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KARL Ů V MOST PRAHA 1
The Old Town Bridge Tower is one of
the most impressive Gothic structures
in the world . Along with the bridge ,
Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV had it
built according to the design of Peter
Parler . The entrance gate leading to the
Old Town of Prague was conceived as a
symbolic triumphal arch , through which
Bohemian kings walked on their
coronation procession to St . Vitus
Cathedral at Prague Castle .
The construction began soon after the
laying of the foundation stone for
Charles Bridge in 1357 . The builder
placed the tower on a pier between the
first and second bridge spans . The
building was finished during Charles
IV ’ s lifetime . His son Wenceslas added
only partial decoration .
The tower witnessed several historic
events . At the end of the Thirty Years ’
War , the towns of Prague on the right
bank repelled the Swedish army in 1648 .
However , the Swedish bombarding
caused severe damage to the unique
Gothic decoration of the Old Town
Bridge Tower ’ s western side .