Charles IV Statue

Look to your right for the towering bronze figure of a crowned emperor, standing atop an intricately carved Neo-Gothic pedestal, a nineteenth-century revival of medieval architecture, surrounded by a wrought-iron fence.

This monument was meant to be the centerpiece for the five hundredth anniversary of Charles University in eighteen forty-eight. But the grand unveiling was abruptly canceled when the eighteen forty-eight revolution erupted, turning this square into a theater of violent street fighting.

The drama actually began earlier, fueled by a fierce debate over Czech national identity. Locals demanded a Bohemian sculptor to honor the Father of the Fatherland. Instead, the committee awarded the job to a German artist, sparking outrage that the project was outsourced. He ultimately crafted a pedestal acting as a visual curriculum of the university, with figures representing Theology, Law, Medicine, and Philosophy.

This square has constantly oscillated between destruction and rebirth. Beyond monumental celebrations, it has seen profound tragedy. In nineteen forty-five, the square was scarred by further conflict during the Prague Uprising. Tap your screen to see how more than one hundred and fifty years of history unfold around the steadfast bronze figure of Emperor Charles the Fourth, standing proudly as generations of travelers pass by his namesake bridge.

For a lighter perspective, check the app for a specific right-side angle of the statue. The Emperor’s sword and robes align to create a rather unfortunate silhouette... a local secret that perfectly undercuts the serious tone.

The square is open twenty-four hours a day, so Charles is always watching. Let us move onto the Charles Bridge to meet the first saint, just a one-minute walk away at the statue of Ivo of Kermartin.