barokní most v Náměšti nad Oslavou Bridge

Welcome to the Town of Celebration. Right now, you're facing one of the most important and beautiful symbols in this city. In front of your eyes is a baroque bridge that overlaps the River Celebra and acts as a living link between history and the present. If you stop now and just let yourself look for a while, you might feel the strange atmosphere that this space radiates. It is a combination of a calm flow of water, a fortress of stone building and incredible work of art, which is reflected in every detail. This bridge is not just an ordinary passage across the river, it is a real work of art that deserves your full attention.

Now let's look deeper into the past together and understand how this unique whole came into being. This whole building has its beginning in a period when the changing fates of noble generations have formed into what we now know. After the death of the previous owner, Jan Filip Werdenberk, Count Václav Adrian of Enckenvoirt entered the scene. He was the man who had the vision and the power to create something special in this place. After 1733 he decided to build a new, much more dignified and durable structure in the place of the older bridge, which was torn down by devastating floods at that time. Work on this ambitious project started in 1737 and lasted several years. The whole process culminated in 1744, when the most important part was completed - a rich sculpture decoration that gave the bridge its unmistakable character.

Now pay attention to what you see right in front of you. If you look at the very structure of the bridge and its rich decorating, you immediately understand why this place is called the small Charles Bridge. This nickname is not random; Refers to its sculpture decoration, which resembles a more famous Prague bridge, but on a much more familiar and delicate scale. Notice the characters that line up along the bridge. You see a total of twenty statues representing saints and angels. These figures are not carved from any stone. If you approach and try to perceive their texture, you realize that they are made of clams. This material has its specific beauty and allows sculptors to work with fine shapes, even if it is also exposed to constant influences of nature. Every statue, every angel profile, and every holy figure here form a harmonious whole, which in baroque style seeks to move, emotion and spiritual ascension.

But to understand what this bridge looks like today, we must realise that its history was not only about creativity, but also about fighting natural forces. This bridge had to face many trials. The River Celebration, which flows beneath it, has shown its strength many times. Numerous floods, devastating icebergs that pushed against the pillars in the winter months, and even events associated with wars, all these moments left a mark in the history of this monument. Yet the bridge has always managed to recover from these crises through repeated reconstruction.

In this context, it is important to mention the key personalities behind this success. While Count Václav Adrian of Enckenvoirt was the one who initiated and funded the whole building, we must thank the very beauty of the statues to the master, named Josef Winterhalder starší. It was his sculptor hand that breathed life into the limestone characters and created the decoration that fascinates us today. It's a fascinating combination of political power and artistic talent that worked closely together in the middle of the century.

Now, however, I would like to invite you to think about one interesting thing, which carries a hint of mystery and deep respect for art. You might be thinking that the statues you see are the original ones from the eighth century. And yet, it's important to know that it's not exactly. During World War II, the situation in the country was so tense and dangerous that it had to be about protecting these rare works. The statues were hidden in secret at the time so as not to be harmed by war or by an unwilling hand. This protection was crucial to their survival. Later, in 1984, there was an important step in restoration. In order to keep the original, fragile sculptures of mussel limestone in the best possible condition for future generations, they were placed in a safe place in the castle. Their loyal copies were then placed on the bridge itself. This ensures that the bridge continues to act in its original impression, while the originals are protected in the museum environment.

In recent years, we have seen another great transformation. Between 2020 and 2021, a major reconstruction took place which included both the structure of the bridge itself and its sculpture decoration. This work was necessary so that this Baroque gem could continue to be presented safely and beautifully to the world. Thanks to this modern care, the bridge is today in such an excellent state that we could only see it in the best times of its history.

You are now standing before a monument that is a living witness for centuries. It is a place where art, nature and human determination meet to overcome obstacles. When you continue your walk, try to look at the bridge again, perhaps from another angle, and perceive the continuity of time. Every stone and every statue here has a story waiting to be discovered. I wish you the next steps in Náměště nad Záslavou as pleased as this view of the Baroque bridge. Thank you for your attention and I wish you a wonderful continuation in the tour of our city.