Saint Adalbert, Stone statue on Charles Bridge, Czech Republic
This stone figure on Charles Bridge depicts Saint Adalbert holding a bishop's staff that transforms into a paddle, positioned on the south side of the crossing. The statue is one of many monuments that line both sides of this famous medieval bridge.
The sculpture was created in 1709 by artists Michael and Ferdinand Brokoff, commissioned by Markus Bernard Joanelli, a Prague Old Town councilor. This work was part of a wave of monument installations on the bridge that began in the early 1700s.
Saint Adalbert, known as Vojtěch in Czech lands, was a missionary bishop whose spiritual influence shaped the early Christian identity of the region. Visitors can see him depicted with symbols of his religious authority and his journey beyond Bohemia.
The monument is accessible year-round as part of the open-air sculpture gallery along the bridge and is easy to view while crossing. Visitors should know that the bridge can become quite busy, especially during peak tourist times.
The paddle that emerges from the bishop's staff references the saint's legend as a missionary who worked in Prussia and died there. This unusual detail makes the statue particularly interesting to art historians and those familiar with religious iconography.
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