Statue of John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge

The Statue of John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge in Prague is one of the oldest sculptures standing on this historic Gothic crossing over the Vltava river — it was put in place in 1683 and was the very first Baroque statue of a saint ever installed on the bridge.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The sculpture stands along the bridge's north parapet, on the Charles Bridge crossing that links Prague's Old Town with Malá Strana (the Lesser Town) on the opposite bank. This stretch of the historic centre is among the most walked in the whole city — the bridge is fully pedestrian, free to cross, and a stop here is a natural part of almost any visit to Prague. The exact coordinates are roughly 50.0867°N, 14.4102°E, which makes it easy to place the statue among the many others lining the parapets.

Why does this particular statue matter?

Today, Charles Bridge is known above all for the long row of Baroque saint statues running along both of its sides — but it was the figure of John of Nepomuk that started this tradition. Before it went up in 1683, the bridge had a plain, purely Gothic character, with no sculptural decoration at all. Its arrival opened the door to further additions, and over the following decades and centuries more statues of saints were gradually added, eventually forming the open-air gallery that draws visitors from around the world today.

Who is the figure depicted on the bridge?

The statue depicts John of Nepomuk, a saint venerated in the Catholic Church whose image became one of the most widely reproduced religious motifs in Central Europe. Placing his figure directly on the bridge, a site tied to the river itself, follows a long tradition of putting such statues on bridges and riverbanks as a symbolic form of protection for travellers and water crossings.

How should visitors plan their stop?

Because Charles Bridge is one of the most visited spots in Prague, it's worth timing a walk outside peak hours — early morning or late evening, when the bridge is noticeably quieter and it's easier to pause at individual statues for longer. Seeing the statue itself requires no ticket or booking: simply walk across the bridge from either the Old Town or Malá Strana side, and the figure stands along the way, on the north parapet, with no time limit on how long you can linger.

Frequently asked questions

When was the statue of John of Nepomuk on Charles Bridge installed? It was placed on the bridge in 1683.

What makes this statue stand out from the others on the bridge? It was the first Baroque statue of a saint ever placed on Charles Bridge, starting a decorating tradition that continued for centuries afterward.

Which side of the bridge is the statue on? The north side, along the parapet connecting the Old Town with Malá Strana.

Is there a fee to see the statue? No — Charles Bridge is a free, publicly accessible pedestrian crossing, and its statues can be viewed at any time of day.