The Charles Bridge Museum (Muzeum Karlova mostu) is a museum in Prague dedicated to the Charles Bridge, as well as its predecessor Yuditin Bridge and the Order of the Crusaders with a Red Star, who guarded the bridge and collected tolls for passage over the bridge.
The museum is located in the historical center of Prague, on Crusaders Square (Křižovnické náměstí), which is near the famous Charles Bridge (Karlów most), spanning the Vltava River, to which the museum is mostly dedicated.
The Charles Bridge Museum is located in several halls of the original Krzyzownica Hospital and the Church of the Holy Spirit, which were transformed into a monastery of the Crusader Order with a red star (Klášter křižovníków) with the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, which still exists today.
The museum at the Charles Bridge was opened in 2007 and over time its exposition grew.
Today, the museum has permanent exhibitions dedicated to the Charles Bridge, the Judith Bridge, which was the predecessor of the Charles Bridge, and everything connected with them; as well as St. Agnes of Bohemia - the main patroness and founder of the Czech Crusader Order, which from the very beginning was associated with the Charles (Judith) Bridge. Thus, the brother of Agnes of Bohemia, the Czech king Wenceslaus I, transferred to the Crusader Order the right to collect tolls on the bridge in 1253, as well as the duty to protect and maintain the Judith Bridge. These rights and obligations ceased with the completion of the Charles Bridge in the 14th century.
In the museum's exposition, you can see, among other things, a model of the medieval form of the Crusader hospital with a red star and the church of St. Francis, things related to the order, sculptural decorations of the bridge and tower, models of the creation and construction of the bridge, a model of the construction of the Charles Bridge in the 14th century.
In addition to permanent exhibitions, the Charles Bridge Museum hosts temporary exhibitions dedicated to the history of Prague. On Christmas Eve there is an exhibition of nativity scenes, and on Easter days there is an Easter exhibition.
Master classes are also held in the museum.
The museum has a literary cafe and a museum shop.
Practical information
Entrance to the Charles Bridge Museum is paid.
During special exhibitions, the entrance to the museum may be free.
The website of the Charles Bridge Museum: muzeumkarlovamostu.cz .
Address of the Charles Bridge Museum: Křižovnické náměstí 3, 110 00 Praha 1 - Staré Město.
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