Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Charles Bridge
The spectacular Charles Bridge
(Karl
∞
v most)
has witnessed more than 600
years of processions, battles, executions and, increasingly, film shoots. Peter
Parlé
∫
(see p13)
built the viaduct to replace its predecessor, the Judith Bridge,
in Gothic style. The bridge's most distinguishing feature is its gallery of 30
statues. The saints and other religious figures were installed, from 1683
onwards, to lead the masses back to mass.
Some, such as Braun's
St Luitgard
, are
incomparably lovely; others, such as Bohn's
Calvary
, are politically controversial. Today all
the statues are reproductions - the originals are
preserved in museums across the city.
Top 10 Features
1 Old Town Bridge Tower
2 Calvary
3 The Lorraine Cross
4 Statue of St John of
Nepomuk
5 Statue of Sts Cyril and
Methodius
6 Statue of Bruncvik
7 Our Lady of the Mangles
8 Statue of St Luitgard
9 Antonin
0 Statue of the
Trinitarian Order
Old Town Bridge Tower
detail
The Malá Strana
bridge tower houses
an exhibit on the
bridge's history. It is
open Apr-Oct
10am-6pm daily.
Old Town
Bridge Tower
From the parapet of the
Old Town bridge tower,
you can see the gentle
S-curve that the architect
Peter Parlé∫ built into the
viaduct to obstruct
invaders, as well as a
jaw-dropping panorama of
the city.
• Map J4
The Lorraine Cross
Halfway across the bridge
is a brass cross where John
Nepomuk's body was thrown
into the river
(see p35)
. It is
said that if you wish on the
cross the wish will come true.
Calvary
This statue
(right)
will
cause double-takes
among students of
Hebrew. According to a
nearby apologia, the
words “Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord of Hosts” were
added in 1696, paid for by
a local Jewish man who
had been accused of
profaning the cross.
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