Charles Bridge: history and legends

There is a moment on every tour of Charles Bridge when the guide stops in front of one statue in particular, that of Jan Nepomuk, with its dark bronze and its halo of five stars, and tells the story of why it is here.

The official legend: King Wenceslaus IV had the priest Jan Nepomuk thrown into the Vltava on 20 March 1393, because the priest refused to reveal the queen's confessional secrets. At the spot where he hit the water, five stars appeared, the same five his statue wears around its head today.

The version the guide adds next: the legend also says that Jan Nepomuk was not merely the queen's confessor. He was also her lover. And King Wenceslaus did not have him executed for protecting the seal of confession, but for the affair.

Neither version is historically proven. Both explain why Jan Nepomuk was canonised in 1729 and why his statue is the most touched and photographed on the bridge.

This is the kind of story that turns Charles Bridge into something more than a bridge with pretty statues.

History: from wood to stone

Charles Bridge was not the first bridge in Prague. Before it there was a wooden bridge and an earlier stone bridge (the Judith Bridge, built in 1172 and destroyed by a flood in 1342).

Construction of the current bridge began on 9 July 1357, a date carefully chosen by King Charles IV and his astronomer so that the moment the first stone was laid would coincide with a specific numerical alignment: 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1 (year, month, day, hour). Medieval numerology was an integral part of the architecture of power.

The bridge is 516 metres long and 9.5 metres wide, with 16 arches of sandstone. It took decades to complete and was the only connection between the two banks of Prague for over four centuries, until 1841, when the next bridge was built.

During those four centuries, Charles Bridge was the most important commercial, military and political artery in Bohemia. Everything that crossed the Vltava, troops, goods, ambassadors, royal processions, public executions, passed through here.

The 30 statues: who they are and why they are there

The baroque statues are the bridge's iconic image. There are 30 sculptural groups distributed along both balustrades, installed mainly between 1683 and 1714. Nearly all are made of Bohemian sandstone, the same material as the bridge, and nearly all have been replaced by replicas over the centuries, with the originals preserved in the National Museum of Prague and the Lapidarium Museum.

The reason for the statues: the bridge was the processional route from the Old Town to the Castle. The religious statues flanking the path turned the crossing into an act of devotion, walkers passed between the saints as if traversing a spiritual gallery.

The statue of Jan Nepomuk (on the north balustrade, on your right as you cross from the Old Town) is the oldest in the ensemble, dating from 1683, and it is bronze, unlike most of the others, which are sandstone. The relief on the base depicts the priest being thrown into the river. Touching that relief brings good luck, according to local tradition. The area has been touched so much that the bronze gleams like a mirror.

Other notable statues: Saint Luitgard (the most artistically acclaimed, by the sculptor Matthias Braun), Saints Cyril and Methodius (the evangelisers of the Slavs, from the 9th century, relevant to Czech history), and the group of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis of Assisi with the Virgin.

The bridge towers

Charles Bridge has three towers: two on the Mala Strana (Lesser Town) side and one on the Old Town side.

The Old Town Bridge Tower (east side) is the main entrance from the historic centre. It is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Central Europe, built at the end of the 14th century with sculptural decoration on the facade. You can climb the tower (paid entry) for panoramic views over the bridge and the river.

The Mala Strana Towers (west side) are two towers of different heights joined by an arcade; the smaller tower dates from the 12th century, the larger from the 15th. They also have paid access to the viewing platform.

When and how to visit

Charles Bridge is free and open 24 hours a day. The difference depending on the time of day is enormous:

At dawn (5:00-7:00): The quietest the bridge gets. No art vendors, no musicians, no travellers. Just the river and the towers in the morning mist. It means getting up while it is still dark, but those who do describe it as one of the most memorable moments of their trip.

Mid-morning (9:00-12:00): It starts filling up. Street artists set up their easels. Vendors open. The atmosphere is lively.

Midday and afternoon (12:00-18:00): Peak tourist hours. The bridge can be so crowded that progress is slow. It is a spectacle in itself, but not ideal for photography.

At sunset: Golden light on the statues, the Castle in the background. One of the most photographed views in Prague. Busy but worth it.

At night: The statues illuminated, the Castle reflected in the river, very few travellers. If your hotel is nearby, the night-time walk across the bridge is one of the memories that lasts longest.

The ODISEA free tour: the Malá Strana and Charles Bridge free tour crosses the bridge from Malá Strana towards the Old Town with the full historical context: the construction under Charles IV, the history of the saints, the legend of Jan Nepomuk in its complete version. The guided crossing turns the bridge into a story, not a walk past nameless statues.

Before reaching the bridge, the tour covers Kampa Island, the John Lennon Wall and the church of the Infant Jesus of Prague, and after the crossing it ends next to the Clementinum. It starts at the exit of Malostranská metro station; times are on the tour page.

Frequently asked questions about Charles Bridge

Is Charles Bridge free? Yes. Access to the bridge is completely free and it is open 24 hours a day. The towers have paid entry to climb to the viewing platform.

When was Charles Bridge built? The first stone was laid on 9 July 1357, under the reign of Charles IV. Construction took decades and the bridge was the only crossing of the Vltava in Prague for over four centuries.

Why is it called Charles Bridge? In honour of King Charles IV of Bohemia (1316-1378), who ordered its construction. Until 1870 it was simply called "the Prague Bridge"; it was then that it was given the official name Charles Bridge.

Who was Jan Nepomuk? Jan Nepomuk was a priest and confessor to the Queen of Bohemia, executed in 1393 by order of King Wenceslaus IV. Legend has it that he was thrown into the Vltava for refusing to reveal the queen's confessional secrets. He was canonised in 1729 and is the patron saint of Bohemia.

Does touching the statue on Charles Bridge bring good luck? According to local tradition, touching the relief on the base of the Jan Nepomuk statue (which depicts his fall into the river) brings good luck. The bronze in that area gleams from the constant contact of millions of hands.

What is the best time to visit Charles Bridge? At dawn (5:00-7:00) for maximum tranquillity. At sunset for the best light. At night for the most intimate experience. Avoid the middle of the day during peak season.

Charles Bridge connects the Old Town with Prague Castle and Malá Strana. It forms part of the day 1 itinerary in Prague. Ten minutes on foot towards the Old Town is the Astronomical Clock.