Stone Bridge by Václav Jansa - Písek, Czech Republic
Posted by: ToRo61
N 49° 18.733 E 014° 08.662
33U E 437809 N 5462516
Old Stone Bridge by Václav Jansa
Waymark Code: WM198KQ
Location: Jihočeský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 12/25/2023
Views: 0
The Písek Stone Bridge (Czech: Kamenný most v Písku) is the oldest preserved early Gothic bridge in the Czech Republic and by its originality, although deprived of its dominants, which formed its tower with gates, is one of the rarest medieval bridges in Central Europe.
It is sometimes called the Stag Bridge, according to legend because it was to be named after the first being to pass over it. At the time, Písek was surrounded by deep woods, so the first being to cross the bridge was a stag. However, most local people still call it the Old Bridge.
The bridge was probably built in the 3rd quarter of the 13th century during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Interestingly, it was built on dry ground. Only after its completion was the river redirected to a new trough, which passed under the bridge.
The length of the bridge is 109.75 m and the width 6.25m. It is built on six pillars and has seven arches and gives the impression of a "small" Charles Bridge. Six arches are original. The seventh arch, with a double span width, was added in 1768 and served for the raft passage (timber used to be pulled down the river). Two towers guarded the bridge, one on each side. Unfortunately, none of them has survived. The first collapsed during the 1768 flood and the second was deliberately torn down in 1825 due to the growing transportation demands. Their fragments, salvaged from the river bottom, are on display on the left river bank near the bridge.
Source and more information: (
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Vaclav Jansa (October 22, 1859 Slatinice - June 29, 1913 Cernošice) (
visit link) Czech landscape artist and illustrator, best known for these views, originally painted in water-colour.
Jansa was apprenticed to buyers, but later he devoted himself to his hobby of drawing and painting. Vaclav Jansa traveled a lot and took to painting landscapes. He painted mostly southern Bohemia and Giant Mountains.