży Petřínská rozhledna (2004) Author:Maciej Dembiniok File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to... The Petřínská rozhledna is a 60 metre high steel framework tower in Prague, which strongly resembles the Eiffel Tower. ... Image File history File links Cs-Karluv most. ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... The Vltava   (Moldau in German and many other Germanic languages, Moldva in Hungarian, unrelated to the Moldova river of Romania) is the longest river in the Czech Republic, draining into the north from its source in Å umava through ÄŒeský Krumlov, ÄŒeské BudÄ›jovice, and Prague (Praha), merging with the Elbe... Nickname: City of a Hundred Spires Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area    - City 496 km²  (191. ... Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. ... Entrance to the Prague Castle at night The Prague Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad) is the castle in Prague where the Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. ...

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. Malá Strana in Prague Malá Strana  listen? (in English literally Little Side, though more frequently described as Lesser Quarter or Lesser Side) is originally a popular and nowadays also official name for former Menší mÄ›sto pražské (The Lesser Town of Prague), one of Pragues historical and oldest... Old Town (Czech: Staré mÄ›sto) is a quarter in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic. ... Gothic architecture is a style of architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, which flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period. ... Adoration, by Peter Paul Rubens. ...

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 the kiosks, and black sailors trade to carry away some money on the tourists.

==History==the bridge was founded in 2009 20000 years ago

Defense of Charles Bridge against Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War.

Image File history File links CB-1. ... Image File history File links CB-1. ... Sweden between the years 1611 and 1718 is known as the Swedish Empire. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Building the bridge

The need for building a new bridge emerged after the old romanesque Judith Bridge (Juditin most, built around 1170 and named after king Vladislav I's wife Judith) was destroyed by a flood in 1342. Royal astrologers and numerologists specified a precise moment for Charles IV to personally assist in the laying of the foundation stone as 9 July 1357, at 5:31 am. This minute can be enumerated as 135797531. This palindromic sequence of ascending and descending odd digits is carved out on the Old Town bridge tower. The building was supervised by Peter Parler and led by a "magister pontis", Jan Ottl. Romanesque St. ... Vladislav I. was prince of Bohemia from 1109 to 1117 and again from 1120 until his death in 1125. ... Picture of flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand For other uses, see Flood (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that astrologer be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... [[ == == ===Events= July 9 - Charles Bridge in Prague was founded == == ==]] Births Vincent Ferrer April 11 - King John I of Portugal Deaths May 28 - King Afonso IV of Portugal Categories: 1357 ... A palindromic number is a symmetrical number like 16461, that remains the same when its digits are reversed. ... Peter Parler (1330 Schwäbisch Gmünd - 1399 Prague) was a German architect, known for building Saint Vitus Cathedral and Charles Bridge in Prague. ...

The old town end of the King Charles bridge

The bridge was built from Bohemian sandstone. There is a legend saying that eggs were used to enrich the mortar used to bind the stone blocks to make it harder. Although the saying cannot be verified, modern laboratory tests have indeed proved anorganic and organic ingredients to the mortar. ^[1] The construction of Charles Bridge took place until the beginning of 15th century. To sustain the bridge, tolls were taken, first by the religious order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star, who had their mother-house nearby, then by the Old Town municipality (until 1815). Download high resolution version (388x704, 52 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (388x704, 52 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... Mortar holding weathered bricks. ... Symbol of the order. ...

Until the 20th century

Throughout the history, Charles Bridge suffered several havocs and witnessed many historic events. A flood in 1432 damaged three pillars. In 1496 the third arch (counting from the Old Town side) broke down after one of the pillars lowered, being undermined by the water (repairs were finished in 1503). A year after the Battle of White Mountain, when the 27 leaders of the anti-Habsburg revolt were executed on 21 June 1621, the Old Town bridge tower served as a deterrent display of the cut-off heads of the victims to stop Czechs from further resistance. During the end of the Thirty Years' War in 1648, the Swedes occupied the west bank of Vltava and as they tried to advance into the Old Town, the heaviest fights spread out right on the bridge. During the fighting, they severely damaged one side of the Old Town bridge tower (the side facing the river) and the remnants of almost all gothic decorations had to be removed from it afterward. During the late 17th and early 18th centuries the bridge gained its typical appearance when an alley of baroque statues was installed on the pillars. During a great flood in 1784, five pillars were severely damaged and although the arches didn't break down, the traffic on the bridge had to be greatly restricted for some time. Picture of flooding in Amphoe Sena, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand For other uses, see Flood (disambiguation). ... The Battle of White Mountain, November 8, 1620 (Bílá hora is the name of White Mountain in Czech) was an early battle in the Thirty Years War in which an army of 20,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 25,000 men of the... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... 1621 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

Charles Bridge in the early morning, with Prague Castle in the background.

The original stairway to Kampa island was replaced by a new one in 1844. The next year, another great flood threatened the bridge, but the bridge escaped major damage. In 1848, during the revolution days, the bridge escaped unharmed from the cannonade, but some of the statues were damaged. In 1866, the pseudo-gothic gas (later changed to electric) lights were erected on the balustrade. In 1870s, the first regular public transport (omnibus) line went over the bridge (officially called "Charles Bridge" after 1870), later replaced by a horse-tram. The bridge towers underwent a thorough reconstruction between 1874 and 1883. To see Charles Bridge like this one has to get up very early. ... To see Charles Bridge like this one has to get up very early. ... In 1848, the Austrian Empire under the Habsburgs was confronted with the combined effect of economic, social class, and nationalities conflicts. ... An articulated bus operated by the CTA in Chicago, Illinois, USA. A Go North East Bus parked in a lay-by in Tyne and Wear, England A bus is a large road vehicle intended to carry numerous persons in addition to the driver and sometimes a conductor. ...

On 2-5 September 1890, another disastrous flood struck Prague and severely damaged the Charles Bridge. Thousands of rafts, logs and other floating material that escaped from places upstream gradually formed a huge barrier leaning against the bridge. Three arches were torn down from the great pressure and two pillars collapsed from being undermined by the water, while others were partly damaged. With the fifth pillar, two statues - St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Xavier, both by Ferdinand Brokoff - also fell into the river (the former statue was replaced by a statuary of Cyril and Methodius by Karel Dvořák, the latter was replaced by a replica of the original). Repair works lasted for two years (the bridge was reopened on 19 November 1892) and cost 665,000 crowns. September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... Saint Ignatius of Loyola, also known as Ignacio (Íñigo) López de Loyola (December 24, 1491 – July 31, 1556), was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus, a religious order of the Catholic Church professing direct service to the Pope in terms of mission. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff (Czech: Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, 12 September 1688 in Červený Hrádek near Chomutov, Bohemia - 8 March 1731 in Prague) was a Czech sculptor and carver of the baroque era. ... Statue of Saint Cyril at Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc. ... Saint Methodius (Greek: Μεθόδιος; Church Slavonic Мефодии) (b. ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The koruna is the name of several European currencies and former currencies: Czech koruna Slovak koruna Austro-Hungarian krone (localized as koruna in Czech/Slovak) Bohemian and Moravian koruna Czechoslovak koruna Slovak koruna (WWII) The word koruna means crown in English. ...

20th century to present-day

Charles Bridge on a winter's day, as viewed from the Old Town bridge tower.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Charles Bridge saw a steep rise of heavy traffic. The 15 May 1905 was the last day of the horse-line on the bridge, as it was replaced with an electric tram until 1908 and with buses afterward. At the end of World War II, a barricade was built in the Old Town bridge tower gateway. A capital repair of the bridge took place between 1965 and 1978, based on a collaboration among various scientific and cultural institutes. The stability of the pillars was reassured, all broken stone blocks were replaced, the asphalt top was removed and all traffic has been excluded from the Charles Bridge since then, making it accessible by pedestrians only. The repair cost 50 million crowns. Charles Bridge photo taken Feb. ... Charles Bridge photo taken Feb. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000,000 Civilian dead: 4,000,000 Total dead 12,000,000 World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict...

During the 1990s, some people started criticizing the previous reconstruction of the bridge and proposing a new one. As of the beginning of the new millennium, most of the experts appeared to agree that the previous reconstruction had not been flawless but disputed the need for further interference with the bridge. However, after the disastrous floods of 2002 (which itself caused only minor harm to the bridge), it was decided that repair and stabilization of the two pillars (number 8 and 9) on the Malá Strana side of the Bridge would happen. These are the only river pillars that have not been repaired after the 1890-floods. The floods intensified the voices of the supporters of an overall bridge reconstruction and, as of 2005, the current repair of the pillars is considered as the first phase of the reconstruction, which will concentrate especially on building a new hydroisolation system protecting the bridge. The whole reconstruction will be done gradually without needing to close the bridge and is scheduled to finish in 2007. In August of 2002 a 100-year flood caused by over a week of continuous heavy rains ravaged Europe, killing dozens, dispossessing thousands, and causing damages of billions of dollars in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Croatia. ...

Statues on the bridge

The statue of John of Nepomuk.

The alley of 30 mostly baroque statues and statuaries situated on the balustrade forms a unique connection of artistic styles with the underlying gothic bridge. Most sculptures were erected between 1683 and 1714. They depict various saints and patron saints venerated at that time. The most prominent Bohemian sculptors of the time took part on decorating the bridge, such as: Matthias Braun, Jan Brokoff and his sons Michael Joseph and Ferdinand Maxmilian. Download high resolution version (600x800, 53 KB)John of Nepomuk - a statue on the Charles Bridge. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 53 KB)John of Nepomuk - a statue on the Charles Bridge. ... John of Nepomuk (German: Johann von Nepomuk) or Johann Nepomucen (Czech: Jan Nepomucký) is the most popular national saint of Bohemia. ... In traditional Christian iconography, Saints are usually depicted as having halos. ... Saint Quentin is the patron saint of locksmiths and is also invoked against coughs and sneezes. ... Matthias Bernard Braun (Czech: Matyáš Bernard Braun, 24 February 1684 in Sautens near Innsbruck - 15 February 1738 in Prague) was a sculptor and carver active in the Czech lands, one of the most prominent late baroque style sculptors in the area. ... Jan Brokoff, also known as Johann Brokoff, (1652 in Spišská Sobota, today in Slovakia, then in the Kingdom of Hungary - 1718 in Prague) was a baroque-era sculptor and carver of German origin born in Slovakia and later working and living in Bohemia. ... Michael Johann Joseph Brokoff (Czech: Michal Jan Josef Brokoff, 28 April 1686 in Klášterec nad Ohří, Bohemia - 8 September 1721 in Prague) was a Czech sculptor of the baroque era, working with sandstone. ... Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff (Czech: Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, 12 September 1688 in Červený Hrádek near Chomutov, Bohemia - 8 March 1731 in Prague) was a Czech sculptor and carver of the baroque era. ...

Among the most notable sculptures, one can find the statuaries of St. Luthgard, St. Crucifix or St. John of Nepomuk. Well known is also the statue of knight Bruncvík, although it does not belong to the main alley. John of Nepomuk (German: Johann von Nepomuk) or Johann Nepomucen (Czech: Jan Nepomucký) is the most popular national saint of Bohemia. ...

Beginning in 1965, all of the statues have been systematically replaced by replicas and the originals have been exhibited in the lapidarium of the National Museum.

See also: List of statues on Charles Bridge for descriptions of the particular sculptures. There are 30 statues mounted to the balustrade of the Charles Bridge in Prague. ...

Trivia

• Trolley tracks existed on Charles Bridge till 1908. Until 1905 it was a horse drawn railway, then it was electrified for trams. Its interesting that the tram used 3rd rail as a power connector. In 1908 the tram tracks were removed, form the Charles Bridge.
• Charles Bridge appears in the action films Mission: Impossible and XXX.

XXX (also written xXx), pronounced Triple X, is a 2002 action movie starring Vin Diesel. ...

More images

• A winter time view of Charles Bridge, part of the Lesser Quarter and Prague Castle.
• A night view of the bridge.

Download high resolution version (1067x488, 83 KB)A winter view of the Charles Bridge and Hradcany, Prague, Czech Republic. ... Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 541 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

References

1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Karlův most

• A VR Panorama of Charles Bridge from the tower, on the "Old Town" side of the Vltava river.
• A webcam of the Charles Bridge

Coordinates: 50°05′11″N, 14°24′42″E Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...