1000 Places to See Before You Die 12 - Charles Bridge, Prague

This bridge was built in 1357 AD by Charles the 4th. It spans the Vltava River and from the eastern end of the bridge you can see the the royal castle on the opposite bank. Perhaps the most famous feature of this bridge are the many sculptures of saints that line the bridge, 30 in total. Most of these were put in place in the 18th and 19th centuries, but have been replaced by copies by now. The originals are placed in churches or museums. 

The bridge was built to replace an older bridge, called the Judith Bridge, built in the 12th century. The Judith bridge was damaged in a flood in 1342 and The Charles Bridge replaced it. Until about 1870 this new bridge was simply known as the “stone bridge” or the “Prague bridge”. 

The bridge is 621 m long and almost 10 m wide. The entrances to the bridge are protected by towers, one on the side of the old town and two on the side of the so-called “lesser Quarter”. The one by the old town is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in the world. 

The bridge has survived many damages from flooding and war, and pillars have several times collapsed due to damages or undermining of water. However the bridge has always been repaired rather than replaced, and continued to be an important thoroughfare. Between 1965 and 1978 the bridge was repaired and restored. Since then it has been for pedestrians only. Between 2008 and 2010 the bridge was restored again as it had sustained minor damage in the 2002 heavy floods. The main reason for restoration at this time however, was discontent with the earlier restorations. Unfortunately a lot of stones in the bridge walls were replaced with un-matching stones, leading to critique from conservation professionals all over Europe. 

No visit to Prague is complete without a stroll across the Charles Bridge. Here you can enjoy the views of the city, shop for souvenirs in the booths on the bridge and enjoy an ice cream while people watching. It is tradition to rub a certain statue to ensure your return to Prague, so be sure not to miss it (it's the one of Saint John of Nepomok, you can't miss it for the crowds wanting to rub it!)

Aside from the bridge there are a number of other things to see in Prague. The old town and the castle will have a post of their own, so keep your eyes out for that. Then we have the National Museum, with a statue of Saint Václav outside. The “citizen’s hall” Obecní Dum, is an excellent example of the Jugend style  (or Art Nouveau) that was popular immediately prior to the First World War. 

The National Museum

Obecní Dum

The Dancing House is another sight to see. The house is nick-named Fred and Ginger after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as it resembles a pair of dancers. It was designed by a Croatian-Czech architect named Vlado Milunic in cooperation with Frank Gehry. The design was controversial as the house stands out among the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings that Prague is known for. The then president Václav Havel was a major supporter however. 

Fred and Ginger

The John Lennon Wall was a symbol of freedom prior to 1989. Today graffiti marks the wall along with a bust of Lennon’s face. Since the 1980s the wall was filled with Lennon-inspired graffiti and during the communist regime young people would write their grievances on this wall, leading to clashes with the police. When the wall was painted over it was full again after a day. Even today the wall continuously changes, and the original portrait of Lennon has disappeared, replaced by the bust. 

The Lennon Wall

I have been to Prague a few times, lastly with a good friend of mine in 2007, when we went for a week on a girl’s trip to shop and sightsee and just have fun. Other than the city itself there are a few day trips that are worth considering if you are going to Prague, for example Kutná Hora. 

The bone chapel of Kutná Hora is a macabre but unique experience. The many bones stem from demolished graves from the churchyard. 30,000 people were buried her between 1278 and 1318 AD. The reason for this popularity was the fact that dirt from Golgatha in Jerusalem had been sent to this place and scattered on the churchyard. In 1870 a local craftsman by the name of Frantisek Rint decided to utilize the bones as decoration in the chapel. As mentioned above it is a unique experience, but probably not for the faint of heart. 

Anyone not interested in the chapel can head to the cathedral in Kutná Hora, Saint Barbara. Construction was started in 1388 AD and since the town consisted mostly of miners the cathedral is dedicated to the saint for miners, Saint Barbara. There is also a mint, where currency was coined and the town itself invites you to just amble about and enjoy the scenery. 

All facts from the book “1000 Places to See Before You Die” by Patricia Schultz, my notes from the trip and Wikipedia.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bridge