Čech Bridge, Prague: Art Nouveau Bridge and Photo Guide

Everybody knows Charles Bridge, but two bridges further down the Vltava there is another one that deserves a visit. Svatopluk Čech Bridge, in Czech Čechův most, is the only truly Art Nouveau bridge in Prague, and it is a far calmer place to take pictures than its famous neighbour.

A Short History

Construction of the bridge started in 1905 and finished in 1908. It was named after the Czech writer Svatopluk Čech, who died in the year it was completed. With a length of 169 metres it is one of the shortest bridges in Prague, and it is 16 metres wide. It was planned as part of the redevelopment of the old Jewish quarter and continues the line of the elegant Pařížská street from the Old Town across the river to the foot of Letná hill.

The bridge was designed by the architect Jan Koula and the engineer Jiří Soukup. The pillars are stone and the arches are iron. Until 1961 the roadway was paved with wood, a hard Australian species called jarrah, which became very slippery in the rain.

What to Look For

The decoration is what makes this bridge special. At each end stand two columns about 17.5 metres high, topped with gilded winged figures of Victory. On the pillars you will find bronze torch-bearers and six-headed hydras guarding the coat of arms of Prague, and the railings and lamps are full of Art Nouveau ornament. The sculptures were created by Klusáček, Wurzel, Popp and Amort.

How to Get There

From Old Town Square, walk the full length of Pařížská street; the bridge is straight ahead at the end, about ten minutes away. On the far side, steps lead up to Letná Park and the giant metronome.

Photographing Čech Bridge

For details and portraits, the bridge itself is the location. The green ironwork, the lamps and the columns give a strong, graphic background, and there are far fewer people here than on Charles Bridge, which is why I like it for portrait sessions. Looking upstream from the pavement you can see Prague Castle above the river, which works beautifully in late afternoon and at sunset when the sky behind the Castle turns warm.

For a picture of the whole bridge, go down to the embankment on either side and shoot from water level, where the arches and their reflections line up. The best overview is from Letná Park above: from the terrace near the metronome you look down on Čech Bridge with the Old Town behind it, and from the viewpoint further along the park you get the classic view of Prague’s bridges one after another. Morning light is good from Letná, and the blue hour, when the lamps on the bridge are lit, suits the Art Nouveau details best. The pavements are narrow and traffic is steady, so keep your gear compact.

Planning more stops in the city? Browse more Prague guides for other places worth visiting and photographing.

Proposing on Čech Bridge

Čech Bridge is a lovely and often overlooked place to propose. Its Art Nouveau lamps, columns and gilded figures make an elegant backdrop, there is a view of Prague Castle upstream, and it is far calmer than Charles Bridge.

• Is it a good place to propose? Yes. You get a romantic setting without the crowds of the famous bridges. The only drawbacks are the narrow pavements and steady traffic.
• Best time: late afternoon and sunset, when the sky behind the castle turns warm, or the blue hour, when the lamps on the bridge are lit.
• Permits and rules: a private proposal on a public bridge needs no permit. Keep the pavement clear and leave out large props. Drone flights in central Prague are restricted.
• Crowds: light compared with Charles Bridge, though people and cars pass throughout the day.
• The best spot: by one of the decorated lamps on the upstream side, with Prague Castle behind you. For a wide view instead, the terrace near the metronome in Letná Park looks down on the bridge and the Old Town.
• Where the photographer can wait: a little further along the bridge with a longer lens, or down on the embankment to capture the arches as well.

Comparing places? See our guide to the best places to propose in Prague.