Malostranskie Bridge Towers (Malostranská mostecká věž) are two stylistically different towers of different heights connected by arched gates located in Prague.
There is an observation deck at the top of the high tower.
The Malostransky Towers are located in the historical center of Prague, in the Mala Strana district, at the western, Malostransky end of the famous Charles Bridge (Karlów most), spanning the Vltava River.
View of the Malostranskie towers from the Charles Bridge
The smaller of the towers is also called the Juditina or Judithina Tower (Juditina mostecka věž), since it was once part of the Juditina Bridge (Juditin most), which stood on the site of the current Charles Bridge.
The small Tower, which is older than the Charles Bridge itself, was built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century. Today, the tower has Renaissance features, which it acquired in 1591.
At the beginning of the 15th century, a prison for offenders was built in the tower. From the end of the 16th century until 1784, a customs house was located in the walls of the tower. Then the tower changed several owners, and since 1893 belongs to the city. In the basement of the tower there is a set of engravings from the mid-13th century depicting human figures, animals and weapons, an eight-pointed star and a number of aristocratic coats of arms.
A small house, called the customs house, is attached to the small tower.
On the first floor of the tower, next to the entrance, there is a late Romanesque relief made of marl, which decorated the eastern facade of the tower and was visible from the bridge until the 16th century. At the end of the 19th century, this relief was accidentally discovered under the formwork. The relief depicts two almost life-size figures: on the right, a monarch sitting on a throne, and on the left, a kneeling man, as if giving or receiving something from the monarch. There are different versions about the relief figures, but most likely it is Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the kneeling King Vladislav at the moment when the emperor hands him the royal crown. Another opinion suggests that it depicts the theme of the worship of Przemysl Otakar II.
The taller bridge tower is Gothic, and it was built after 1464 at the expense of George Podebradsky on the site of an older Romanesque tower.
The appearance of this tower repeats the concept The Old Town Bridge Tower (Staroměstska mostecka věž), designed by Peter Parlerzh, and which is located on the opposite side of the Charles Bridge from the Lesser Town Bridge Towers.
The tallest of the Lesser Towers consists of large blocks of sandstone. There are niches on the tower in which statues were probably planned to be placed, but their execution was never realized. The tower was completely renovated in 1874-1879 under the supervision of architect Josef Moker. The tower served as a signal tower and was used as a warehouse.
View of the high tower from the street of the Small Town of Prague
The height of the large tower is 45 meters.
In the gallery of the tower there is a public observation deck with panoramic views of the Vltava River, Charles Bridge and part of the historical center of Prague.
The ascent to the observation deck is paid.
Double Gothic arched gates between the two towers lead to the Small Town. Once upon a time, Czech kings passed the coronation path here (The Royal Way), established by Charles IV.
The gate was built after 1411 on the site of an older, Romanesque building, and was originally closed with an oak gate and an iron lattice.
The gate has a wall with battlements, where the transitional gallery is located.
The gates are marked with the coats of arms of Wenceslaus IV: on the battlements are carved the coats of arms with the imperial eagle, the Czech lion and the coat of arms of the Upper Puddles; under them are the coats of arms of the Old Place and the Small Country.
The address of the Malostran Bridge Towers: 57, Malá Strana, 118 00 Praha, Czech Republic.
Coordinates of Small-country bridge towers: 50°05'14.0"N 14°24'26.0"E (50.087222, 14.407222)
All accommodation facilities in Prague (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the historical center of the city and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
