Before the Charles Bridge, there was the Judith Bridge. Named after King Vladislav II’s wife, Queen Judith, the Judith Bridge was built between 1158 and 1172 and was the first stone bridge to cross the Vltava. It was one of the first stone bridges in Central Europe. Only two other stone bridges were built in Central Europe at that time - in Dresden and in Regensburg.
Autor: Ondřej Šefců: z knihy Kamenný most v Praze
Today is the 680th anniversary of the devastating flood that destroyed the bridge on 3rd February 1342. The material that the flood carried, clogged the arches and the water leaned full force into the bridge which became fatal. Despite the original efforts to repair the bridge, it took another 15 years before construction began on the successor to Judith's Bridge, the much admired stone bridge we now call Charles Bridge.
The beautiful Romanesque bridge had twenty arches and stood at a shorter height than the current Charles Bridge. From existing evidence such as remaining archways, archaeologists and historians can conclude many facts, such as the style in which the bridge was built. Nevertheless, many mysteries surround the Judith Bridge, and work continues today to uncover more information.
Only its remains have survived to this day, some of which can be found on Křížovnické náměstí in the building of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star. Also parts of the cellar houses in the Lesser Town and one bridge arch in the canal under Křížovnické náměstí have also been preserved. Two bridge towers were also part of the Judith's Bridge - the Malostranská Judith's Tower has survived after some structural modifications and only a piece of the building block on the southeast corner of the Crusader building remains from the tower on the opposite side. In the embankment wall there is a preserved stone relief of a bearded man (Bradáč), which supposedly depicts the first Italian builder of the Judith Bridge. In case the water level touched his beard, it was necessary to evacuate the Old Town which was lower based than now.
If you decide to visit the Charles Bridge Museum on Křižovnické náměstí, you will also have the opportunity to enter the Romanesque tower, here you can take the metal stairs to the cellar, where you can also see the pillar of Judith's Bridge and in the rest of the museum information about the methods of stone construction and other interesting things.
Take this tour with us and get the free entrance to the Charles Bridge Museum.
