The Stone Bridge in Písek is the oldest surviving bridge in Central Europe — a magnificent 13th-century Gothic structure spanning the Otava River in southern Bohemia, predating Prague’s famous Charles Bridge by nearly a century. Built around 1270 under King Ottokar II of Bohemia, this 111-metre bridge of seven arches has survived floods, wars, and 750 years of Central European history — including the devastating 2002 floods that destroyed much of the historic centre of Písek but miraculously spared the bridge.
Quick Facts: Písek Stone Bridge
- Best time to visit: Year-round; summer for the best photography; winter for atmospheric fog over the Otava River
- Age: Built c.1270 — the oldest bridge in the Czech Republic and Central Europe, predating Prague’s Charles Bridge (1357)
- How to get there: ~1.5 hours from Prague by car (D4 south); ~2 hours by train from Prague to Písek
- Combine with: Písek’s historic centre with its castle and Gothic church, and the nearby Orlík and Zvíkov castles on the Vltava River
Older brother of Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in the Czech Republic and rarest in Central Europe. These are several names of a stone bridge in the south Bohemian town of Písek, which was built in 13th century. Thanks to the reconstruction in 1998 the bridge survived a disastrous flood in 2002 when the river achieved 2m above the bridge and still connects the two banks of Otava river. Its most common name is Stone or Old Bridge.
Gothic bridge with baroque statues achieves a length of 109.75 m and the width of 6.25 m. It stands on the six pillars of granite blocks and has seven arches – six circular (from the original Gothic structure) and one segment. There were originally two bridge towers, but unfortunately, none of them has been preserved.
The bridge is decorated with sandstone sculptures from 18th century.
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