Old Town Bridge Tower

Perched at the eastern end of Charles Bridge, this elegant late-14th-century tower was built not only as a fortification but also as a triumphal arch marking the entrance to the Old Town. Like the bridge itself, it was designed by Peter Parler and incorporates many symbolic elements. Here, at the end of the Thirty Years’ War, an invading Swedish army was finally repulsed by a band of students and Jewish ghetto residents. On the 1st floor there’s a small exhibition and a video explaining the astronomical and astrological symbolism of Charles Bridge and the bridge tower, while the 2nd floor has a display of photographs recording the restoration of the tower’s east face, completed in 2007. The main justification for paying the admission fee, however, is the amazing view from the top of the tower.