Charles Bridge hosts St Martin procession on 11 November

Charles Bridge hosted the St Martin procession on 11 November 2026, bringing a white horse, geese and a symbolic load of snow to Prague. The public celebration began at the bridge’s 11th pier and continued towards Krizovnicke Square.

St Martin procession crossed Charles Bridge on 11 November

The procession began at 11.11am on 11 November 2026, according to the event listing from Prague City Tourism. St Martin rode a white horse in the dress of a Roman soldier, followed by geese, Roman soldiers and a horse-drawn carriage carrying symbolic snow.

The route crossed the bridge before reaching Krizovnicke Square in Prague’s Old Town. The programme there included a medieval market, St Martin’s specialities and wines, together with a cultural programme. The event was organised in connection with the Charles Bridge Museum and was open to the public.

Charles Bridge history shaped the November setting

Charles Bridge links Prague’s Old Town with Mala Strana across the Vltava. Construction began in 1357 under the auspices of Charles IV, and the crossing was completed in 1402, as recorded by Prague City Tourism’s history.

The bridge is built from sandstone blocks and is flanked by fortified towers. Thirty statues and sculptural groups line its balustrade, with most created between 1706 and 1714. This made the 11 November route more than a city procession: its starting pier and medieval destination were both parts of a crossing whose present name has been used since 1870.

The procession’s winter imagery also related to the bridge’s historic surroundings. The horse, geese and symbolic snow moved from the stone crossing towards the square beside the Old Town entrance, linking seasonal folklore with the structure’s documented medieval history.

What the procession meant for the bridge visit

The event used the bridge as an active pedestrian route rather than as a closed performance venue. Visitors could watch the procession at the 11th pier, follow its passage across the Vltava and continue to the market at Krizovnicke Square.

The arrangement placed the main programme at two connected locations. The bridge carried the moving procession, while the square provided the market and cultural activities. The event therefore changed the character of a normal crossing without changing the bridge’s public role between Old Town and Mala Strana.

Visiting Charles Bridge: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The St Martin procession took place on 11 November 2026, beginning at 11.11am at the 11th pier of Charles Bridge and continuing to Krizovnicke Square.
• The event was an open-air public celebration, with the medieval market and cultural programme located at Krizovnicke Square.
• Charles Bridge is in Prague between Old Town and Mala Strana, crossing the Vltava and connecting the two historic districts on foot.
• The stone bridge has fortified towers at both ends and a balustrade carrying 30 statues and sculptural groups.

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Frequently asked questions about Charles Bridge

When did the St Martin procession take place at Charles Bridge?

The procession took place on 11 November 2026 and began at 11.11am at the bridge’s 11th pier.

Where is Charles Bridge and how do visitors reach it?

Charles Bridge crosses the Vltava between Prague’s Old Town and Mala Strana. It is a pedestrian connection between the two districts.

What is Charles Bridge?

Charles Bridge is a sandstone crossing built between 1357 and 1402, with fortified towers and 30 statues and sculptural groups.