Charles Bridge

The start

Work began in 1357 under King Charles IV

Construction started in 1357 under King Charles IV and finished in the early 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge, which a flood in 1342 had severely damaged.

The hour

Charles IV is said to have laid the first stone at 5:31am

Czech legend has it that construction began at 5:31am on 9 July 1357, with the first stone laid by Charles IV himself. He was a strong believer in numerology, and the time formed a palindrome.

Floods

Floods hit the bridge in 1432, 1496, 1784 and 1890

A flood in 1432 damaged three pillars. In 1496 the third arch broke down after a pillar was undermined by the water. In 1890 three arches were torn down and two pillars collapsed, and two statues fell into the river.

The statues

30 statues line the bridge, and all of them are now replicas

The avenue of 30 mostly Baroque statues stands on the balustrade, most erected between 1683 and 1714. Beginning in 1965 they were replaced by replicas, and the originals are exhibited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum.

30statues and statuaries along the balustrade

The tower

In 1621 the tower showed the heads of 27 executed leaders

A year after the Battle of White Mountain, 27 leaders of the anti-Habsburg revolt were executed on 21 June 1621. The Old Town Bridge Tower served as a deterrent display of the severed heads of the victims.