Charles Bridge (Karlův most), located in the very heart of Prague and spanning the Vltava river between the historical quarters of Old Town and Malá Strana (Lesser Town), is probably the most famous landmark in Prague. Visiting Prague without walking across the Charles Bridge makes no sense. But what is so special about it? It is just a bridge, isn't it? So, let's understand.
First, its ambiance. When you just stand on the bridge and look around, what you see is unmatched. Both riverbanks look like a painting of some classic artist from the 18th century - with majestic church domes, glittering gold spires, fairy-tale fortress towers and auburn roofs running into green hills. And is it by chance or not, the sun rises almost from the Old Town tower (depending on the time of the year) and sets behind the other side of the bridge and the Prague Castle, firing the golden crosses and spires on the Old Town side.
Second, its statues. This is the only bridge in the world, flanked by so many statues, which makes it recognizable from a distance. Though the artistic value of each statue is somewhat questionable, as a whole they make a unique impressive ensemble - Baroque-style, where the impression was made by quantity. And many of those statues have stories behind them.
Third, its importance. It is the heart of Prague, and Prague is the heart of Bohemia and Czech nation - the land and nation with more than 1000 years of turbulent history. And when you look around, you see all the 1000 years in a nutshell. From the very beginning, it was part of the Royal Route, connecting royal castles in Prague and serving as a procession route for coronations or funerals of the kings. It is connected with the story of John of Nepomuk, one of the most eminent Bohemian saints (and the most venerated one outside Bohemia), and with the cruel suppression of Bohemian Revolt. The panoramic view of the city reveals monuments of Czech National Awakening in the middle of the 19th century and the harsh early communist power in the 1950s.
Then, the age of the bridge itself. Dating back to the year 1357, it is one of the world's oldest bridges, and it survived numerous floods and perils. And it is not the first one - it is the successor to the Judith Bridge, one of the earliest stone bridges to the north of the Alps, which appeared in the year 1172.
And nowadays, it is probably the most international bridge in the world - you can hear any language you can imagine being spoken on it.