Old Town Bridge Tower

The Old Town Bridge Tower is located on the right side of the Charles Bridge above its first pillar column.

Emperor Charles IV had the Gothic tower built together with the Charles Bridge according to the design by Petr Parléř in the second half of the 14th century. The tower was to serve not only as a fortification, but also as a certain kind of triumphal arch, because the route of coronation parades of Charles IV's followers going to the St. Vitus Cathedral led under the tower. This beautiful Gothic building has three floors, battlements and a slate roof. It is decorated with sandstone sculptures, most of which are, however, only replicas. The original statues were deposited in the Lapidary of the National Museum in the 20th century. In the past the Old Town Bridge Tower was a witness of many significant events. At the end of the Thirty Years War in 1648 the tower helped to defend Old Town from the attacks of Swedish troops, but its western side suffered a severe damage. Two hundred years later rebels prevented Austrian troops from crossing the bridge. Nowadays, we can find a permanent exhibition in the tower including a film about the history of the Charles Bridge. Visitors can see the first and second floor of the tower and its gallery.