Čechův Bridge
Čechův Bridge is the tenth bridge over the Vltava River in Prague. It is exceptional in that it is the only Art Nouveau bridge construction in the Czech Republic that reaches such proportions. That is why itit i sone of the technical monuments protected by the state. It is 16 metres wide and 169 metres long. It is theshortest bridge across the Vltava river in Prague.
The bridge was built gradually in the years 1905 to 1908 by engineers Jiří Soukup, Václav Trča, František Mencl and architect Jan Koula. Construction of the bridge was connected with the clearance of the old Jewish quarter and was supposed to have become a part of fortunately never unimplemented route from Wenceslas Square through the Old Town Square to the Paris boulevard and through Letenská hillside to the Prague Castle.
The bridge is most noteworthy for its unique artistic decoration. The tops of the columns are decorated by the 4 bronze sculptures by Antonín Popp. The tops of the pillars against the water we can find a bronze statues of torch bearers and there are hexagon headed hydra characters downstream. The pillars were decorated with bronze and granite wreaths. Apart from the occupation period between 1940 to 1945, when it was renamed as Mendel bridge, it has always borne the name ofSvatopluk Čech, a Czech writer, journalist and poet.
There are hourly and two-hour cruises from Čechův most as well as cruises with dinner or lunch. Also, this is where the majority of the fleet Prague Boats harbour.