BRIDGESPOTTING

The bridge that set me off on a quest to visit, study, and photograph tourist bridges was Charles Bridge, in Prague. I set aside Chapter 1 in my book, Bridgespotting: A Guide to Bridges that Connect People, Places, and Times, to discuss “Landmark Bridges”, which are those 8 or 9 world-famous bridges that are instantly recognizable, and which draw tourists from around the world. Charles Bridge is very high on that list.

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A stone bridge, called the Judith Bridge, was built at this location on the Vlatava by 1170, but destroyed by flooding in 1342. Shortly thereafter, Charles IV became the King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor and made Prague the capital of the empire. He then went on a massive building spree during which much of modern-day Prague, including Charles Bridge, was constructed. The bridge was designed by Petr Parler, the most prominent architect in Prague at that time. Parler designed Charles Bridge, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Prague New Town area, and parts of the Royal Palace within Prague Castle.

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The bridge itself was completed by the 1390s. It is constructed of 16 sandstone arches, and about 1,500 feet long and 30 feet wide. Parts of the bridge have been destroyed by floods and rebuilt over the years. The bridge surface is composed of cobblestone, and the sides are flanked by sandstone parapets. The roadway, now a pedestrian promenade, sits about 40 feet above the surface of the Vltava River. Vehicle traffic was stopped in the 1960s, leaving a pedestrian-only link between Prague’s Old Town to the east and the Mala Strana neighborhood and Prague Castle to the west.

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The first feature that makes Charles Bridge different and special is its statues. Starting in the late seventeenth century, the parapets lining both sides of the bridge were decorated with statues depicting religious and historical figures. The pedestals on which they sit are about six feet high above the road surface, and each statue is about eight to ten feet high, so the statues seem enormous, towering over the crowds of tourists. Most statues represent a single figure, usually a saint, but several depict groups. Most are full figures carved from sandstone, but there are a few bronze figures.

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The bridge is also rightfully famous for the views it provides of amazing architecture and historic landmarks of Prague. The most impressive view is to the northwest, toward the Castle and, within the Castle walls, St. Vitus Cathedral. Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world and, because it is located on top of a substantial hill, it is prominently visible from many parts of Prague, including Charles Bridge. One of the greatest pleasures of Prague is visiting Charles Bridge near sundown and watching the lights of the Castle take effect as the city around it darkens.

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​Charles Bridge is described in detail in Chapter 1 of my book, Bridgespotting: A Guide to Bridges that Connect People, Places, and Times. A more general description of a tour of all of the Vltava bridges is included in Chapter 9 of Bridgespotting Part 2: A Guide to Even More Bridges that Connect People, Places, and Times.