Charles Bridge, Medieval footbridge in Prague, Czech Republic
Charles Bridge is a sandstone footbridge in Prague 1 that extends 516 meters (1693 feet) and connects the left and right banks of the Vltava River. Sixteen Gothic arches carry the 9.5-meter (31-foot) wide structure, flanked by three massive gate towers, one on the Lesser Town side and two on the Old Town side.
The foundation was laid in 1357 under King Charles IV and his master builder Peter Parler, after floods destroyed the former Judith Bridge in 1342. Construction finished in the 15th century, creating the oldest surviving crossing of the river in the city.
The name honors Charles IV, who commissioned the crossing and whose rule made Prague the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Vendors sell crafts and street musicians play along the sides, while visitors touch the bronze relief of Saint John of Nepomuk in the belief it brings them back to the city.
The crossing is open exclusively to pedestrians at all hours, with fewer people found in early morning or late evening. The best views for photographs come from the northern riverbank or from the towers, which offer an elevated position above the rooftops.
The foundation stone was laid on July 9, 1357, at 5:31 in the morning, a time forming a numerical mirror sequence: 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. Royal court astrologers chose this moment for its mathematical harmony and supposed fortune-bringing quality.
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