The Vltava

The Vltava River runs through Praha. (It is no coincidence that large rivers run through the main cities of Europe.) This is a view from the Charles Bridge across the river to the castle and cathedral. Americans know this river by its German name: the Moldau.

The Charles Bridge was commissioned by Charles IV in 1357. It was damaged in 1648 during the 30 Years War and by a flood in 1900 but, unlike most of the major bridges in Eastern Europe, it survived WWII unscathed. It is said to be the oldest medieval bridge in Europe (I know that it is not the oldest bridge in Europe because I can think of at least one Roman bridge that survives without ever having been rebuilt.)