What happened on the Charles Bridge. Charles Bridge - the mysterious history of the most beautiful bridge in Prague
Yuditin Bridge
The first stone bridge across the Vltava was Yuditin Bridge, which has been in operation since 1172. In 1342, it collapsed due to a sharp melting of snow and ice (at first, huge ice floes blocked the space between the supporting bulls, and then new ice floes created too much pressure on them). They decided to build a new bridge 20-30 meters upstream.
History of the construction of the Charles Bridge
Each order, next to its part of the bridge, received large plots of land for the construction of monastic complexes. The first built an entire district, the center of which was the modern Maltese and Velkoprzhevorskaya squares, and the second built a quarter around the Square of the Crusaders.
Since the end of the 19th century, the line of the first public transport, known today as horse-drawn. Then it was replaced by a tram with a lower current collection, but after a couple of years the city authorities came to their senses and stopped testing the bridge for strength. It should be noted that until 1870 it was called Prague Bridge, and was renamed only in the wake of the national revival of the 19th century.
Charles Bridge Towers
Old Town Tower
Old Town Bridge Tower (Staroměstská mostecká věž) - eastern tower of Charles Bridge; is a symbolic gateway to the Stare Mesto area. It began to be built simultaneously with the bridge under the leadership of Peter Parler, and was completed in 1380. The Old Town Tower is considered the most beautiful medieval tower in Europe (extant). And this despite the fact that in 1648, the sculptural decorations of the eastern side of the tower were destroyed by Swedish artillery shelling, when the bridge, as the only crossing to the right bank of the Vltava, became the site of a fierce battle.
In the Middle Ages, the roof of the Old Town Tower was covered with gilded sheets. Also, the most important elements of sculptural compositions were gold. In modern times, the facade of the tower is decorated with the coat of arms of the Stare Mesto district, above which is a horizontal row of coats of arms of the lands of the Czech kingdom during the reign of Charles IV. Above them are statues of the kings under whom the Charles Bridge was built - Charles IV and Wenceslas IV. Between them (on a slight rise) is a statue of St. Vitus, the spiritual patron of the bridge. At the level of the third tier of the tower there are sculptures of the patrons of the Czech land - Saints Vojtěch and Sigismund. In addition, on the facade of the tower (in four different places) you can see bas-reliefs of the kingfisher bird, the symbol of Wenceslas IV.
At the beginning of the 17th century, 12 severed heads of the leaders of the Revolt of the Estates, executed on Old Town Square, hung on the Old Town Bridge Tower for ten years. Nowadays the tower operates observation deck and a small historical gallery. Next to the tower is the Charles Bridge Museum.
Lesser Town Tower
Lesser Town Bridge Tower (Malostranská mostecká věž) is the tall western tower of the Charles Bridge. Of all three towers, it was the last to be built - in the middle of the 15th century during the reign of King George of Poděbrady. In the very first building from the tower (Mostecka str., 1) there is Klub Za starou Prahu, a civil association that has been working on the protection of monuments in Prague since 1900.
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Judith's Tower
Judith's Tower (Juditina věž) is the smallest, but at the same time the oldest tower (dating back to the 12th century). It was built during the time of the first in the Romanesque style, and in 1591 it was rebuilt in the likeness of the other two towers. The city chronicle contains a record of a tragic incident associated with the Judith Tower. It is reported that in 1250 a broken piece of stone fell on the head of a knight named Pertolt. The unfortunate man, fully dressed in armor, but having taken off his helmet, fell dead.
Lesser Town Bridge Tower and Judith's Tower are connected by gates that depict the coats of arms of the Prague districts of Lesser Town and Stare Mesto, as well as the region of Bohemia.
The Charles Bridge sculptures were created with deep ideological and political meaning. The Austrian Habsburg dynasty, which at that time ruled Bohemia and Moravia (the main regions of the modern Czech Republic), with the help of Catholicism, tried to eradicate dangerous Hussite views among the Czechs, leading to the manifestation of national self-awareness and the desire for independence. Therefore, all the individuals on the Charles Bridge are ideological missionaries and spreaders of the Catholic faith. Among them there are no real defenders of Czech interests. Even the kings Charles IV and Wenceslas IV, during whose reign the construction of the structure was carried out, are absent, as they pursued policies aimed at creating a strong national state.
Francis is depicted in the robes of a priest. To his left is an angel holding an image of the Holy Gifts, to his right is an angel holding an image of the Virgin Mary.
Details of the sculptural composition: Lyudmila holds in her left hand a handkerchief, with which, according to legend, she was strangled, and with her right hand she points to the Bible, which she teaches young Vaclav to read. The relief on the pedestal depicts the scene of the murder of Prince Wenceslas.
Details of the sculptural composition: bronze plates on the pedestal depict scenes of the queen's confession and the execution of John of Nepomuk. There is a belief that if you rub them, your wish will come true.
Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) - famous preacher of the Franciscan Order.
Details of the sculptural composition: Anthony is depicted with little Jesus. In his right hand he holds a lily, which emphasizes his holiness. On the sides are two vases depicting scenes from the life of Anthony of Padua.
Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) - patron of conservationists and founder of the mendicant Order of Franciscans. It was he who deepened the idea of poverty for monks and turned it from a negative sign of renunciation of the world into a positive ideal of life, which stemmed from the idea of following the example of poor Christ. He also transformed the very idea of monasticism, replacing the hermit monk with an apostle-missionary who, having internally renounced the world, remains in the world to call people to peace and repentance. Francis set a personal example of this behavior by becoming a barefoot beggar, and “in the garb of a shepherd” preached about the need for love and humility. It should be noted that he came from a wealthy merchant family, and in his youth he was known as “the king of all feasts and fun.”
Details of the sculptural composition: Francis of Assisi is depicted with two angels. The inscription “to Saint Francis of Assisi for the miraculous salvation of Emperor Franz Joseph in 1853” is carved on the pedestal (the Hungarian revolutionary stabbed the monarch in the neck, from which he was saved by the gold collar of his uniform).
Judas Thaddeus - apostle, preached in Palestine, Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia. He died a martyr's death in Armenia. Intercessor of people in hopeless cases.
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted with a Gospel and a club. On the pedestal there is an inscription: “To the devoted friend of Christ.”
Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419) - Spanish philosopher, theologian and preacher. He came from a noble noble family, but voluntarily accepted the harsh life of an ascetic ( all year round observed strict fasting, slept on bare ground, and moved only on foot). Vincent devoted himself to missionary work and renounced the cardinalate;
Procopius of Sasau (970–1053) - Czech monk and missionary. He founded the Sazavsky monastery, which was the center of Slavic culture and the last place in the Czech Republic where worship took place in the Church Slavonic language. Procopius also led the life of an ascetic (he personally cut down forests and cultivated the land). According to legend, once local residents They saw the saint plowing a field on a devil harnessed to a plow, which he drove with a cross.
Details of the sculptural composition: Saint Vincent in Dominican vestments drives out the devil from a kneeling man with one hand, and with the other raises a man lying in the grave from the dead. Saint Prokop holds a rod over the pacified Satan, stepping on him with his foot, which symbolizes the victory of faith, truth and goodness over the forces of evil. There are several inscriptions on the monument: “8,000 infidels to the Catholic faith,” “70 devils to pacify,” and “2,500 Jews to Christ.”
Bruncvik is a hero of Czech legends and tales who wanted to get the right to place a lion on his coat of arms (a symbol of valor and courage). To do this, he embarked on a series of adventures and exploits. Knight Bruncvik is a fictional character and symbolizes one of the kings of the Přemyslid family, who replaced the black eagle with a silver lion on the coat of arms of Bohemia in 1172.
Details of the sculptural composition: The knight Bruncvik is depicted with a sword and shield, which depicts the coat of arms of the Stare Mesto district. A lion sits at his feet. The monument is located behind the sculptural group of Saints Vincent and Prokop (No. 20), so to see it you need to look down from the bridge.
Augustine Aurelius (354–430) - philosopher, preacher and theologian. It is he who owns the interesting phrase “Good God, give me chastity and moderation... but not now, oh God, not yet!”
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted in a bishop's robe. Under his right foot he has a heretical book (a sign of contempt for Protestants), and in his right hand is a burning heart (a sign of love for the Lord). At Augustine's left leg there is a figurine of an angel.
Nicholas of Tolentinsky (XIII century) - missionary and monk of the Order of Augustine Aurelius. Before his death, his last words were: “My conscience does not reproach me for anything, but this does not mean that I am a righteous person.”
Details sculptural group: the saint is depicted in a monk's robe with an angel who has prepared a basket of bread for the poor.
Luitgarda is a blind nun who regained her sight after kissing the wounds of Christ in her sleep.
Cajetan of Thiene (1480–1547) – protector against epidemics and founder of the Order of Theatines, which became the first order of a new type. Upon entry, the priests took traditional monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but did not leave the world, but continued to fulfill the duties of parish priests. Such monks are called regular clerics. The new order fought against heresy, but with humane methods (as opposed to the widespread medieval practice of using violent measures).
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint holds in his hands the opened Gospel of Matthew with the word of God. Behind it is a plague column symbolizing the Holy Trinity with images of clouds and angels.
Philip Benicius (1233–1285) - one of the founders of the Servite Order.
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is dressed in the traditional white robe of members of the order. In his hands he holds a cross, a symbolic branch (or lily) and a book. A tiara (papal crown) is placed at his feet, since in 1268 he had the opportunity to become Pope.
Vojtěch (10th century) - second Czech bishop, killed during missionary work in Polabian Prussia. In the 11th century, the saint was considered the second patron saint of the Czech land after St. Wenceslas and the main patron saint of Poland.
Details of the sculptural composition: Vojtech is depicted in archbishop's robes with the Gospel in his left hand.
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Vit (290–303) - patron saint of the Czech lands. Reliable historical evidence about the life and martyrdom of the saint has not survived. According to legend, a 13-year-old boy went to Rome, where he cast out demons either from the son of Emperor Diocletian, or from the emperor himself. After this, Vitus refused to pray to the Roman gods. He was arrested and for refusing to recognize the Roman religion, he was thrown to hungry lions, but they did not touch Vitus. Then they threw him into a cauldron of boiling oil.
Details of the sculptural composition: the saint is depicted in the garb of a Roman citizen, but with a medieval headdress. The pedestal is made in the shape of a rock with a cave from which hungry lions climb out.
The young priest Jean de Mata (1150–1213) saw a vision during his first mass, which he interpreted as a sign that he should devote his life to rescuing Christian captives from Muslim imprisonment. His idea was supported by Count Felix de Valois (1127–1212). Together they founded the Trinitarian Order, dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity. The motto of the monks read: “Glory to you, Trinity, and freedom to the prisoners.” The Trinitarians collected funds for the ransom of Christian captives through donations and alms.
John of Bohemia (9th century) - righteous man and the first Czech hermit (hermit). The cause-and-effect relationship with Saints Felix and John is unknown.
Details of the sculptural composition: a Turk with a dog guards Christian prisoners sitting behind bars and crying out for salvation. Felix de Valois extends his hand to the prisoner, Jean de Mata holds the shackles, and St. John silently watches them.
Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (III or IV century) - brothers, healers and miracle workers. It is believed that the Lord gave them the art of healing. The brothers never took payment from the patients they treated, observing the commandment of Jesus Christ “freely you have received, freely give.”
Details of the sculptural composition: two brother doctors and the Savior are depicted as “the chief healer of the world.” Behind his figure rises a cross with the inscription: “In this cross is our salvation.” On his right hand is Saint Cosmas (the inscription on the pedestal: “Hippocrates among the saints”), and on his left is Saint Damian (the inscription on the pedestal: “To our pious brother, Galen of heaven”).
Saint Wenceslas (907–936) - prince, ruler of Bohemia and Moravia, converted to Christianity.
Details of the sculptural composition: the inscription reads "In memory of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Blind Children, held in Prague on October 4, 1857." It was the Prague Society of the Blind that financed the creation of the statue.
Charles Bridge is perhaps the most famous and business card throughout the Czech Republic. It is famous not only for the many legends associated with it and the statues of saints who decorate it and are able to fulfill wishes, but also for the fabulous views of the banks of the Vltava with towers, churches and palaces, and also for the fact that it is the main walking route between the Old Town ( Stare Mesto) And .
The Charles Bridge
A little history and legend of the Charles Bridge
At the beginning of the 12th century, near the site of the current Charles Bridge, instead of the old wooden one, the first stone bridge in Prague was built - Juditin. It received this name in honor of the wife of King Vladislav II, who reigned at that time. However, already in the middle of the 14th century, the Judith Bridge was destroyed by a flood, and only the tower remained, which still adorns the Charles Bridge on the Lesser Town side. On the site of the destroyed bridge, King Charles IV ordered the construction of a new bridge, which now bears his name.
There are many legends about the construction of the Charles Bridge; one of the most famous tells about the date of laying its first stone. They say that Charles IV chose the date and time for the start of construction, guided by the advice of court astrologers - the laying of the bridge began in 1357 on the 9th of the 7th month at 5:31 am. The magic of numbers 1 3 5 7 9 7 5 3 1, read equally both from right to left and from left to right, promised prosperity and well-being.
Another legend is about a young builder of the Charles Bridge, who tried to restore the arch of the bridge, which had been demolished by a flood. When, after several unsuccessful attempts, the frustrated builder stood alone on the bridge, he saw the devil. The devil offered his help in restoring the arch, on the condition that he receive the soul of the first person to cross the repaired bridge. The builder was so anxious to complete the job successfully that he agreed to do anything, and, of course, he hoped to outwit the devil. After the successful completion of the bridge repair, he decided to let a black rooster cross the bridge first, because the agreement with the devil did not stipulate that the first should be a man. The devil was also cunning and deceived the builder’s pregnant wife onto the bridge to visit her husband. The next day, the builder's wife died, giving birth to a stillborn child. For many years, the soul of a newborn sneezed on the bridge at night from the cold, until one day a random passer-by, hurrying along the bridge to the other side at night, heard someone sneezing and not even seeing who was sneezing, said as he walked: “Be healthy!” And so, thanks to chance, the ghost of Charles Bridge was put to rest forever.
Well, in fact, the bridge, which is one of the main attractions of Prague, was built under the leadership of the architect Petr Parler, who also worked on it. The construction of the Charles Bridge lasted about 50 years and was completed at the very beginning of the 15th century. This majestic structure, standing on 16 powerful arches lined with sandstone, more than half a kilometer in length and about 10 meters in width, was for several centuries the only means of communication between the main districts of Prague.
Knightly tournaments, fairs and courts were held here; Executions also happened here - unscrupulous artisans and traders were lowered in a large wicker iron cage from the bridge into the waters of the Vltava; Royal coronation processions to Prague Castle also passed over Charles Bridge.
For centuries, the Charles Bridge had not only social, but also military-strategic significance for Prague: at the end of the bloody Thirty Years' War, the Swedes were stopped on the Charles Bridge, and in the mid-18th century the Prussians were also defeated here.
The work of brothers Adolf and Karl Liebscher"Battle of students with the Swedes on Charles Bridge in 1648"
Charles Bridge Towers
Located on the eastern side of the bridge, the Old Town Bridge Tower is one of the symbols of medieval Prague, and at the same time one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Europe. Its construction began simultaneously with the Charles Bridge. The rich decoration of the facade of the tower, facing the side, indicates that the tower was not only part of the medieval city fortifications, but also a triumphal arch on the "".
Old Town Bridge Tower
For centuries, the Old Town Bridge Tower has been a participant and witness of Czech history, including its saddest pages: for 10 years, on the gallery of its roof, the heads of 12 executed participants in the class uprising hung in metal mesh. You have probably already seen the white ones laid in their memory on the pavement near the Old Town Hall.
If you want to admire the panorama of Charles Bridge and fabulous views of Prague, climb 47 meters along 138 steps to the observation deck of the Old Town Bridge Tower.
View from the bridge tower
The two bridge towers, located on the western side of the Charles Bridge, were built at different times, but are connected by a wall with a gate and are fortification structures, so they are almost not decorated. The lower and more powerful tower remains from the Judith Bridge; it was originally Romanesque, but at the end of the 16th century it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. The taller tower was built in the second half of the 15th century, and according to the architects' plans, it was supposed to resemble the Old Town Bridge Tower, but it was never decorated accordingly.
Lesser Town Bridge Towers
On the higher Malostranskaya Tower at a height of 40 meters is also open Observation deck. By climbing it, you will again be able to enjoy the wonderful views of the beauty of Prague.
You can read more about the bridge towers of Charles Bridge.
Charles Bridge statues
Initially, Charles Bridge was not decorated with statues. Most of the thirty sculptures that adorn the bridge's balustrade today were installed in the early 18th century during the Baroque period. The authors of the sculptures were the best masters of that time: Matthias Bernard Braun, Jan Bedrich Kohl, Jan Brokoff and his sons. Most of the statues have now been replaced by copies, as the statues were mainly created from sandstone and over time suffered greatly from exposure open air, and some of them were even washed away by the waters of the Vltava during frequent floods. The originals of the Charles Bridge statues can be seen in the Lapidary of the National Museum of Prague.
Statue of Saint John of Nepomuk
The most popular statue among tourists, of course, is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, a particularly revered saint and patron of the Czech Republic in Prague, created by Jan Brokoff. The place for the statue was not chosen by chance: according to one legend, here at the end of the 14th century, on the orders of King Wenceslas IV, John of Nepomuk was tortured and thrown into a sack into the river. He was the queen's confessor and refused to reveal the secret of confession to the king, who suspected adultery, which earned him the wrath of the sovereign. The reason for the popularity of this statue among tourists is another legend of the Charles Bridge, which promises the fulfillment of a wish if, after making it, you first touch the right side of the relief on the pedestal of the statue, and then the left. The reliefs have already been polished to a shine by thousands of hands, so you can easily recognize this statue among all the others. Just in case, the statue of St. John of Nepomuk is the eighth one on the right if you go to the side
The Charles Bridgeis a one-of-a-kind work of medieval architecture. A stone bridge, originally called Prague, received modern name in honor of its founder only in 1870.
In ancient times, residents of Prague cities used numerous fords and crossings to cross the Vltava. The predecessors of the Charles Bridge were the first wooden bridge, built in the 10th century, and the first stone bridge (Judith's Bridge), built in 1160. Both bridges were demolished by floods. Construction of the Prague (or Stone) Bridge began in 1357 by order of Charles IV, whose name he bears to this day. Sandstone was used as a building material.
The date of laying the first stone was chosen by the Emperor of the Roman Empire and King of the Czech Republic Charles IV on the advice of court astrologers. The solemn ceremony for this occasion took place in 1357 on the ninth day of the seventh month at five hours and thirty-one minutes. Thus, the moment of the bridge's foundation is a palindrome
, read the same both from right to left and from left to right. The project was developed and implemented by architect Petr Parler , whom Charles IV invited from the Swabian city of Gmünd to participate in the construction cathedral
St. Vita. Although Peter Parler was only 22 years old at the time, his work from the first days met the emperor's expectations. He left behind in the capital not only the core of the Cathedral of St. Vita, but also the Charles Bridge and the Old Town Bridge Tower.
The entrance to Charles Bridge was decorated with a tower with a passage arch.
The Bridge Tower, built around 1380, is considered the most beautiful medieval tower in Europe.
Above the gate are the coats of arms of the lands of the empire of Charles IV, kingfisher motifs - the symbol of Wenceslas IV (the son of Charles IV and his heir); on the second floor there are sculptures depicting the patron saint of the bridge, St. Vitus, Charles IV and Wenceslas IV; At the very top there are sculptures of the patron saints of the Czech land - St. Vojtech and St. Sigismund.
The western facade of the tower, facing the Castle, was also richly decorated with sculptures that were destroyed in 1648, when Prague was besieged by the Swedes. The mesh vaults in the tower passage are noteworthy. Such vaults, but more improved, were used by Peter Parler in the Cathedral of St. Vita. For ten years from 1621 to 1631 the tower was decorated with “living sculptures”
- for intimidation, the heads of Czech nobles who participated in the class uprising against the rule of the Habsburgs were exhibited here.
Malostranskie bridge towers are characterized by different ages.— Lower and more powerful originally Romanesque , rebuilt after 1591 in the Renaissance style. More high tower later, during the reign of King George Poděbrad (1464), and was supposed to resemble the example built by Peter Parler at the opposite end of the bridge. The gate between the towers was built under King Wenceslas IV.
The bridge took more than 50 years to build. Charles Bridge (length 516 m, width 10 m), standing on 16 mighty supporting bulls, connects Old city and Mala Strana, crossing the Vltava over the small island of Kampa (it is separated from the shore by a narrow channel, Certovka.
The Gothic bridge was not originally decorated with sculptures. Its only decoration was the towers at both ends. Only the Baroque period crowned the bridge with a unique gallery of sculptures created by the best masters of the time: Matthias B. Braun, Jan Brokoff and his sons Michal and Jan, as well as Ferdinand Maximilian. There are 30 sculptures and sculptural groups on the bridge, and most of them appeared between 1683 and 1714
Charles Bridge turned out to be a place of competition between two main sculptural concepts of the time: the sculptures of Ferdinand Brokoff (and to a lesser extent his father and brother), as is commonly believed to express Power, and the creations of Matthias Braun - Grace. The rest are mostly just taking up space.
1. The patron saint of lawyers, Saint Ivo, in the company of Themis, judges a dispute between mother and son (Matthias Braun, 1711), sculpture commissioned by the Faculty of Law of Charles University:
2. Sculpture of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, born in Burgundy in 1091, canonized for being able to tame his passion for women. After Jesus appeared to him, Bernard turned all his ardor to the Madonna, in whose company he is depicted. (Sculptor Matej Václav Jäkel, 1709, copy 1979. The original is in the casemates of the Vyschegrad Fortress)
3. Saints Barbara, Margaret and Elizabeth ended up together because Elizabeth was the name of the wife of the sponsor of the statue - usually Saint Catherine is depicted with Margaret and Barbara. (Jan Brokoff and Sons, 1707)
4. At the feet of the Madonna - the symbol of the Dominican monks - a dog with a torch in its teeth, on either side stand the founder of the order, St. Dominic and the theologian St. Thomas Aquinas (Matej Vaclav Jackel, 1708, copy)
5. Madonna, Mary Magdalene and John the Evangelist mourning Christ. (Emanuel Max, 1859)
6. The Crucifixion of Christ, and in front of it is a gilded inscription in Hebrew, which in 1696 was forced to pay a Jewish merchant who laughed at the crucifix. (Wolf Armor 1629). The prayer to Jehovah, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts,” addressed to Jesus, offended the religious feelings of the Jews. In 2000, the Jewish community ensured that explanatory plaques were installed on the monument.
7. The husband of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, holds the hand of little Jesus (Joseph Max, 1854)
8. Mother of the Virgin Mary, Saint Anne, patroness of marriage, mothers and widows, holds her grandson in her arms and embraces her daughter, the young Virgin Mary (Matej Vaclav Jankel, 1707, copy 1997)
9. Statue of the missionary St. Francis Xavier (Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, 1711, copy 1913).
Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary on behalf of Pope Paul III and the Portuguese king, tried to convert Asians to the Christian faith. On a high pedestal supported by a Tartar, a samurai and a Negro, Francisco blues the raised crucifix of an Indian prince, ready to accept Christianity.
A boy with a sea shell hands the saint water for baptism. The pensive man with a book to the right of the saint, watching the scene, bears a portrait resemblance to the creator of the sculptural group, Ferdinand Brokoff.
In terms of the complexity of the composition and sculptural rendering, this group is one of the most valuable from an artistic point of view on the bridge.
10. Saints Cyril and Methodius reading a sermon to the pagans (Karel Dvorak, 1938)
11. Saint Christopher carries the baby Jesus on his shoulders (Emanuel Max, 1857)
12. The cross mounted in the railing of the bridge behind the statue of St. John the Baptist (Joseph Max, 1857) marks the place from which John of Nepomuk was thrown into the Vltava.
From the same place in February 1911, Yaroslav Hasek tried to jump into the river, no one understood whether he was serious or not. A barber passing by caught him by the leg and handed him over to the police. Hasek began to tear off the policemen's plumes, so they had to send him to an insane asylum, from which they then barely kicked him out, since he did not want to leave.
13. Statue of Saint Francis Borgia (Brockoff, 1710)
14. The founder of the Premonstrian order, Saint Norbert, is depicted in the company of Saint Sigismund with a sword, with which he killed his own son at the libel of his wife (after which he entered a monastery and became a saint), and Saint Wenceslas. There are three Wenceslas on the bridge in total. (Joseph Max, 1853
15. The first Czech martyr, Saint Ludmila, who received baptism from Methodius himself, considered reading her grandson, Saint Wenceslas. Ludmila and Vaclav are the most revered saints in the Czech Republic. (Brown's workshop, circa 1720, copy 1998)
But the pigeon has already learned to read, so it doesn’t look at the book.
16. The oldest and most popular of the Charles Bridge sculptures depicts St. John of Nepomuk. Around the saint’s head are five stars, which, according to legend, appeared above the water in the place where he was drowned. (Jerome Herold based on the preparation by Jan Brokoff, 1683).
When Schweik drags a drunken feldkurat past this place, he begs to cut off his head and throw him in a bag into the Vltava: “Stars around my head will suit me very well. Ten will be just right.” If you touch Nepomuk on the relief on the right with one hand,
and the other to the dog on the relief on the left
And make a wish, it will come true within a year. Sometimes wishes are fulfilled later, sometimes several at once, because the saint does not have time to process the requests of millions of tourists in time. We started making wishes come true about ten years ago. Shortly before this, someone stole one of the reliefs, and they were replaced with copies, but there were so many people asking that the copies had already worn out.
17. Saint Francis of Assisi (Emmanuel Max, 1855)
18. Saint Anthony of Padan (Jan Mayer, 1707)
19. At the feet of Saint Vincent Ferrer are a Turk, a Jew and Satan, the numbers next to them are the number of Muslims and Jews whom he converted and whose demons he cast out. (Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, 1712)
20. On a high pillar, already behind the railing of the bridge, stands the knight Bruntsvik with his tame lion, which, after the death of its owner, died at his grave. Many people think that this lion is depicted on the coat of arms of the Czech Republic. Bruntsvik's legend actually repeats the Odyssey, with the difference that he killed his wife's suitors with a sword and not with arrows. This sword, according to legend, is hidden in one of the pillars of the Charles Bridge. When the Czech Republic is attacked by enemies and there is no strength to cope with them, the sword itself will fly out of the ground and jump into Bruntsvig’s hand - where, by the way, there is already one sword (Šimek, 1884).
21. The patron saint of lost causes, the apostle Judas Thaddeus, clutches the club with which the pagans beat him to death (1708)
22. Saint Nicholas of Tolentin (Jan Kohl, 1708). Behind him you can see the house “At the Icon of the Virgin Mary,” built in the place where the flood brought the icon. A lamp burning under the window does not bode well; anyone who sees it go out will not live even a year.
23. St. Augustine tramples heretical books (Jan Kohl, 1708), and tourists watch the trampling process
24. The blind nun Saint Luitgarde talks with Christ (Matthias Braun, 1710, copy 1995)
25. Saint Cajetan, patron of women in labor (Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, 1709)
26. Saint Adalbert (aka Vojtěch), the second bishop of Prague, became over time a highly revered national saint, and during his lifetime the people of Prague did not like him and expelled him from the city more than once (Michal Brokoff, 1709, copy 1973)
27. Saint Philip Benicius, who learned that he was considered the main contender for the papal tiara, fled and hid in a cave until another was elected pope. Depicted with a rejected tiara at his feet (Michal Mandl, 1714)
28. St. John of Bohemia, accompanied by St. John of Mata and St. Felix of Valois, who organized an order in 1198 to ransom Christians from their slavery (Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, 1714).
29. Statue of St. Vitus (Ferdinand Maximilian Brokoff, 1714). When the pagans threw Saint Vitus into a cage with a lion, the animal only licked his heels. Here, for the sake of symmetry, two lions rub against his legs at once, one of them is lighter because it was cleaned using experimental laser technology, which they later decided not to use.
30. Saint Wenceslas (Joseph Böhm, 1858)
31. Saints Cosmas and Damian clutch jars of medicines that were used to treat the sick free of charge (Jan Mayer, 1708)
Currently, almost all of them have been replaced with copies, and the originals, for the purpose of better preservation, were transferred to the Lapidarium (a branch of the National Museum).
The bridge was of great strategic importance. It has always been an important link between the City and the Old Town. The so-called bridge led across the bridge. “Royal Road”, the Hussites crossed the bridge to Lesser Town in 1420, from the bridge in 1648 the Swedes attacked Prague, and in 1848 there was a barricade at the gate of the Old Town Bridge Tower.
There are many legends around the Charles Bridge, some of them are absolutely absurd and hard to believe. For example, do you believe that chicken eggs, or rather the protein, has properties similar to cement mortar? But the legend says that a long time ago, during the construction of the Charles Bridge, this fact was discovered, and messengers, by order of their superiors, went for chicken eggs to all the villages where there were chickens.
The second more or less true story says that the devil himself helped hold the stones on the bridge. The architect and the devil entered into a deal that the black forces would hold the stones, and in return they would receive the soul of the first person to cross the bridge. The architect was lucky, he noticed and stopped his little son in time, and let a black rooster onto the bridge, which supposedly dealt with the devil.
Charles Bridge is a place of ghosts. They say that here on a cloudy day you can see the devil sitting on the parapet and handing out his portraits to passers-by.
They also say that whoever hears the cry of an owl flying to the Old Town Tower, then there will be a fire in his house. Also, under the fourth arch of the bridge, according to legend, there is a ghost of a merman.
Despite all the horror stories and superstitions, Charles Bridge remains a place with a positive aura and powerful positive energy. So in 1990 the Dalai Lama came to Prague. Walking along the bridge he noted that the bridge is surrounded by a favorable aura and walking along it is very useful, especially since in 1974 the bridge was declared pedestrian
The Charles Bridge in Prague spans the Vltava River. It rests on sixteen powerful arches, each of which is lined with hewn blocks made of sandstone. The bridge was originally called the Prague Bridge, but later it was renamed in honor of the Czech King Charles IV.
Charles Bridge in the Czech Republic is a world famous monument of history and architecture. This pedestrian bridge– the most popular place meetings in Prague. This symbol of Prague is loved by musicians, artists, souvenir sellers and, of course, tourists.
Story
In ancient times, residents of Prague cities used fords and ferries to cross the Vltava River. In the 10th century, the first wooden and then stone bridge was built - the predecessors of the Charles Bridge. Both were subsequently demolished by floods.
The construction of the new bridge was carried out by Prague architect Petr Parler. The time and date of construction were carefully calculated by court astrologers - the foundation was laid in 1357 on July 9 at exactly 5 hours 31 minutes. The Sun and Saturn were on the same line at this time, which promised prosperity.
During the construction of the Prague bridge, it was difficult to find good mortar components that would give the structure the necessary stability. The main building material was egg white. Thousands of eggs were brought from all over the country to the future bridge. The building took more than fifty years to construct.
The bridge was finally built and opened only at the beginning of the fifteenth century. From that moment on, it became the center of public life, the main route of communication between the two districts of the city. Retail outlets operated here, tournaments and public courts were held.
Modernity
In 1890, the Charles Bridge was flooded: as a result of the flood, the rafts broke away from the shore and blocked the water between the supports. Because of this, two of them were destroyed. After restoration, the bridge remained the only crossing over the Vltava for several centuries.
In the thirties of the nineteenth century, sculptures were installed on the bridge. It has become a real open-air art gallery.
The bridge currently requires reconstruction. The waters of the Vltava wash it away from below and threaten destruction. Tourists also cause damage - several thousand people cross the Charles Bridge every day. Restoration has already begun.
Strategic importance
The construction was of great strategic importance. The towers of Charles Bridge performed protective functions. At the end of the Thirty Years' War, which was fought for hegemony in Europe and the Holy Roman Empire, thanks to the bridge, the Old part of the city was saved from destruction. Swedish cannons from the bridge fired at the city, and almost all the cannonballs hit the Old Town Tower of the bridge.
Charles Bridge Towers
The bridge has towers made in the Gothic style. They form a single harmonious whole with the bridge itself. Each of them attracts attention with its architectural features and embodies important historical moments for Prague.
Old Town Tower
The Old Town Tower on Charles Bridge is a powerful structure that performs protective functions. It is decorated with a sculpture, an image of St. Vitus, portraits of Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV. There is an observation deck inside. The tower rests on the first pylon between the spans of the bridge, that is, it is located directly above the water. It began to be built in 1357 along with the bridge, construction lasted more than twenty years.
The eastern side of the Old Town Bridge Tower has been preserved almost in its original form and is divided into tiers by cornices, each of which symbolizes the underground, solar, lunar and stellar spheres. The first tier is decorated with the coat of arms of Stare Mesto, above it are the coats of arms of the lands and cities of the Czech Republic. The second tier is decorated with sculptural images - Charles IV and Wenceslas IV are seated on the throne on the sides, and in the center is St. Vitus, the patron of Charles Bridge, with the signs of the Czech Kingdom and the Roman Empire. The sculptural images are unique in that they are very similar to the prototypes. Above the head of St. Vitus you can see a bas-relief of the coat of arms with a Moravian eagle, and above that there is a sculpture of a Bohemian lion. On the third tier you can see sculptures of St. Sigismund and St. Vojtech, the patron saints of the Czech land.
In the eastern part of the Old Town Tower there are four bas-reliefs of a kingfisher bird wearing a crown made of a towel tied in a knot. The fifth kingfisher is on the other side of the tower. The kingfisher is a symbol of eternity and immortality, the personal sign of King Wenceslas IV. It also personifies the human soul. People say that it can protect from lightning and calm a storm. The fourth tier of the tower is an observation gallery.
Lesser Town Towers
The Lesser Town towers of Charles Bridge were built at different times and differ in height, style, appearance, architectural appearance, size and history of origin. They are connected into one whole by a powerful double arch, through which you can get from one tower to the other.
The lowest tower was originally Romanesque, the first mention of it appeared in 1249. After 1591 it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. During the reign of King George in 1464, a second, taller tower was founded. Its architectural style is similar to the Old Town. Under Wenceslas IV, gates were erected between the towers. Before the appearance of other sculptures on the Charles Bridge, the Lesser Town Towers were its main decoration.
Charles Bridge sculptures
The sculptures of Charles Bridge were created over several centuries. Famous masters made their contribution to their development: Mikhail Jan Joseph Brokoff, Mayer and Ferdinant Maximilian.
The oldest monument is the Crucifixion and the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, a martyr drowned by order of the king. One of the legends of Charles Bridge is connected with this story. John of Nepomuk was the queen's confessor. Out of jealousy, the king ordered hired killers to drown him in the river. When Ian's body was pulled out of the water, five stars shone around his head. In the place where he was thrown, a cross was installed, and a little further - his figure. If you make a wish and touch the statue with your hand, it will certainly come true.
It’s simply impossible to visit Prague and not walk across the Charles Bridge. This place is so closely connected with the history of the Czech Republic that it has become a kind of symbol of the capital. The length of the bridge exceeds half a kilometer, and the width is 10 m. The bridge is supported by 16 reliable supports, which, despite their strength, seem elegant. The bridge connects Stare Mesto and Mala Strana.
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Charles Bridge is one of the oldest structures. Initially, even before its construction, the Judith Bridge was thrown across the Vltava. But it collapsed at the beginning of the 14th century, in the spring, unable to withstand the pressure of water and ice. It was decided to erect a new bridge several tens of meters downstream. Construction began in the second half of the 14th century, according to the order given by Emperor Charles IV. The date for the most favorable start of construction was determined by astrologers, and the emperor himself laid the first stone at the foundation. Since then, it was along this bridge that future monarchs traveled to the coronation ceremony. Ordinary townspeople were charged a fee for crossing the bridge.
Two knightly orders “controlled” the bridge. One order was in charge of keeping the bridge clean and repairing it when necessary. The second charged duties for transporting goods along the Vltava. Both orders were allocated land near the Charles Bridge, and active development was taking place in these areas. The bridge quickly became the center of life in the Czech capital. Fairs were held here, and knights fought in tournaments “for the king and beautiful ladies.” During the revolutions that shook Europe in 1848, the bridge was blocked by barricades. And during World War II, the Czechs brought fresh flowers here and laid them at the feet of sculptures depicting saints, asking them to rid their native land of invaders.
Since the end of the 19th century. There was a tram across the bridge. Only in 1974 was the Charles Bridge completely given over to pedestrians. Since then, a kind of “Czech Arbat” has been located here. Artists sell their paintings and paint portraits here, and artisans sell souvenirs. In addition, numerous guests of Prague come to the bridge to look at the beautiful sculptures, touch the history that seems to come to life here, and make a wish. The Czechs assure that if a wish is good, it will certainly come true. There is a museum next to the bridge. If you visit it, you will learn the history of this famous building in more detail, look at documents, drawings and photographs. Almost until the end of the 19th century the bridge was called Prague, but then, by the will of the Czech people, it was renamed Karlov.
Sculptures on Charles Bridge
Today there are 30 statues on the Charles Bridge. The first sculptures appeared here at the end of the 17th century, and since then their number has only increased. True, some figures turned out to be so valuable historically and artistically that they were replaced with copies. The originals are carefully stored in National Museum. Russian tourists can recognize here John the Baptist, Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Mother of God, John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalene and other saints who are honored Orthodox Church. Dear martyr John of Nepomuk, Saints John of Bohemia and Wenceslas, as well as many others, are dear to the Czech believers.
Guides and their charges almost constantly cross the bridge, and stories are heard in all languages, including Russian. Stay here longer and you will learn the history of each sculpture. They will also tell you which statue is the original and which is a copy. Also an integral feature of the bridge are its three towers - Staromestska, Malostranska and Juditina.
How to make a wish
Many tourists come to Charles Bridge precisely to make a wish. In order for your wish to come true, you need to approach the sculpture depicting John of Nepomuk. First touch the right side of it, and then move your hand to the left and touch the dog with your palm. Another option. The grating of the bridge indicates the place from where the martyr Jan was thrown into the river. Press your fingers to the golden stars and wish something good with all your heart. Of course, you can’t make a wish for something that, in principle, cannot come true. And the saint will certainly give good wishes a chance to come true.
How to get to the bridge
The easiest option is to call a taxi, or walk to the bridge if your hotel is nearby. You can also use the tram. Trams will take you to Charles Bridge: No. 1, 2, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25, 93, 97. If you decide to use the metro, you need to take one of the trains on line A and get off at Staromestska or Malostranska station. Once you go up, you will find yourself on the west or east side of the bridge. Another tip if you like photography and want to take beautiful pictures Charles Bridge - come here at dawn. At this time of day, the bridge is especially beautiful, and you won’t be disturbed by the numerous tourists obscuring its sculptures and putting their hands on the “places of wish fulfillment.”
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