Oct 19 2011
Charles IV
Charles IV statue
At the point where Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) meets the east bank at Crusaders Square, the Knights of the Cross Square (Krizovnicke namesti), there’s the tall Neo-Gothic statue statue of Charles IV. This square near the Old Town Bridge Tower where statue of the king stands is one of the smallest and often said to be the most attractive part, architecturally, of Prague hotel. Charles IV is looking down the river, the tower at the start of the Charles Bridge and a view across the Vltava River is wonderful including the bridge itself and, in the distance, the castle overlooking the entire city.
Charles IV was Holy Roman emperor in 1355–78, German king in 1347–78 and king of Bohemia in 1346–78 and is remembered as the “father of the Czech nation” and the most beloved Czech king. Charles IV loved Prague and when the king was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor in 1355, Prague’s status increased to the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. He started numerous building projects, including the St. Vitus Cathedral, foundation of Prague’s New Town (Nové město) and the Charles University - the first university in Central Europe, the Karlštejn castle protecting royal treasures and of course construction of Charles Bridge.