Svatopluk Čech Bridge

Svatopluk Čech Bridge
Svatopluk Čech Bridge
	View from Old Town
Coordinates	50°05′N 14°25′E / 50.09°N 14.42°E
Carries	road, tram
Crosses	Vltava
Locale	Prague
Official name	Čechův most
Maintained by	Technická správa komunikací
Characteristics
Design	arch bridge
Total length	169 metres (554 ft)
Width	16 metres (52 ft)
Longest span	59 metres (194 ft)
History
Construction start	1905
Construction end	1908
Opened	6 June 1908
Location

Svatopluk Čech Bridge or Čech Bridge (Czech: Čechův most) is an arch bridge over the river Vltava in Prague, Czech Republic.

History and description[edit]

Construction of the bridge started in 1905 and finished in 1908. Its length is 169 m (554 ft) (one of the shortest in Prague) and width is 16 m (52 ft).

The bridge connects the Prague districts Holešovice and the Old Town (Staré Město). Construction materials are stone (pillars) and iron (arches). Up to 1961 the roadway was made of wood – a hard species named Jarrah from Australia. During rain, the roadway became quite slippery.

Bridge architects were Jan Koula and Jiří Soukup. Art Nouveau style sculptures (including four put on 17.5-m-high pylons) were created by sculptors Klusáček, Wurzel, Popp and Amort.

The bridge was named after recently died Czech writer Svatopluk Čech (1846–1908); its opening became feat of Czech nation. During the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazis, the name of the bridge was changed (1940–1945) to Mendel Bridge (Mendelův most), after Gregor Mendel (of German ethnicity).

In 1971–1975, Svatopluk Čech Bridge went through major reconstruction, in 1953–1956 and 2000–2001 through smaller reconstructions, in 1984–1987 the sculptures were repaired.

As the only Art Nouveau style bridge in the Czech Republic, it is protected by the state as a cultural monument. It is used by tramways, cars and pedestrians.