Čech Bridge

The Čech Bridge is the only Art Nouveau bridge structure of its size in the Czech Republic. It is a protected technical monument.

The Čech Bridge is the tenth Prague bridge downstream of the Vltava River and is the only iron arch bridge in Prague. The construction of the bridge was connected with the redevelopment of the Jewish town. Čech Bridge was to become part of the modern grand route, a boulevard in the French model leading from Wenceslas Square to the Old Town, from there through Pařížska Street, over the bridge and the Letna hillside up to Prague Castle. This intention, however, was never fully implemented.

The bridge was built in 1905 – 1908 according to a design by engineers Jiří Soukup, Václav Trč, František Mencl and architect Jan Koula. Its length is 169 m and width 16 m, making it the shortest Prague bridge. It is made up of three iron bridge arches manufactured by three Prague bridge works. The Čech Bridge is also the only Art Nouveau bridge structure of its size in the Czech Republic and is therefore included among protected technical monuments.

The bridge is also remarkable for its artistic decoration. The glazed iron lanterns above the pillars are topped with four bronze sculptures of geniuses by Antonín Popp. The columns stood on the roofs of the original tollbooths. The tolls were 2 hellers per person, 14 hellers for a rider on horseback, 6 hellers for a car with a driver..

Bronze sculptures of torchbearers stand on the pillars against the water, and above the water you can see a bronze six-headed hydra with signs of Prague. The pillars were decorated with bronze and granite festoons. The walkways were paved with three-coloured mosaic tiles with colourful pictures of chess pieces and fish.

The roadway was covered with special wood block paving 13 cm high, made of Australian Jarrah hardwood, which lasted until 1961. The bridge had festive lighting – 200 bulbs at the lower belt of the front bridge arches and gas lighting in the torchlights. It was ceremonially opened on 6 June 1908 after passing load tests.

Except from 1940 –1945, when it was renamed the Mendel Bridge, the bridge has borne the name of Svatopluk Čech, a Czech poet and novelist. The latest reconstruction of the bridge was carried out during 2000 – 2001. The Čech Bridge serves pedestrian, tram and vehicular traffic. Also, on the Dvořák Embankment at the Čech Bridge is where our boats are docked. The main sewer collector runs directly below the bridge. The bridge is a protected technical monument..