Jirásek Bridge
Jiráskův Bridge in Prague is the sixth bridge over the river Vltava. It was built for the needs of the growing Smíchov, for which the connection through Palacký bridge was no longer enough and so an entirely new bridge was constructed between the New Town and Smíchov.
The construction of the bridge started in 1929 and it was completed in 1933. The authors of the project were architect Vlastiminl Hofma and engineer František Mencl. It measures 310 metres in length and 21 metres in width. It is a reinforced concrete bridge, which has five concrete pillars panelled by granite blocks, and 6 parabolic arcs. The bridge was put into operation successively in two stages. First, the middle of it was used for trams and two years later the rest. The tracks were removed later.
The bridge has a simple artistic decoration, which corresponds to its primary function - transport. The exterior surface is made of plaster of artificial stone, the concrete railings and the light poles have glazed patio surface. There are pylons with decorative fountains and obelisks to be found on both bridgeheads. The bridge was named after Alois Jirásek, who in the years 1903 - 1930 lived in house number 1775 on the today’s Jiráskovo Square.
Between Palacký and Jiráskův bridges there is a harbour of Prague Steamboats Company and steamers Vltava and Vyšehrad harbour here, amongst others.