On September 4, 1890, Prague faced one of the worst disasters in its history. After months of relentless rain, the Vltava River overflowed, flooding nearly a third of the city. The devastating waters swept away thousands of homes, claimed dozens of lives, and shattered the pride of Prague – the Charles Bridge.

The Flood That Stunned Prague

The disaster began with heavy rains that had fallen across Bohemia and Moravia since spring. In early September, torrential downpours swelled the upper Vltava and its tributaries. On the night of September 3, water surged toward Prague, carrying logs, rafts, and debris that smashed into the city’s bridges. Soldiers dismantling a pontoon bridge in Karlin were swept away, costing 20 lives in a single moment.

By morning, Podskali, Josefov, the Old Town, and Kampa were under water. Floodwaters reached as far as the Staromestske namesti, filling streets such as Husova and Karoliny Svetle. Even Klementinum’s lower floors were submerged, and the island of Stvanice disappeared beneath the river.

The Fall of Charles Bridge

At half past five in the morning on September 4, the Charles Bridge gave way under the immense pressure of floodwaters and piled-up debris. Two arches collapsed first, followed later by a third. Two piers were heavily damaged, and statues of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier were lost to the torrent. Several people standing on the bridge at the time did not survive.

Although Charles Bridge had been damaged before – in the harsh winter of 1784 – it had withstood major floods in 1845 and 1872. The collapse in 1890 shocked the city and symbolized the scale of destruction.

The Aftermath

The Vltava peaked in Prague on the evening of September 4, with a flow of 3,975 cubic meters per second. Nearly 4,000 houses were flooded, entire districts devastated, and daily life in the capital paralyzed. In total, dozens of lives were lost in Prague and southern Bohemia.

It took years for the bridge to be repaired. Reconstruction was completed in 1892, restoring the city’s iconic landmark.

The flood of 1890 remains one of the most tragic events in Prague’s modern history. Today, 135 years later, it serves as a reminder of the destructive power of nature and the resilience of the city and its people. The Charles Bridge, rebuilt and still standing strong, continues to symbolize Prague’s endurance through centuries of challenges.