Charles Bridge - Who is who?

How many times have you crossed Charles Bridge? And how many of its statues could you name? Two? Three? I was in exactly the same boat. For years, I walked past those stone faces, wondering who was who and why they were standing there. I was looking for a key to understanding what I was seeing – but the usual guides were either too brief or so comprehensive that I’d get lost in the text.

And let's be honest: when you're walking through the most beautiful open-air sculpture gallery, you want to be amazed and look around – not have your head bowed, deciphering long paragraphs.

I decided to change that.

Did you know, for example, that...?

…John of Nepomuk, our celebrity among saints (with over 60,000 statues worldwide!), didn't actually live like a saint and didn't die for his faith? …One of the bridge's most prolific sculptors, Matěj Václav Jäckel, solved his debts by secretly minting counterfeit coins in his cellar? …For ten long years, the severed heads of 27 executed Czech lords hung from the Old Town Bridge Tower as a warning? …The statues act as a “helpline”? We'll advise you on which saint to turn to when you're seeking a happy marriage, trying to find your lost keys, or are in a completely hopeless situation.

What will you find in the guide?

📖 Stories, not cramming: Interesting facts, unique details, and sometimes even slightly scandalous tidbits about the saints, sculptors, and patrons that you'll finally remember.🎧 Listen and look: Thanks to the audio commentary, you don't have to decipher text on a screen and can fully appreciate the beauty of the bridge right in front of you.🙏 A personal intercessor for every situation: A unique index of patrons for any circumstance. Do you need protection on your travels today, as offered by St Christopher? Are you seeking help in a hopeless situation from St Jude Thaddeus? Or are you just trying in vain to find your lost keys and could use the intercession of St Anthony? Find the saint who shares your name or understands your worries. ❓ Become an expert on symbols: We have colour-coded the so-called attributes for you. You will learn to recognise saints by the objects they hold – whether it's a unique five-star halo, a child on their shoulder, or a dragon at their feet. We have also prepared a simple 🗝️ key for identifying saints.👆 Everything at your fingertips: An interactive map, a clear list of the sculptural groups, and details about each creator and patron of the work, all available instantly “in the field”.

Stop being a tourist on Charles Bridge. Get to know the stories of its stone guardians and experience a walk you won't forget.

Lubor Matěj, Mateo Guides

Also, check out other titles from our series, such as the guide to St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, or follow in the Prague footsteps of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with his music.