Lesser Town Bridge Tower
Essentially, the tower at the western end of the bridge comprises two towers of different appearance, origin and size. The smaller of the towers was erected in the Romanesque style. It was part of the Judith Bridge (which was Prague’s first stone bridge built in the first half of the 12th century) but it is actually older. The first references to the tower date back to 1249. The second, taller tower began to be erected with the construction of Charles Bridge in 1357 using the Old Town Bridge Tower on the opposite bank of the river as a template. Naturally, it was not finished until a century later under the reign of George of Poděbrady. Both towers are linked by a gate with a spire dating from the beginning of the 15th century. From the beginning of the 15th century, the smaller tower (the so-called Judith Tower) was used as a jail and it retained this role for another two hundred years. The customs authority was based in the tower from 1591 to 1784. The entrance to the tower is from the passageway of building no. 56, which was the headquarters of the Prague Bridge Authority and the imperial Salt Authority. In the same year in which the customhouse was established, the tower was also refurbished in a Renaissance style. An important set of engravings from the middle of the 13th century has been preserved in the tower’s vaults. These depict human figures, animals and weapons, an eight-pointed star and several noble coats of arms. The highest of the towers is the youngest part of the entire Charles Bridge. It was primarily used as a storehouse and, because of its spatial layout, it also served as a watchtower like the tower at St. Nicholas Cathedral or on the Old Town Square.
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