The Statue of St. Cyril and Methodius on Charles’ Bridge
The foundation stone of the oldest bridge in Prague was laid in 1357 and today it bears the name of its founder, emperor Charles IV. The bridge connects two historical towns – Old Town and Lesser Side. It is not just a document of Gothic building craft, thanks to the thirty solitary and group statues it is also a unique open-air gallery. The oldest bronze statue of St. John Nepomuk adorns the bridge since the year 1683, the newest group statue of St. Cyril and Methodius dates from just before World War II. The most valuable artwork is usually deemed to be the group statue of St. Luitgard from the workshop of Matyáš Bernard Braun.
Because for the most part the sculptures are unique Baroque works of art, the statues on Charles’ Bridge are gradually being replaced by copies. You may see the originals in the National Museum Lapidarium and the exhibition grounds Výstaviště at Holešovice and underground hall Gorlice at Vyšehrad.
