Charles Bridge Revealed a Mystery

Archaeologists started their research on the bridge in 2007 and they have already discovered a number of interesting finds, which are worked on mostly by Zdeněk Dragoun, the leader of the research. “For the first time, we have the opportunity to document archaeological situations on Charles Bridge as well as building constructions linked with it,“ said Jaroslav Podliska from the National Monument Institute.

Custom house and a pillar beside

It is generally known that a toll was collected on the bridge. The existence of the custom house from the Baroque times is also nothing new. “Yet we know nothing about its building development, so the find is of great importance to us,” said Jaroslav Podliska. It is e.g. clearly visible that the custom house had a brick floor. According to the latest discovery, a vineyard pillar stood at the corner of the custom house. The pillar was made by J. J. Bendl in 1676. It is the same pillar as the one you can find at the foot of the Church of St. Francis Seraph at the entrance from Křižovnická Street to Křižovnické Square.

Why a vineyard pillar?

In fact, a vineyard pillar does not have much in common with wine-makers. What is important is that St. Wenceslas was placed at the top of the pillar. Tradition has it that it was him who started growing wine in Bohemia. The pillar was erected in place of the bridge (Judith Bridge at that time) allegedly as early as the 10th century. It was a sign of gratitude that it had been possible to safely carry the body of the saint over the swollen river. The original pillar was probably wooden with a semi circular tufa base. The pillar was later replaced with Bendel’s pillar and was moved beside the custom house. As the pillar was an obstruction to traffic, it was moved again to the church at the end of the 18th century. Archaeologists are sceptical, though and say that the circular base could actually be the pillar’s base. “This is however only speculation based on a legend, we have no proof of where the original pillar was erected,” said Jaroslav Podliska

Gas pipe as a historical object

The research also discovered a gas pipe, which according to experts from the gas Museum dates back to the middle of the 19th century. It was laid under the surface in the axis of the bridge and connected the Old Town with the Lesser Town. The pipe is no longer functional. An interesting thing is that the pipe was not made as a circle but as an oval, perhaps in order to fit under the surface. Gas men took part of the pipe, which will be on display at the Gas Museum. The rest of it will be buried underground again.

Which way will the gas go, then?

Charles Bridge is to be lit by gas lamps. “There will be gas pipes going across the bridge, but they will be much smaller,” said Zdeněk Batal, the leader of the renovation of the bridge. It runs along both sides of the bridge over the insulation with smaller pipes going to individual lamps. To comply with all the safety regulations, the piping is quite complex, as there are also electric cables buried in the bridge.

The Bridge used to tower the area

Archaeologists also pointed out that the bridge used to be much higher than the surrounding built-up area. Today we cannot imagine what it looked like in the 14th century, but the bridge was very high, so there had to be some kind of ramp in order for people to be able to get onto it. The ramp probably started as far in as today’s Karlova Street. The remains of the ramp have been preserved. They contained e.g. small ceramic pieces which confirmed the time of its construction – at the turn of the 16th century.

No diggers

The archaeological finds were quite a surprise, as it was thought that not much could be found in front of the bridge. “According to earlier records, the whole area should have been excavated with a digger,” said Mr. Batal. Nobody knows why it did not happen in the end, but thanks to the fact that the area was not excavated, the remains of the custom house and the vineyard pillar have been preserved. “Still, it was clear that some kind of work had taken place there, as the basis of both of the structures were disrupted by trenches dug for electrical cables and piping. Each find of this kind should be reported, but it seems that during the last century or the beginning of this century, nobody reported anything,” said Mr. Batal.