![]() Shortly after the Gothic tower was built, Judith Bridge was also completed as the first stone bridge over the river on the way to Prague Castle from Old Town which led to the growth of Lesser Town. The smaller of the two, known as Judith Tower, was built into the Lesser Town curtain wall as its main gateway back in 1158. As you walk the last leg of the Charles Bridge, it is easy to be drawn to the mighty twin towers like a magnet. Read More: Charles Bridge Statues Walking TourĪbout The Lesser Town Bridge Towers: Out of all the large Medieval towers around Prague, the Lesser Town Bridge Towers are by far our favorite. Adventurers can even seek out a few pieces of the original Judith Bridge still on display under buildings on each bank of the Vltava River. The bridge is best tours early in the morning or in the evening while the number of tourist groups are lower and the lighting mixed with fog is extra eerie. We highly recommend climbing the towers for an elevated view while also taking the time to closing inspect the statues as you go.įor more detail on the overview and symbolic details of each statue, we recommend following our Charles Bridge Statues Walking Tour. Today the merchant huts that once lined Charles Bridge in Medieval times are long gone, but the bookend watchtower gates and impressive rows of saint statues are still going strong. It took a full 55 years to complete Charles Bridge, but the wait was worth it as it helped Prague become a major player in trading between Eastern and Western Europe in the Middle Ages. Originally called Stone Bridge & Prague Bridge, the name was changed to Charles Bridge in 1870 after King Charles IV ( ruled 1346-1378) who laid the foundation stone in 1357. Over the next 15 years, a new stone toll bridge was designed just South of the former one and built over 10 feet taller to protect against future flooding. The Judith Bridge also helped with the development of the Little Quarter neighborhood in the 1200s before the bridge was ruined by flooding in 1342. The new Roman-style bridge named Judith ( after the King’s wife) had tolled gate towers on each end and was an impressive route for Vladislav to take from Old Town up to Prague Castle. After centuries of relying on small wooden bridges, King Vladislav I decided to build the first stone arch bridge over the river following a visit to Italy in the 1160s. Our self-guided Little Quarter walking tour map follows the Royal Route with a couple detours to help you explore Lesser Town.Ībout Charles Bridge: One of the most iconic structures in Prague is the timeless Charles Bridge which spans the Vltava River in stunning Medieval fashion. This path started at the Royal Court ( next to the Powder Tower), through Old Town, over the Vltava River, through Lesser Town Square, and up to the mighty Prague Castle. Stately palaces slowly replaced merchant homes and the route through town became known as the Royal Route for the Bohemian Kings. ![]() Officially established in 1252, an influx of foreign craftsmen and merchants helped Lesser Town grow thanks to the addition of a stone bridge over the river and protection from the Hunger Wall.Īs Prague Castle grew to be the largest castle complex in Europe, Lesser Town was ravaged by fires and plagues in the Middle Ages. The neighborhood started to develop below the castle as early as the 800s but was damaged by in the 1st Crusade in 1096 and the Siege of Prague Castle in 1142. The Little Quarter ( or Lesser Town) is often overlooked by tourists as they flock up to tour Prague Castle.
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