To mark the 668th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of Charles Bridge, the Charles Bridge Museum is hosting a special programme of celebrations on 9 July 2025, featuring a historical parade, lectures, and medieval entertainment.
On Wednesday, 9 July 2025, the Charles Bridge Museum will host a festive event to mark the 668th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the famous Prague bridge, which will be open to the general public free of charge.
On the evening before, Tuesday, 8 July 2025, a symposium on the history of bridge construction will take place at the Charles Bridge Museum from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitors can look forward to four specialist lectures offering fascinating insights into the origins and significance of Charles Bridge.
The actual celebrations on 9 July will begin early in the morning. A historical procession featuring Emperor Charles IV, who was both Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, and his wife Anna of Schweidnitz, will start at 5:00 a.m. from Malá Strana (Lesser Town) and cross the Charles Bridge. The procession will be accompanied by a group of Bohemian knights, medieval brothers-in-arms, and numerous historical reenactors — a detailed reenactment of the events of 1357.
At exactly 5:31 a.m., Emperor Charles IV will once again touch the foundation stone of the bridge on the Old Town embankment, a date and time that represent a palindromic number game (135797531).
The ceremony at Kreuzherrenplatz will be attended by, among others, the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of the Cross, PharmDr. Mgr. Josef Šedivý, O.Cr., the Mayor of Prague, and the guest of honour, the Mayor of Velvary, Dr Radim Volák. Together, they will symbolically strike the foundation stone of Charles Bridge, thus highlighting the significance of this historic structure. Emperor Charles IV will be accompanied by mounted knights, drummers, musicians, and soldiers, and will be warmly welcomed by his citizens.
Following the ceremony, a cultural programme will begin on Křižovnické náměstí (Cross Square) in front of the museum entrance. Visitors can admire medieval dances by the Regii Caroli regis group, led by Jiří Smaha, as well as music by the Řemdih group and performances by the royal drummers and flag bearers of the Fedrfechtýř group. The highlight of the programme is a Holy Mass at 7:00 a.m. in the Church of St Francis of Assisi on Křižovnické náměstí.
At the same time, the Charles Bridge Museum will celebrate its 17th anniversary on 9 July and will open its doors free of charge to all interested parties from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on that day.
Programme on Wednesday, 9 July 2025, starting at 5:00 a.m.:
- 5:00 a.m. — Procession of Charles IV from the Malá Strana bridge towers across Charles Bridge to Křižovnické náměstí
- 5:31 a.m. — Symbolic laying of the foundation stone by Emperor Charles IV, Grand Master Josef Šedivý, and the Mayor of Prague
- 5:45 a.m. — Musical performances by the medieval band Řemdih and dance performances by the group Regii Caroli regis featuring courtly and bourgeois dances from Charles’ time
- 6:05 a.m. — Performances by the royal drummers and flag bearers of the Fedrfechtýř group with show combat displays
- 7:00 a.m. — Holy Mass in the Church of St Francis of Assisi
