The Charles Bridge: Prague's Eternal Span

While the crew searched for the Black Captain upon the bridge they mistakenly called the Karola-Bridge, they were in fact standing upon the magnificent Charles Bridge (Karlův most) of Prague.

The timeless Charles Bridge spanning the Vltava River.

A Span of Centuries

Construction on this historic bridge began in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and it was finished in the early 15th century. It replaced the older Judith Bridge, which had been washed away by a flood in 1342. Originally called simply the Stone Bridge or the Prague Bridge, it has been officially known as the Charles Bridge since 1870.

Saints of Stone

As the crew wandered its cobblestones, they would have passed under the silent gaze of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them erected in the baroque style between 1683 and 1714. These figures depict venerated saints and patron saints of that era. Today, the statues one sees are mostly exact replicas, with the originals having been moved to the lapidarium of the National Museum to preserve them from the elements.

The Captain's Reflection

The Charles Bridge stands as a testament to endurance. While other bridges may fall to rot or the fury of the waters, this span of stone has watched centuries of empires, wars, and wanderers pass over its arches. It reminds a captain that while a ship is built to move and bend with the sea, some things must be built of solid rock, anchoring the memories of a city to the earth itself. It is a fine place to watch the river flow, pipe in hand, while one's crew plays games on the distant bank.

Further Reading

* Charles Bridge - Wikipedia