The site of Bruncvík’s statute has a long history dating back to pagan times. At that time, a statue of Perun, the ruler of thunder, probably stood here, at a place where trials were held. The first statue of the stone knight was erected on a pillar of Prague’s stone bridge sometime in the early 16th century. This was done as a sign of the authority of Prague’s Old Town to collect a fee from everyone who arrived in Prague by boat or raft. This right was granted to the Old Town by King George of Poděbrady in 1459. Similar statues of knights, symbolising municipal authority, were erected in many other towns during the Middle Ages. Across Europe, they were called Roland, according to the heroic French knight from Charlemagne’s retinue. In Prague alone, it was Bruncvík. The original Old Town Bruncvík took the form of a bearded old man in a helmet with his face turned towards the river, with a shield bearing the city’s coat of arms and a lowered sword as a sign of peace. It was probably carved by stonemason Matěj Rejsek. When Prague was besieged by the Swedes in 1648, the statue was destroyed by artillery fire. For a long time, only a damaged pillar remained standing on the bridge pier. It was not until 1886 that the statue was restored in its new form by sculptor Ludvík Šimek. Bruncvík | Source: Prague City Tourism The Knight Bruncvík is the hero of an old Czech legend. His story is a variation on the legend featuring the Saxon and Bavarian Duke Henry the Lion of Brunswick, and also features motifs from the adventures of the mythical Odysseus and Sinbad. It is said that the Czech prince Bruncvík took over the reign after the death of his father Žibřid. However, he soon decided to go out into the world to earn the lion in his coat of arms. He visited many wonderful countries and even sailed the seas. One day, he saw a lion fighting a nine-headed snake. The lion was growing weary, so Bruncvík helped him, and together they overpowered the beast. The tamed lion then accompanied Bruncvík on this travels. After seven years, Bruncvík returned to Prague with a lion and a miraculous sword that could behead enemies on its own. The sword is said to be walled up in the bridge pillar on which Bruncvík fixes his gaze. When the Czech lands are at their worst, the knights sleeping in Blaník Mountain will awaken and come to the aid of the Czechs. Saint Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech lands, will lead the army. His horse will stumble on Charles Bridge and the miraculous sword will leap from the bridge into the prince’s hand. The Czech army will win a glorious victory and the country will be saved. Psychotronicists claim to see a stream of light energy above the statue of Bruncvík, connecting Prague with the spiritual energy of the universe. If you stop on the bridge and linger quietly by the statue for a moment, you may feel this special power too. Many visitors describe this experience as a feeling of calm and serenity.