Prague’s
Charles Bridge is one of the most famous
bridges in Europe and definitely the most visited
in Prague. It is traffic free and so can be enjoyed
to the full by visitors to the City.
It was first built during the reign of Emperor Charles
IV and now on the Old Town side can be seen the massive
Bridge Tower with a statue of Charles IV and also
his son, Wenceslas.
Charles Bridge itself is a truly
gothic bridge spanning the River Vltara in Prague.
It joins the two sides of Prague City – one
side the Castle Side Mala Strana, the Lesser or Small
Side; on the other side, the Old Town (Stara Mesto)
and Jewish Quarter. With gothic arches – make
sure you look at these later as they can’t be
seen from Charles Bridge itself.
There
are loads of statues on each side of the bridge, most
dating from the 18th and 19th Century. Keep your Prague
guidebook handy and you’ll realise that each
statue has its own history, its own story. 
