Cosmos Tour: Prague Vienna Budapest – Charles Bridge Prague
By sandra. Filed in Architecture, Cosmos Prague Vienna Budapest, Czech Republic, Europe, History, Prague |
The Charles Bridge over the river Vltava is the oldest bridge in the city, built between the 14th and 15th century and lined with statues and lamps and with Gothic towers on both ends.
St John statue on Charles Bridge
The bronze statue of St. John of Nepomuk is the oldest (and most famous) one, created in 1683. St. John was a parson who refused to betray a secret confided to him by Queen Sophia when asked by King Wenceslas IV. In 1393, he was tortured on the king´s demand and then thrown into the river from the Charles Bridge. After his death, supposedly five stars appeared above the river.
There is a brassy cross with five stars at the place on the parapet, where he was thrown to the river. If you place your hand on the cross, so that each finger will touch one star, you can wish for something and it will be fulfilled. People also touch the relief on the statue for luck.
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