Saint Cyril and Methodius, Religious monument on Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic.

The sandstone statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius stand on the north side of Charles Bridge, carved by Karel Dvořák. The group shows the two missionaries with figures of Moravian people around them, a scene of preaching and mission.

A sculptor created these works in the early 20th century to honor two missionaries from the 9th century. Their addition came centuries after the bridge's other statues, making them a modern contribution to an otherwise medieval collection.

The group by Karel Dvořák shows the brothers as missionaries, with Methodius holding a cross and Cyril a scroll of the alphabet they devised for the Slavs. Look for the small figures of converts gathered at their feet, a detail added by the sculptor.

The statues stand on the north side of Charles Bridge, in Prague 1, between the Old Town Bridge Tower and Kampa Island. The bridge is a pedestrian-only crossing, so you pass them on foot; the figures face inward toward the roadway, so step back to see them from the front.

These figures were added decades after every other statue on the bridge, making them an unexpected modern addition to an otherwise medieval collection. Visitors often miss them because they stand apart from the long row of older, more famous sculptures.