Statue of Saint Joseph, Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge (Czech: Karlův most [ˈkarluːf ˈmost] (listen)) is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the early 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or Prague Bridge (Pražský most), but has been referred to as "Charles Bridge" since 1870.As the only means of crossing the river Vltava until 1841, Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town and adjacent areas. This land connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the bridge is 516 metres (1,693 ft) long and nearly 10 metres (33 ft) wide. Following the example of the Stone Bridge in Regensburg, it was built as a bow bridge with 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two on the Lesser Quarter side (including the Malá Strana Bridge Tower) and one on the Old Town side, the Old Town Bridge Tower. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, originally erected around 1700, but now all have been replaced by replicas. The bridge is currently undergoing a twenty-year process of structural inspections, restoration, and repairs. The process started in late 2019, and is expected to cost 45–60 million CZK (USD 1.9–2.6 million).

The statue of Saint Anne is an outdoor sculpture by Matěj Václav Jäckel, installed on the north side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

The Battle of Prague, which occurred between 25 July and 1 November 1648 was the last action of the Thirty Years' War. While the negotiations for the Peace of Westphalia were proceeding, the Swedes took the opportunity to mount one last campaign into Bohemia. The main result, and probably the main aim, was to loot the fabulous art collection assembled in Prague Castle by Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor (1552–1612), the pick of which was taken down the Elbe in barges and shipped to Sweden.After occupying the castle and the western bank of the Vltava for some months, the Swedes stopped assaulting the Old and New Town at the eastern bank when news of the signing of the treaty reached them. They still remained a garrison on the western bank until their final withdrawal on 30 September 1649. It was the last major clash of the Thirty Years' War, taking place in the city of Prague, where the war originally began 30 years earlier.

The statue of Francis Xavier is an outdoor sculpture by Ferdinand Brokoff, installed on the south side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

The statues of Saints Cyril and Methodius are outdoor sculptures by Karel Dvořák, installed on the north side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

The statue of Pietà is an outdoor sculpture by Emanuel Max, installed on the south side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

Calvary is an outdoor sculpture by Emanuel Max, installed on the north side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

Prague 1, formally the Prague 1 Municipal District (Městská část Praha 1), is a second-tier municipality in Prague. It is co-extensive with the national administrative district (správní obvod) of the same name. Prague 1 includes most of the medieval heart of the city. All of Staré Město (the Old Town) and Josefov (the Jewish Quarter) are in the district, as are most of Malá Strana (the Little Quarter), Hradčany and Nové Město (the New Town). Tiny parts of Holešovice and Vinohrady round out the district. The district has remained intact since its creation in 1960. Most of Prague 1 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Almost all of Prague's major tourist sites, including Prague Castle, Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge and the above-mentioned Jewish Quarter, are in the district. The Parliament of the Czech Republic and the offices of the government are in Malá Strana, while the main building of Charles University is in Staré Město. As of the end of 2004, 32,552 people lived in 18,821 homes in the district. The district covers 5.53 km² (1,366 acres). A Prague 1 address is considered quite prestigious, and real estate here is the most expensive in the city.

The statues of Madonna, Saint Dominic and Thomas Aquinas are outdoor sculptures by Matěj Václav Jäckel, installed on the north side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

The statue of Saint Christopher is an outdoor sculpture by Emanuel Max, installed on the south side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

The statue of John the Baptist is an outdoor sculpture by Josef Max, installed on the north side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

The statues of Saints Barbara, Margaret and Elizabeth are outdoor sculptures by Ferdinand Brokoff, Jan Brokoff, and Michael Brokoff, installed on the south side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.