Prague in Staré Město, Hlavní město Praha, Czech Republic — Capital City Region

The Novotny Footbridge

Novotného Lavka

By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

1. The Novotny Footbridge Marker

Inscription.
{Marker text in Czech:}

Novotného Lavka • Nazvaná mlynáře Karla Novotného R. 1878. Lemuje ji soubor býv. Staromĕstských mlýnu z let 1432-1436 s vodárenskou vĕží R. 1489, barokně prěstavěný a po a bombardování R. 1848 rožšířený. Po požáru .R. 1878 byly mlýny znovu přestavěny, zčásti podle návhru Ignáce Ullmanna, vybudována vodárna dnes Smetanova Muzeum od Antonína Wiehla, sgrafitová výzdoba je od Františka Ženíška, Mikuláše Alše a Jana Kouly.

{Marker text translated into English, more or less:}

Novotny Footbridge – named after the miller Karl Novotny in 1878. The Old Town mills date from the years 1432-1436, with the addition of a water tower in 1489. Rebuilt in the the Baroque style after the 1848 bombardment, and expanded. After a fire in 1878, the Mills were rebuilt again, in part designed by Ignac Ullmann, with the water treatment plant (currently the Smetana Museum) by Antonin Wiehl, with sgraffito decoration [on the Museum] by Francis Zenisek, Nicholas Ales, and Jan Koula.

Location. 50° 5.124′ N, 14° 24.808′ E. Marker is in Prague, Hlavní město Praha, in Staré Město. Marker is on Novotného Lávka just from Smetanovo Nábř, on the right

The Novotny Footbridge and Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

2. The Novotny Footbridge and Marker - wide view

This is a view of the Novotného Lavka, or Novotny Footbridge, from the Smetana Embankment. In the foreground are the Vltava River and a weir (not the footbridge). "Footbridge" is not a mistranslation, but rather a misnomer, as it describes the structure jutting out into the river with several buildings on it - the former location of the Old Town mills, and later, waterworks. The marker is barely visible here, affixed to the lower right portion of the tower.

when traveling west. Touch for map. The Novotny Footbridge is located just south of the Charles Bridge, just off the Smetana Embankment, in the Old Town section of Prague. The marker is located on the south face of the Old Town Water Tower. Marker is in this post office area: Prague, Hlavní město Praha 222 220, Czech Republic.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Josef Mysliveček (within shouting distance of this marker); Church of St. Salvador (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Johannes Kepler (about 120 meters away); Bohuslav Balbín (about 180 meters away); Francis Skaryna (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Vojta Náprstek (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Birthplace of Jaroslav Heyrovský (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Franz Kafka (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Prague.

Also see . . .
1. Do You Know History of Novotneho Lavka?. The CSVTS' history of the Novotny Footbridge. Includes both an historical overview, and a history of each structure: "... The bank of the river was firmly settled by various kinds of traditional craft industries that needed the river water for their running, besides mills, as well as knife and sword grinders, dye-houses, baths, breweries and at last icemen
By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

3. The Old Town Water Tower
Although the tower dates back to the 15th Century, its current look dates from 1878, when the clock and an additional floor were added.
working here in winter were dependent on water. All the mills of Prague were many times destroyed by floods and fires during the course of their existence, and therefore they were also reconstructed as often as it was needed. The Novotného lávka had suffered severe damage in 1648 while the Swedish soldiers whose heavy artillery located at the height of the Prague Castle having their target in the palms of their hands were besieging Prague. Similar situation resumed during revolutionary events in 1848 when the Novotného lávka had come again under attack from the artillery. It is worth mentioning that in the mills grain was crushed and ground to make flour until the first half of 20th century." (Submitted on March 29, 2011.)

2. Old Town Water Tower. Prague.net's history of the Water Tower on the Footbridge, which has an interesting history in its own right: "...The first records about the tower (originally made of wood) date back to the beginning of the 15th century. As the workers in the tower used to use open fire to melt frozen water in the pipes during winter, the tower has been damaged by fire many times. But fire was not the only element the tower had to fight against. The others were floods and icebergs as well as attacks by foreign intruders." (Submitted on March 29, 2011.)

3. Old Town Water Tower

The Novotny Footbridge - wider view image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 24, 2009

4. The Novotny Footbridge - wider view

Looking north up the Vltava River from the Legion Bridge at the Novotny Footbridge (the set of buildings jutting out into the river), and the Smetana Embankment (on the right). The left-most building visible on the Footbridge was once a mill, and then was converted to part of the city waterworks, but since 1936 has been the Bedrich Smetana Museum.

. Hundred-Spired Prague's history of the Old Town Water Tower and Novotny Footbridge. Includes a 360 degree view of Prague from the Tower, providing a visual context for the Novotny Footbridge. (Submitted on March 29, 2011.)

Categories. • Notable Places •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on March 29, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 566 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 29, 2011, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.