Saint Wenceslas I, Bronze statue near the eastern side of Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
The statue of Wenceslaus I is an outdoor sculpture by Josef Kamil Böhm on the south side of Charles Bridge in Prague. It stands among the bridge's line of statues above the Vltava, linking the Old Town with Malá Strana.
The statue of Wenceslaus I was made by the sculptor Josef Kamil Böhm and stands on the south side of Charles Bridge. The structured data give 1858 as its inception, while other records date the bridge's statue programme to the 19th and early 20th centuries. It depicts the 10th-century Bohemian ruler venerated as a saint.
The statue is known in Czech as Socha svatého Václava and was carved by Josef Kamil Böhm. Wenceslaus I, a 10th-century Bohemian ruler, is honoured each 28 September, when Czechs mark the feast of the patron saint of Bohemia; the figure stands on the south side of Charles Bridge.
The statue stands on the south side of Charles Bridge, on the right when walking from the Old Town toward Malá Strana. It faces the Vltava, so it is seen from the bridge itself; the bridge is busiest in the middle of the day, and early morning is quieter.
The statue displays details of medieval armor and royal insignia that represent Wenceslas as both a religious figure and an earthly ruler. This dual symbolism reflects his story as a saint who was also a Bohemian prince.
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