ABSTRACT
Building bridges has a long tradition in the Czech regions. During all eras and under various social conditions Czech engineers have designed and constructed bridges in proportion to the Czech landscape-small and gentle forms, which have not overpowered it but complemented it; bridges whose forms express their basic function of the safe and economical conveying of traffic over natural and man-made obstacles. Many stone arch bridges can be still found in our regions, from medieval times, the Renaissance, the Baroque era, and even more recent eras, among them the world-famous Charles Bridge (Figure 8.1) across the Vltava River and the oldest remaining bridge in Bohemia across the Otava River in Písek.
