Seeing the beautiful Astronomical clock in Prague’s Old Town
A recent trip to explore and document Prague led us to some incredible discoveries in this beautiful city that may not be on your radar!
The Astronomical Clock in Prague, known as the Prague Orloj, is a medieval astronomical clock located in the Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic (see the map below for it’s location).
It is one of the oldest and most elaborate astronomical clocks in the world and a significant historical and cultural landmark. The clock was installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still operating – which you can hear every hour when it strikes and a big group of tourists all cheers for!
From our understanding, the initial mechanism was crafted by clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and Jan Šindel, a professor of mathematics and astronomy at Charles University. The clock has undergone several restorations and additions over the centuries. The calendar dial was added around 1490, and the facade was decorated with Gothic sculptures. Major repairs and enhancements were carried out in the 16th, 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
The clock face includes an astronomical dial that represents the position of the Sun and the Moon in the sky, displaying various astronomical details such as the phases of the Moon and the solar time. The zodiacal ring shows the position of the Sun in the zodiac signs, while the outer ring of the clock shows the ancient Czech time. The calendar dial displays the months of the year with medallions representing each month, showing the day of the month, the day of the week, and important feast days.
Every hour, statues of the Twelve Apostles appear in the two windows above the clock face, rotating through the windows. Various figures flank the clock and move when the hour strikes, including the Skeleton (Death) who pulls a cord to ring a bell and turns an hourglass, the Turk who shakes his head representing pleasure, the Miser who holds a bag of gold representing greed, and Vanity who looks in a mirror.
After the Apostles' procession, a golden rooster crowing and the bell ringing signify the end of the show. The clock holds significant cultural importance and is surrounded by numerous legends, making it a must-see attraction for visitors to Prague.
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