Charles Bridge birthday celebrations

Knights in shining armour and the chiming of church bells launched two days of celebrations to mark the 650th anniversary of Charles Bridge early on Monday morning. The mayor of Prague, Pavel Bem, Cardinal Miroslav Vlk and other dignitaries turned up for a special ceremony on the bridge at 5,30 am - the precise time when on July 9th, 1357 Charles IV, King of Bohemia and future Holy Roman Emperor founded the bridge 650 years ago. Soon after the celebrations come to a close the bridge is to undergo a major reconstruction.