The next stop on my whirlwind one month tour of
Central Europe will be in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. While
there, I will be visiting one of the most iconic places in Prague, the Charles
Bridge. This is a very popular location for tourists. The Charles Bridge is
about 500m long and spans across the Vltava River between Old Town Prague and
Prague Castle, (“Prague Experience,” 2014). Since this bridge is so well known,
visitors are advised to stay aware in this very busy area as pickpockets are
known to prey on unsuspecting tourists. It is also suggested that the best
times to visit the bridge are in the early morning or evening in order to avoid
the crowds, (“Lonely Planet,” 2014).
The
Charles Bridge was commissioned in 1357 by Charles IV. The architect, Peter
Parler, was given the task of replacing a previous bridge that had been washed
away by flooding. The Charles Bridge was not completed until 1390. It was known
simply as Stone Bridge until it was renamed after Charles IV in the 1800’s, (“Lonely
Planet,” 2014). The Charles Bridge was built to last and survived more than 500
years of wheeled traffic before it became a pedestrian only bridge after World
War II, (“Lonely Planet,” 2014). The sheer age and historic nature of the bridge
make it a popular location for anyone visiting the city.
Lining
the Charles Bridge are 75 Baroque statues representing important Czech
historical figures. Unfortunately, most of these statues are reproductions due
to floods and other damages over the bridge’s long history, (“Prague
Experience,” 2014). Flooding has been a significant problem for citizens of
Prague, and in medieval times, they would look downstream from the bridge to
view a carved stone head known as the Bearded Man. If the river had risen to
that height, then they knew that flooding would be significant, (“Lonely
Planet,” 2014). In addition to the statues and medieval flood marker, there are
towers on both ends of the bridge that provide spectacular views of the bridge,
river, and city, (“Lonely Planet,” 2014).
The
Charles Bridge is an essential stop for any tourist visiting Prague, and I
cannot wait to see it as part of my CETS trip this summer.
References:
Lonely Planet. (2014). Charles Bridge. Retrieved from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic/prague/sights/architecture/charles-bridge
Prague Experience. (2014). Charles Bridge. Retrieved from http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=598
Picture References:
http://www.irongate.cz/images/gallery/3_prague_charles_bridge.jpg
http://www.layoverguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Charles-bridge-in-Prague-Czech-Republic.jpg
