Pont Charles

The bridge Charles ( Czech Karlův most in ) connects the old man Prague ( Staré Město in Czech) to the district of Malá Strana. Built at the 14th century, it will be the only bridge on the Vltava until in 1741.

Symbol of the city, impossible to circumvent for the tourists, his name refers to the king Charles IV which did not have of cease to embellish Prague. Its construction was used to replace the old Judith bridge carried by Vltava in rising.

History

A long tradition allots the construction of this bridge to the architect Peter Parler. It was proven in 2007 that the true architect was certain Oto, which one is unaware of all except the seal. Peter Parler would have only completed this bridge, as proves it its mark a side wall found under ground, at the time of the archaeological excavations of 2007.

The installation of the first stone took place in 1357, according to the chroniclers. One is unaware of the precise day. The philosopher and Czech astronomer Zdeněk Horský proposed the July 9th 1357 at 5 a.m. and 31 minutes, for reasons related to astrology. Others propose July, or on June 15th for the Vít saint.

Each end of the bridge is protected by a tower. Side of Staré Město , the Gothic tower dates thus from the 14th century. The historians suppose that in the beginning the bridge was longer of a pillar at each end. The turns were thus not at the ends.

Statues

During XVIe and XVIIe centuries, the catholics will add 75 statues over the entire length of the bridge. Today copies took the place of it.

One of them, oldest (going back to 1683), represents the saint Jean Népomucène. Created and installation at the request of the Jésuites, it celebrates the future saint Jean Népomucène (he is béatifié only in 1721 and is canonized that in 1729). This last, priest in Prague under the reign of Venceslas IV, was thrown, by order of the king, over the bridge in 1393. The jealous king did not accept that Jean Népomucène does not repeat to him what the queen had confessed to him. Once deceased, an aureole would have appeared above water. Today, its statue is surmounted by a gilded halation and is accompanied, a few away meters, of a gold cross marking the place of the crime. The tourists like to touch, on the pedestal one, the silhouette of the dog of the royal family (sign of fidelity) and that of the queen, who would bring happiness.

Between 1683 and 1714, on the model of the Bridge Saint-Angel of Rome, each pillar is surmounted by a statue or a sculptural group which evokes the religious history of the city or the country. They are the work of the sculptors Baroque S Jan Brokoff and of his/her son Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, Matthias Bernhard Braun, and others…

Photographs of the statues

Southern part, while going from the Old city towards Malá Strana.

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