Spanning the Vltava River and connecting the Old Town with the Lesser Town, that is Charles Bridge. Charles Bridge tells a story not only of medieval engineering but also of the significant transformations that the entire city of Prague has undergone.

History of Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge, also known as the Stone Bridge, is the oldest standing bridge over the Vltava River. It has become a symbol of Prague and is one of the most significant monuments in Central Europe.

Originally, this bridge was simply called “stone” or “Prague.” Around 1870, this changed, and the current name, Charles Bridge, began to be used. Charles Bridge replaced the previous Judith Bridge, which succumbed to the spring thaw of ice and was destroyed in 1342.

The history of Charles Bridge dates back to the 14th century when it was founded by Emperor Charles IV. According to calculations by royal astrologers, the construction of Charles Bridge began on 9 July 1357, at 5:31 in the morning. The construction of the bridge was completed at the beginning of the 15th century, in 1406, as confirmed by records mentioning the new stone bridge in various prints.

From the end of the 17th century, 30 predominantly Baroque statues and sculptures were gradually placed on the bridge, created by sculptors Matthias Braun and Jan Brokoff. Since the 20th century, these statues have been gradually replaced by authentic copies.

Was Charles Bridge Really Built with Eggs?

The supervision of the bridge’s construction was originally entrusted to the building master Otto. After his death, oversight of the project was taken over by Peter Parler, the most significant builder of St. Vitus Cathedral.

According to legend, eggs were added to the mortar during the construction of Charles Bridge. However, an analysis of the original mortar in 2010 by scientists from the Institute of Chemical Technology found that eggs were not actually part of the construction. Instead, it was confirmed that the mortar was enriched with a mixture of milk and wine.

Present Day Charles Bridge

Today, Charles Bridge is a tourist attraction visited by millions of people every year. The bridge is a meeting point of history and modernity, whether in the form of street artists, tourists, or local residents passing by. Charles Bridge is a popular place for walks, photography, and admiring the panoramic view of Prague.

Charles Bridge connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town, with the bridge’s length being 515.76 meters and its width ranging between 9.40 and 9.50 meters. The roadway of the bridge is about 13 meters above the normal water level. This impressive bridge has 16 arches and is characterized by 3 bends and a slight convex shape against the river’s current. At its inception, it was founded according to the then construction practice on stones that were carefully shaped into the form of millstones.

Charles Bridge is the second oldest bridge in the Czech Republic and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to Get to Charles Bridge?

Charles Bridge is easily accessible for both tourists and locals. The simplest route is through Old Town Square or Lesser Town Square, with beautiful architecture and picturesque streets leading you to the bridge.

By car, Charles Bridge is easy to reach using navigation, after which it is recommended to use the nearest underground parking at Jan Palach Square.

How to Get to Charles Bridge by Metro? The best way to Charles Bridge is accessible from the A line metro, from Staroměstská station, which is also the exit station. Then proceed along Kaprova Street and continue to Křižovnická Street. This street will direct and lead you to the Old Town bridge tower, at the edge of Charles Bridge. The distance from the metro station to the bridge is approximately 350 meters.

Alternatively, another stop can be used. The second metro A stop, Malostranská, is the closest point on the way to Charles Bridge across the Vltava River. Proceed along Klárov Street and continue straight along U Lužického semináře Street until you reach Charles Bridge. This route is approximately 500 meters long.

How to Get to Charles Bridge by Tram? For tram travel to the bridge, you can use the Karlovy lázně stop, where trams no. 1, 2, 17, 18, and night line 93 stop. From this stop, proceed along Smetanovo nábřeží for about 150 meters, and then you are at the beginning of Charles Bridge. On the other bank, the nearest tram stop is Malostranské náměstí, approximately 230 meters from Charles Bridge. From there, you can walk along Mostecká Street, which directly leads to Charles Bridge.

How to Get to Charles Bridge by Bus? Bus transport to Charles Bridge offers the closest possible stop at Malostranské náměstí on line no. 194 (on the side of Prague Castle) and stop at Mariánské náměstí or again Staroměstská on line no. 194 (on the opposite bank).

Live Stream from the Webcam on Charles Bridge

For those who cannot be there in person, there is an option to watch Charles Bridge online via webcam. This webcam offers a view from the right bank of the Vltava River across Charles Bridge to the panorama of Prague Castle with St. Vitus Cathedral.