Towering Defence

ACCESS to Prague Old Town from the Charles Bridge is protected by the Old Town Bridge Tower, sometimes called the Charles Tower in reference to Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV (1316-78).

It became customary for kings of Bohemia to pass through the tower's arch as part of their coronation procession.

Old Town Bridge Tower ... still impressive

The tower's role in repulsing Swedish attacks in 1648 is commemorated in a Latin inscription: SISTE VIATOR, SED LUBENS, AC VOLENS UBI SISTERE DEBUIT, SED COACTUS GOTHORUM, AC VANDALORUM FUROR

Roughly translated: "Stop, traveller, willingly; here unwillingly were stopped the Goths and their vandalistic fury."

Impressive Bridge

AM visiting Prague for 11 nights, during which time I have walked to and crossed the famous Charles Bridge every possible day.

The bridge is packed with tourists most of the day, so it pays to get there early if you want to study its features undisturbed.

Charles Bridge ... beautiful in early morning sunshine

Construction began in 1357 to replace the 12th century Judith Bridge damaged by a major flood in 1342.

It took almost 50 years to fully complete the project, and almost another 300 years were to pass before the bridge's iconic statues were added.

What many visitors do not realise is that all the statues now on the bridge are copies, the originals having been moved under cover in the Czech National Museum and nearby Vyšehrad fort.

Nevertheless most of the replicas on the bridge are very darkened with age, although they clean up nicely, as can be seen with the statue nearest the camera in the above photo.

The bridge was the scene of desperate fighting in 1648 when Swedish troops tried to capture Prague Old Town in one of the last actions of the 30 Years War.

Those could almost be Swedes looming out of the fog - photo taken from where the Czech defenders made their successful last stand

Charles Bridge kept its unique military and economic importance until 1841, when Prague gained its second bridge across the Vltava.