Prague is the European capital with the Charles Bridge, a historic crossing of the Vltava River begun in 1357.
The bridge replaced the earlier Judith Bridge, which was damaged by a flood in 1342. According to the traditional account, Emperor Charles IV laid the foundation stone on 9 July 1357 at 5:31 a.m., a sequence chosen for its symmetrical numerical pattern. The bridge was completed around the beginning of the 15th century.
Charles Bridge is built from sandstone and is approximately 516 metres long. Its 16 arches connect Prague's Old Town with the Lesser Town beneath Prague Castle. The bridge was originally known simply as the Stone Bridge or Prague Bridge; the name Charles Bridge became established in the 19th century.
The statues lining the bridge are mostly Baroque works installed from the late 17th century onward. The bridge has also survived floods, including major flooding in 1890 and 2002.