Hlávka Bridge

Hlávka Bridge represents the widest bridge in the country. This is the twelveth bridge over the Vltava River and it connects the right-bank embankment of Ludvík Svoboda and Rohanské Embankment with the left-bank embankment of Kapitán Jaroš and Bubenské Embankment. It is directly connected to the so-called upperbridge of the Masaryk Station. It stands over the Štvanice Island and thus connects it to both river banks.

Interestingly, unlike with other Prague bridges, the name of Hlávka Bridge has never been changed. It was called after Josef Hlávka, a well-known builder and philanthropist. It was created on the initiative of the construction of the Central Slaughterhouse of the Prague municipality in Holešovice.

In the years 1908 - 1910, its iron part was built and later, from 1910 to 1911 the reinforced iron concrete part was added. In the years 1958 - 1962 the bridge underwent the necessary reconstruction and enlargement. During the reconstruction its decoration part remained intact and the iron part was replaced with reinforced iron concrete.

The bridge with seven arches was decorated by Bohumil Kafka and Ladislav Kofránek with rembossments higher than 2.5 m, which were carved directly into the concrete. In the corners of the main arches there are 12 medallions of the personalities associated with the bridge created by sculptors Joseph Mařatka and Otto Gutfreund. However, the architect Pavel Janák and engineer František Mencl - the designers of the bridge - do not have their medallions out there.

You have the opportunity to see Hlávka Bridge during some of our longer cruises. Before you decide, you can also view the route of our cruises in the animation.