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Charles Bridge, Prague’s famous stone bridge, is celebrating its 667th birthday this July. The city threw a big party to honour this old but strong landmark that has connected Prague’s two sides for centuries.

A special celebration took place on July 9, 2024, starting very early in the morning. People dressed as knights on horses walked across the bridge at 5:31 a.m., just like when the bridge was first built. This event helps everyone remember the bridge’s long history.

The date and time are not random. King Charles IV, who ordered the bridge to be built, chose this exact moment to lay the first stone. He believed it was lucky because of how the numbers lined up: 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. This pattern is the same forwards and backwards!

“King Charles IV was very interested in numbers and stars,” explains a local history teacher. “He thought this special time would make the bridge strong and long-lasting.”

A Bridge with Many Names

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Did you know Charles Bridge wasn’t always called Charles Bridge? For a long time, people just called it “Stone Bridge” or “Prague Bridge” because it was the only one in the city. It only got its current name in the late 1800s.

Birthday Activities

The city has planned many fun activities for the bridge’s birthday:

• Free entrance to the Charles Bridge Museum from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• People in old-fashioned clothes telling stories about life when the bridge was built
• Singers and dancers performing on the bridge
• A special church service at 7 a.m.

Eggs and Legends

One funny old story says that eggs were mixed into the bridge’s mortar to make it stronger. While scientists have proven this is not true, the celebration will still include an egg breakfast for fun.

“It’s amazing that a bridge built so long ago is still standing and used every day,” says Petr Svoboda, a local tour guide. “It shows how skilled the builders were back then.”

As Charles Bridge turns 667, it remains a symbol of Prague’s history and beauty. Locals and tourists alike joined in the celebration. It is also an opportunity to learn about the past of this ancient stone giant spanning the Vltava River.