Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge

The world's largest open-air gallery? It's a bridge.

30 sculptures. Over 70 figures. Countless stories.

Don't just cross Charles Bridge. Discover its secrets.

Did you know there’s a weeping devil on Charles Bridge?

At the base of the sculpture of Saints Vincent Ferrer and Procopius, a chained demon crouches in hiding. Tears stream down his face.

Most visitors walk right past him without ever noticing.

You won’t.

66,000 depictions worldwide.
One statue that started a phenomenon.

St John of Nepomuk became one of the most recognisable saints of the Baroque world.

His bronze statue on Charles Bridge, unveiled in 1683, became the model for countless depictions across the globe.

And here’s the twist:

He wasn’t officially declared a saint until 46 years later!

The “Good King” appears three times.
On one bridge.

Remember Good King Wenceslas from the famous Christmas carol?

He wasn’t actually a king, but a Bohemian duke.

And you can find him three times among the sculptures of Charles Bridge.

Can you spot all three?

See Charles Bridge differently.

Next time you cross the bridge, you won’t just see statues.

You’ll recognise St Christopher carrying the Christ Child, spot the five stars around St John of Nepomuk’s head, and understand why an Ottoman guard stands beside a prison.

Suddenly, the sculptures will start to make sense.

An arrogant Ottoman guard.
And a surprising mission.

This rather smug-looking guard has stood beside a prison on Charles Bridge since 1714.

His arrogant pose even inspired a Czech saying about someone who thinks rather too highly of himself.

But the sculpture had a far more serious purpose: raising money to ransom Christian captives.

It even had its own donation box!

Your personal curator in your pocket.

We designed our guide to help you explore Charles Bridge, not spend your visit staring at a screen.

Discover the stories, details and people behind the sculptures at your own pace.

• Listen to the stories.
  Keep your eyes on the bridge.
  With our audio editions, you can listen to the stories as you explore. Look up, enjoy the sculptures and discover details you might otherwise miss.
• Learn to recognise the saints.
  Five stars, a dragon, a palm branch or a child carried on someone’s shoulders. Discover the symbols that identify the saints and learn to recognise them far beyond Charles Bridge.
• Meet the people behind the sculptures.
  With a single tap, explore the lives of the sculptors and the wealthy patrons who commissioned their work. Find out who created each sculpture and who paid for it.
• Find your own patron saint.
  Lost something? Planning a journey? Facing a difficult situation? Discover which saints people have traditionally turned to for help, protection and guidance.
• Explore at your own pace.
  You don’t have to read everything. Use the map, follow your curiosity and choose the stories that interest you most. You can even explore saints associated with your own first name.

Take a look before you decide.

Explore a free sample of our guide and discover what makes Charles Bridge so extraordinary.

Choose the edition that suits you best.