A couple kissing passionately on the Charles Bridge. The Charles Bridge (Czech Karl? V most) is the oldest bridge in Prague, Vltava river and through the Old Town to the Lesser Town. It is the second oldest existing bridge in the Czech Republic. Throughout its history, the Charles Bridge witnessed many events, while was damaged on several occasions. In 1432, a flood destroyed three of its pillars. In 1496, the third arch (counting from the Old Town) collapsed after one of the pillars descend due to erosion at the bottom. This time, the repair work lasted until 1506. A year after the Battle of White Mountain, after the execution of the 27 leaders of the anti-Habsburg revolt on June 21, 1621, the heads of the rebels were exposed in the bridge to deter the possibility Czechs new uprisings. By the end of the Thirty Years War in 1648, the Swedes occupied the West Bank of Moldova and its attempt to move towards the Old Town, the most important battle took place on the bridge. During combat, the tower side of the Old City was badly damaged in one side (facing the river) and the majority of gothic ornaments must be removed. During the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries the bridge acquired the appearance by which it is now recognized, to settle a series of Baroque statues on the pillars of it. During a major flood occurred in 1784, five pillars were damaged considerably and, although the arches did not break, traffic on the bridge had to be restricted for a while