Charles Bridge, with its two towers, was the first link between the two halves of the city, and is now one of its most recognisable and popular monuments. The bridge is always busy - during the day, little stalls are set up selling souvenirs, and at night, these are replaced by musicians. From the bridge you get excellent views up and down the river, and at night, you get a wonderful view of the illuminated castle on the hill above. The bridge is totally pedestrianised, as trams and buses take other routes across the river, and so you can sit or wonder slowly, and we found this the nicest way to cross into Hradcany.

When in Prague, take time to stroll across the Charles Bridge, shaped like an "S". It was built in 1317 of sandstone with 16 arches. Though now pedestrianized, it once carried four carriages abreast. Thirty Baroque statues were added later. Czech poet, John Naruda, wrote of the bridge: it is "a veritable church, which, like a sacred path, leads to its eternal happiness".

Charles Bridge connects the Old Town with the Castle district. It was the first stone bridge over the Vltava, replacing a wood construction which collapsed. In 1357, Charles IV started the construction of a new bridge. Until 1683, there were no statues on the bridge. Now there are 30 magnificent statues along the sides of the bridge. On either end of the bridge are huge buildings with archways through them. One had been a gun powder storage place, the other was for collecting tolls. I understand you can go up in one or both of the towers in these archways for spectacular views. Unfortunately I didn't know that at the time.

Expect this pedestian bridge to be packed full of tourists and street vendors, especially if you go here during the summer. Most of the venders we saw were very good at their work! The artworks (mostly water color paintings) were amazing, as were the musicians (there was an older fellow playing a saxophone to the crowd and further down was a 4 man Big Band era group that was really amazing!). Charles Bridge has become one of the major tourist spots in Prague. If you want to see it when it's less crowded, come very early in the morning. It also wasn't as crowded when we were there at night.

The Charles Bridge is, without a doubt, the most impressive bridge in Europe. Dating back to the 14th century, the bridge was for a long time the only link between the two sides. It was part of the Royal Coronation Route that starts at the castle and winds down through Mala Strana, over the Karluv Most, and into the Old Town Square--Staromestki Namesti. Over the years, statues were added to adorn the bridge--there are now thirty in total. Now the bridge is closed to traffic, but serves as the focal point for millions of tourists who gape at the beauties of Prague, buy wares from the various vendors that line the bridge, and gaze down the Vltava as it dips under a series of less beautiful, but functional, bridges.

If something happens and I can't contact you, remember this: Charles Bridge, in Prague. After it's over, go to that bridge, ever Tuesday and Friday morning, until I find you.--Mirek to Blanka in the Holocaust memoir The Oasis by Petru Popescu.

One of the most beautiful and popular sites in Prague is the Karluv Most (Charles Bridge). Commissioned in 1357 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and completed in the same year, the Karluv Most became for almost 500 years the only road leading to and from Hradcany and Prasky Hrad (Prague Castle).

The Karluv Most is famous for its statues lining the path to Hradcany with the two most famous statues being The Crucifix, which is a statue of John Neponuk, one of the Czech Republic's patron saints. During the 14th Century, John Neponuk was the Bohemian Queen's confessor, but her control freak husband, the King, wanted to know all of the Queen's sins, and told John Neponuk to tell him, but he refused to kiss and tell and the King had John Neponuk tortured by his men. Still, John Neponuk wouldn't spill the goods on the Queen, and he was killed and thrown off the Karluv Most. Legend has it that five stars appeared where Neponuk hit the water, and these five stars are part of his statue, and if one rubs the statue's shiny spot, it is supposed to bring them good luck. So, that's why the Red Sox won the World Series two years after my visit!

The other popular statue along Karluv Most is The Crucifix, which became a stopping point for condemned criminals and political prisoners to pray on the way to execution in Old Town Square. The Karluv Most Tower is available for climbing daily for a small fee until dusk.

When we visited the Karluv Most in July 2002, it was a hot Saturday afternoon. The bridge was very crowded with locals enjoying the afternoon, tons of tourists, and several craft booths and musicians selling their wares. We didn't climb the tower, but we rubbed the statue of John Neponuk and stopped to admire the view of the Vltava River, which is the main waterway running through Prague. From Karluv Most, you can get a beautiful view of the Hradcany District and Prasky Hrad (Prague Castle).

Unfortunately, we were in Prague for only a day, and I was bummed that I couldn't admire the Karluv Most during the best time of the day, early morning when the tourists and their buses are gone, and the locals are out and about getting their business done. I will have to return someday!