Prague under the reign of Charles IV

Prague beckons one and all with its architectural splendour that gives the city a magical feel. The gothic facades, cobbled pathways and baroque structures still echo with memories of the times gone by. Prague is a highly sought after tourist destination today. However, the most alluring facet of Prague, are its historic structures. So for most attractions in Prague, they have their traces in the history of Prague.

The Bohemian Kingdom thrived and reached the pinnacle of success during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV, who belonged to the Luxemburg dynasty. Charles IV was responsible for the construction of the new town that neighboured the old town. He himself made the designs for the new town. The old Judith Bridge was destroyed by a flood. It was under his reign that the Charles Bridge was built to connect the right bank of the Vlatava River to Mala Strana and the Castle premises, to replace the old bridge. This bridge stills stands proud and erect today, drawing tourists from all over the globe to appreciate its haunting beauty. The original statues on the bridge have been replaced by replicas. However, they do not in any instance spoil the charm of the bridge. The time of the laying of the first foundation stone is inscribed on the Old Tower by a palindromic number. The first stone of the bridge was laid by Charles IV himself!

The university founded by Charles is still in operation and is cited as the oldest running university in Central Europe. The beautiful gothic St Vitus Cathedral started construction under the reign of Charles. When his kingdom was hit by a famine in 1360s, he ordered construction of the ‘Hunger Wall’ to the south of Mala Strana. It is so called, because the purpose was to provide work for the labours, so that they would be able to feed their families. Prague prospered and achieved heights of glory during the reign of Charles that gave the city the status of being the imperial capital.

Prague was a witness to much turmoil after the end of the reign of Charles IV. The legacy left by this Holy Roman Emperor is still very much alive and kicking in Prague. When people visit Prague, they will be amazed and awed to learn the extent of his influence in today’s Prague. His footprints are very much obvious in the city even to an undiscerning eye.