Statues of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Charles Bridge

The Statues of Saints Cosmas and Damian form a Baroque sculptural group by Jan Oldřich Mayer, standing on the north side of Charles Bridge in Prague. It is one of many figural compositions that have lined the balustrades of this famous crossing over the Vltava, connecting the Old Town with the Lesser Town, for centuries.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The group is located on the north balustrade of Charles Bridge, at coordinates 50.08715 N, 14.407454 E. Anyone walking across the bridge from the Old Town toward the Lesser Town and Prague Castle passes this spot. Charles Bridge is known precisely for this kind of open-air gallery - a row of saints and figural scenes set along both of its sides - and the statues of Cosmas and Damian are one part of that sequence.

Who are the saints shown in the sculpture?

In Christian tradition, Cosmas and Damian are twin brothers venerated as patron saints of physicians, surgeons and pharmacists. For that reason their images have appeared for centuries in the public spaces of Central European cities - in chapels, on altars, and in outdoor sculpture such as this. Their presence on the bridge fits a broader Baroque-era custom in Prague, where statues of patron saints tied to specific professions were often placed in prominent public spots.

Who created this sculptural group?

The statues were made by Jan Oldřich Mayer, a sculptor working within Prague's Baroque tradition. His work, like that of the other artists involved in decorating the bridge, forms part of the wider sculptural programme given to the crossing from the late 17th century onward - over time turning Charles Bridge into a kind of open-air sculpture gallery.

Is what visitors see today the original?

Many of the statues on Charles Bridge have been replaced over time by copies, in order to protect the original Baroque works from further weather damage, with a number of originals now held in museum collections in Prague. This is standard conservation practice applied across the bridge's entire row of statues, covering various figural compositions along both balustrades.

How should visitors take in the statue as part of the bridge?

Charles Bridge is best explored on foot, walking from one bridge tower to the other and pausing at each pillar along the way. Early morning or late evening are the quietest times, making it easier to look closely at individual statues - including this group of saints - without the crowds typical of midday. It pays to walk slowly and check both balustrades, since less famous compositions like this one are easy to miss if visitors focus only on the bridge's best-known landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the statues of Saints Cosmas and Damian? The sculptor Jan Oldřich Mayer.

On which side of Charles Bridge does the group stand? On the north side of the bridge.

Who were Saints Cosmas and Damian? In Christian tradition, twin brothers venerated as patron saints of physicians, surgeons and pharmacists.

Is this the only statue of saints on Charles Bridge? No - the bridge is known for its entire avenue of Baroque statues and figural groups lining both balustrades.

Are the statues on the bridge always the original Baroque pieces? Not always - many have been replaced by copies over time, with the originals moved to museum collections in Prague to protect them from further damage.