Karlův most (Praha 1) Bridge

Welcome to one of the most important places in the Czech nation. You are standing right in front of the Charles Bridge, the legendary symbol of Prague, which majestically stretches over the level of the Vltava. Look around you and perceive the unique atmosphere surrounding you right now. In front of your eyes is a monumental structure, which is not just a simple link between two shores, but a living witness of centuries, which resists time, water, and all world changes. Feel the feeling when you look at this massive structure that seems to be firmly rooted in the very heart of the history of this city.

Now let's go back to the past together to understand how this miracle came about. The entire history of this place begins in 1357. This was the year when under the supervision of one of the most important monarchs in our history, King Charles IV, laid the first foundations of a new building. Imagine the great ambition with which the new bridge began to be built to replace the earlier makeshift roads and become a solid, indestructible path for business, king and traveller. However, this work was neither fast nor easy. The construction required enormous effort, patience and huge resources, and therefore lasted for forty-five years. The whole process was completed only in 1402. Since then, after more than six centuries, Charles Bridge has stood here and served, making it the oldest still standing bridge over Vltava in the whole of Prague and the second oldest preserved bridge in the whole Czech state.

Now that you know its roots, pay attention to the architecture itself and the details you have right in front of you. Now, if you look along the entire length of this monumental work, you realize its incredible size. This whole thing stretches over 500 feet and 60 centimeters. It's a really long way to go through history. Notice the width of the bridge, which is between nine and a half ten meters, which gives you sufficient space to observe the surroundings and perceive the rhythm of this place.

Looking down on the construction itself, notice the fascinating rhythm that creates sixteen massive arches. Each one is unique and gives its whole stability. The resolution of these arches changes and creates an interesting dynamic - from the wider parts of the Old Town side, where the discrepancies reach up to twenty-three metres and thirty-eight centimeters, to the narrower parts, where the range ranges around sixteen metres and sixty-two centimetres. This geometry is the foundation of a force that has made the bridge survive for hundreds of years.

Now raise your sight even higher. What is likely to interest you immediately are those characters that decorate the parapets that will guide you all your way. On the bridge there are 30 statues and sculptures. Note their appearance - most of them are in a beautiful baroque style, which gives the whole bridge a dramatic and noble character. However, it is important to know that these statues have not been here since the very beginning of the construction. While the very foundation of the bridge is medieval, Baroque decorating was added to it much later. In the period between 1707 and 1714, additional statues and sculptures were added to the bridge, which were financed by various donors who wanted to leave their trail in this sacred space.

When you walk, pay attention to the dominant elements that frame this structure and dominate the horizons of both sides of the river. Three towers are among the most prominent. One is a larger and the other is a smaller Malostran bridge tower, which with its silhouettes resembles the strength and importance of this historic passage.

This whole monumental entity is inextricably linked to the personality of King Charles IV. He was the visionary who gave birth to this building and who saw in it not only the road, but also the symbol of his power and stability of the kingdom. His legacy is not only reflected in the data you now remember, but in the very presence of this bridge, which is now an inherent part of Prague's identity.

You may be interested in this fact: although it may seem to you that the bridge is still and eternal, its existence is the result of the constant effort and fascinating mathematical accuracy that you can feel in its curves and dimensions. It is a fascinating combination of medieval ingeneery and baroque art, which has been harmoniously interconnected throughout the centuries.

I won't keep you now. Continue to walk through this historic corridor, see every step on these old roads and let the atmosphere that Charles Bridge creates take you. Take a look at every statue, stop at every arch and enjoy the beauty of Prague that you can enjoy from here. I wish you a beautiful and inspiring journey.