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Temperature: 17.1°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 0.0km/h
Wind Direction: NE
CHARLES BRIDGE
ulice Karlův most, Praha 1, PRAHA
20 CZK - 500 CZK
ulice Karlův most, Praha 1, PRAHA
20 CZK - 500 CZK
History
This high-gothic tower from the workshop of the distinguished master builder Petr Parléř is one of the most beautiful examples of gothic architecture in Europe. The foundations of the sandstone tower were laid together with the foundations of the Charles Bridge, and its construction was completed in 1380. It is conceived as a defence tower, but it also has a high aesthetic value and unique sculptural decorations as part of the Royal Way. The western wall of the tower was heavily damaged by Swedish cannon fire at the end of the Thirty Years War. The tower’s eastern wall is dominated by a unique portrait statue of Emperor Charles IV and King Wenceslas IV, while St. Vitus watches over them. The floor below has statues of St. Sigismund, the patron saint of Luxembourg, and St. Adalbert, the patron saint of Bohemia. At their legs of the saints, there is the statue of a lion, which looks down from the tower. A symbolic apparition occurs on St. Vitus’ Day (15 June) when the shadow of the head of the lion falls on an escutcheon below it, which depicts an eagle. This symbolically affirms the link between Bohemia and Moravia. Other statues have been similarly placed whose number and amount of decorative elements have a hidden meaning connected with astrology. The first floor used to contain a guardhouse, while the second floor served as a jail for debtors from wealthy families. Another feature worth mentioning is the mysterious statue of the so-called Tower Man from the middle of the 15th century, which stands on a column at the end of the stairway.
Time scale
* 1357 – Charles IV lays down the foundations of the Tower and the Charles Bridge
* 1380 – Tower construction completed during the reign of Wenceslas IV.
* 1621 – Heads of 27 Czech executed noblemen were displayed on the Tower following the defeat of the Estate Uprising
* 1648 – Old Town Bridge Tower damaged when being fired upon from Swedish cannons during conquering the Old Town
* 1784 – Charles Bridge damaged by a high flood
* 1841 – 2nd bridge was built in Prague, until then Charles Bridge had been the only connecting line over the river Vltava
* 1848 – In this revolutionary year the Tower suffered other damage, particularly by being fired on
* 2006 – All statues in the Tower were replaced with sandstone replicas
Miscellaneous
Technical data concerning the tower:
Height: 47 m
Number of steps: 138
Height of corner turrets: 64 m
Width of gate: 8 m
Buoyantly and seriously about the Charles Bridge
After it was completed, the tower was not only protected by the strength of its walls, but also by the everlasting, palindromic magic formula “Signa te, signa, temere me tangis et angis,” This was essentially a routine form of magical protection for the building against demons and it was used in many other situations. Setting a dead cat in the foundations also served a similar purpose. There are satiric figurines in the corners of the tower, at a height of around two metres. On the left, there is a nun in a habit with a man reaching under her skirt. On the right, there is a man touching the bosom of a woman. Unfortunately, the tower has also witnessed some sad occasions. In 1621, the severed heads of 27 executed Czech lords were displayed here. They were not taken down until ten years later, when they were removed and buried in an unknown location. They have still not been found to this day.
How you can reach us
Take metro B to Staroměstská station or tram no. 18 or 17 to Staroměstská stop or Karlovy lázně stop.
Visiting hours
October, March: Mo - Sun 10 - 20
November - February: Mo - Sun 10-18
April - September: Mo - Sun 10 - 22
Exhibitions
Admission price list
May
24
Current Conditions : 17.1C, Clear 7:01AM CEST
Temperature: 17.1°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 0.0km/h
Wind Direction: NE
Temperature: 17.1°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 0.0km/h
Wind Direction: NE
