Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

Prague's most popular and most visited tourist attraction

Where? When? How much does it cost?

The Carol Bridge is located at Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1.The nearest access station is Karlovy lázně, where tram lines 1, 2, 13, 14, 17, 18, 22 stop. It is 300 meters to the entrance of the bridge from the Old Town. The nearest metro station is Staroměstská, where line A stops. It is 500 meters from the bridge. Access to the bridge is allowed 24 hours a day and is free of charge. It's beautiful by day, but especially in the evening.

About Carol Bridge

The Charles Bridge is one of the bridges spanning the Vltava River in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. In Czech it is called Karlův most. It is 516 meters long, 10 meters wide and rests on 16 arches. The bridge is pierced by 3 towers, one Gothic towards the Old Town and two on the opposite bank in the Mala Strana district. Around 1700, 30 statues of saints, mostly in Baroque style, were built on the railings of the bridge. The Carol Bridge is a pedestrian bridge. Construction of the bridge began in 1357 during the reign of King Charles IV. It was opened in 1402. It is an arch bridge. The bridge's architect was Peter Parler, who also worked on the Prague Citadel project. Charles Bridge replaces the Judith Bridge built in the 12th century. Until 1841 it was the only bridge over the Vltava, which in translation means Moldova. The bridge connected Prague Old Town with the Old Town on opposite sides.

1. Old Town Tower

It is also called Staroměstská mostecká věž. The tower is a particularly spectacular Gothic construction. It houses a museum and offers a picturesque view. Construction of the tower began in 1357.

Old Town Tower

bridge entrance

Old Town Tower

2. Bridge and statues

The 30 statues are arranged in a row on the two balustrades of the Charles Bridge and depict saints. The most famous are those of St. John Nepomuk, Bruncvik, the group of statues of the Madonna, St. Dominic and Thomas Aquinas, and the group of statues of the Crucifix and Calvary. Ships sail between the foot of the bridge. On the left bank of the river is the Prague Fortress.

St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Barbara, Margaret and Elizabeth

Madonna, St. Dominic and Thomas Aquinas

St. Savior with Cosmas and Damian

John of Matha, Felix of Valois and St. Ivan

St. Cajetan

Charles Bridge

St. Ludmila

St. Norbert of Xanten, Wenceslas and Sigismund

Charles Bridge

St. Cyril and St. Methodius

Holy Crucifix and Calvary

Madonna and St. Bernard

3. Malostranská Towers

They are the two towers on the left bank of the Vltava River. Between them is an archway leading into the streets of the Malostranská district.

Malá Strana Bridge Tower

Prague Castle

Malá Strana Bridge Tower

4. Charles Bridge from afar

Due to the bridge's length of over half a kilometer, it's hard to take in the entire bridge in a frame if you're up close. That's why a better perspective is from the boats taking trips on the Vltava or from the tram station or from the two bridges that frame it - the Legion Bridge upstream and the Manes Bridge downstream.