Charles Bridge (German: Karlsbrücke, originally Stone Bridge) is the oldest standing bridge over the Vltava River in Prague and the second oldest surviving bridge in the Czech Republic. After Prague's Juditina Bridge, the stone bridge in Písek and the bridge in Roudnice nad Labem, this is the fourth stone bridge construction in the Czech Republic.
Charles Bridge replaced the previous Judith Bridge, which was torn down in 1342 during the spring ice melt. The construction of the new bridge began in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV. and was completed in 1402. Thanks to the stone bridge, Prague became an important stop on European trade routes.
From the end of the 17th century, 30 mostly Baroque statues and sculptures were gradually placed on the bridge. Originally, it was called only "stone" or "Prague". The name "Charles Bridge" did not come into use until around 1870; the Prague publisher, writer and copper engraver Joseph Rudl was the first to use this designation in a monograph entitled Die Berühmte Karls-Brücke und ihre Statuen, mit einem kurzen Anhange: Die Franzens-Ketten-Brücke.