Charles Ⅳ, Bronze statue at Křižovnické Square, Prague, Czech Republic
Charles IV is an outdoor bronze statue in the Old Town district of Prague, Czech Republic, depicting the medieval king in imperial robes. The figure stands on a Gothic pedestal whose four corners are each framed by an allegorical sculpture.
The monument was unveiled in 1848, five centuries after the king founded the university in 1348. It was created during a period when national symbols and commemorative monuments were gaining importance across Europe.
The statue stands at a busy point between Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, where people naturally pause during their walk through the historic center. The four corner figures each carry a different object that shows which fields of study were taught at the medieval university.
The statue stands in an open public space with no entry requirements, so it can be visited at any time of day. It is within walking distance of both Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, making it easy to include on a stroll through the historic center.
The sculptor Ernst Julius Hähnel made the statue in Dresden, and it was then shipped to Prague for installation. This makes it one of the few large monuments in the city that was created entirely outside its borders.
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