Prague’s legendary Charles Bridge (Karlův most), the Gothic masterpiece cloaked in centuries-old tales, recently commemorated a remarkable anniversary as it celebrates 666 years since its first stone was laid.
The foundation stone of Charles Bridge, said to have been personally supervised by Roman Emperor Charles IV himself, was laid on July 9, 1357, at the intriguing hour of 5:31 a.m. in the morning.
Charles Bridge began construction at the behest of Charles IV in 1357 after its predecessor, Judith Bridge, succumbed to a devastating flood. The bridge wasn’t completed until 1402, but has connected the left and right banks of the Vltava River ever since.
I’ve crossed the bridge many times and also spent many hours just standing on the bridge enjoying the views and people watching. I also attended a special dinner on the bridge on 30 June 2020. The dinner was on a 515 metre long table along the length of the bridge. The dinner was held to celebrate the end of the country’s coronavirus lockdown. 2000 people sat down for the dinner, and there was 1000s more walking on the bridge during the evening.
