The bridge lives its own life daily witnessing many scenes from tourist life. Sometime with full public attention focused on it, such as during the retrieval of sculptural fragments found by divers investigating the damage done to the bridge during the floods in 2002. The public saw something very special during the repairs of two of the pillars. The bridge’s foundations were revealed, which is something the next generation will probably never see. It was a happy moment for historians as well, because thanks to the exposure of the foundations, they got access to previously unknown stone-cutters marks, which tell much about the bridge’s history.
The last big event before the end of the last year was the change of sculptures on the Old Town bridge tower. Concrete was falling off the copies made in 1960’s. They now shine out with freshness as the tower is going to be repaired as well and adding the patina will be the last step. The bridge will be repaired too, but it’s uncertain in what way. Rumour has it that there could be another tourist attraction in the form of a complete historical stone-cutting workshop as in Charles IV’s time near the bridge. It could be used for some of the minor bridge repairs.
Let’s take a look at the bridge in various moods and moments of last few years…