The bridge was built starting in 1357 and took decades to finish. Before it was built, people had to cross the river by boat. Once the bridge was complete, it became the main road connecting the two halves of the city for hundreds of years.
The 30 statues along the sides were added one by one over many centuries. They are made from sandstone — a type of rock — and many of them show important figures from Czech history and Christian tradition. On sunny days, street artists, musicians and craft sellers set up along the bridge, making it a lively outdoor gallery.
The bridge sits between Prague's Old Town on one side and Prague Castle on the other. From the middle of the bridge you can see both sides of the city at once, with the castle on its hill above. It is one of the most photographed spots in all of Europe.
There is a tradition on the bridge: if you touch a certain bronze dog on one of the statues and make a wish, the wish will come true. Visitors have been touching that same dog for so long that the metal has worn smooth and shiny.