12/04/2015
Going to Prague? Read 10 INTERESTING CHARLES BRIDGE FACTS you definitely didn´t know!
1. Of the numerous Prague tourist attractions, this bridge holds an important piece of history. During 1648, this bridge halted the Swedes who attempted to invade this part of Prague. A few years later, in 1744, another force, the Prussians faced defeat here as well.
2. Charles Bridge Prague was originally built with only one ornament, a large, cross made of wood. However, during the 1700s, it was removed and a large, bronze cross was placed there instead. To date, there are 30 sculptures that adorn this beauty of a bridge.
3. You will not find any Prague tours that do not include a trip to Charles Bridge. This is why the crowds can sometimes swell to thousands at one time. The largest number of recorded tourists occurred in 1989, when the number was 1562. Considering the bridge is 1600 feet in length, with four lanes of riding traffic, that number represented almost one person per foot.
4. There are two towers that protect access to the bridge, one is Prague Old Town Bridge Tower and the other is Judith Tower. It is located in what is called Lesser Town and also serves as the entrance to the bridge of the same name, Judith Bridge.
5. Charles Bridge Prague also has religious significance as one of the sculptures features a nun, rumored to have seen Jesus Christ, crucified in a vision. Others depict saints including John the Baptist.
6. Charles Bridge Prague is so filled with artists like musicians, dancers, painters and mime artists that they created the Association of Charges Bridge Artists in 1990. This was done as a way to allow and preserve the open-air gallery for artists.
7. Prague Castle is the final burial place of Charles IV and the bridge was used back in 1378 to carry his body across, where it was laid to rest inside of St. Vitus’ Cathedral.
8. The bridge has suffered major damage from climate changes and massive floods, including those beginning in 1432 and one in 1496. During 1784 there was another and a final one before the turn of the 20th century, in 1890. Since then, efforts to contain the raging waters have allowed the bridge to remain unscathed, until 2002.
9. In 2008, divers located an inscription, written in Hebrew that related to Calvary. Many pieces had gone missing due to vandalism several years ago. However, since the riverbed has uneven spots, they easily found the priceless letters.
10. The Hotel Archibald is one of the cheap hotels in Prague with the oldest history. It actually dates as far as the 1600s. Over time, there have been several renovations, but they continue to stay true to the original aesthetics. It’s a great place to stay while visiting the area to have an authentic experience of the town.
taken from www.traveladvisortips.com
