Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge (Karluv most) spans the Vltava in Prague, linking the Old Town with the Lesser Town and the approach to Prague Castle. Its foundation stone was laid in 1357 under Emperor Charles IV, replacing an earlier bridge destroyed by flooding, and it was built in Gothic style by the workshop associated with Peter Parler. Fortified by towers at each end, it served for centuries as the city's principal river crossing. From the late 17th century onward, a celebrated series of Baroque statues of saints was added along its parapets, most now represented by copies with originals preserved in museums.

The bridge is bound up with the legend of St John of Nepomuk, a priest said to have been thrown from it into the river; a plaque marking the spot is traditionally touched for luck. Some visitors describe an evocative atmosphere at dawn or in mist. These are cultural traditions and personal impressions rather than documented supernatural events.

Charles Bridge is one of Europe's great medieval bridges and a defining image of Prague, admired for its engineering, its statuary and its setting between the castle and the historic core.

The bridge is a public thoroughfare, open at all hours and free to cross on foot; it is pedestrian-only and often very busy by day with visitors, artists and vendors. Early morning and late evening are quieter and better for photography.

The two bridge towers can be climbed for a fee during opening hours, offering elevated views. Normal city precautions apply in the crowds, and visitors should be mindful of cyclists and their belongings.