2016 marks the 700th anniversary of the birth of Charles IV, eleventh king of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. A son of the House of Luxembourg, Charles IV was crowned king in 1347 and the Czech lands flourished under his rule, which is remembered as The Golden Age. The nation’s most famous ruler left a rich legacy including St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague’s New Town, Charles University and Charles Bridge. He is remembered as the most beloved of Czech kings and the "father of the Czech nation". In a 2005 poll he was voted the greatest Czech of all time. Marking the anniversary, Radio Prague has a special series of programs devoted to his legacy.
Charles Bridge is the second oldest bridge in the Czech Republic and the oldest bridge over the Vltava River. It has joined Prague's Old Town and Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter) since its completion in 1402. But Charles Bridge was not the first stone structure to span the river there; it replaced the Judith Bridge, which stood in roughly the same spot and was destroyed by floods in 1342.
Karlštejn, just 30 km west of Prague, was built in the second half of the 14th century by Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, with the castle's Chapel of the Holy Rood intended to house the imperial coronation jewels.
Charles IV established Charles University in 1348, when he was in his early 30s. The monarch had been inspired by his own studies in Paris, which gave him a clear understanding of the value that a university could have.
Charles was born in 1316, and reigned as Emperor from 1355 until his death in 1378 at the age of 62. During his reign, Charles put Prague on the map as a major royal seat of power, as well as a major centre of culture.
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