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All Czechia Prague Prague Astronomical Clock

Prague Astronomical Clock

Macabre astrological automaton clock dating to the late 1400s.

Prague, Czechia

Added By
Michelle Enemark
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Prague’s astronomical clock   Ken Spink
Reopening day (2018) after the restoration work   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Astronomical clock in the winter   JFMJ / Atlas Obscura User
  nwalgis / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
2017   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2017   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2017   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
  epfromer / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
photo by dkfriesen.com  
  houseofballs / Atlas Obscura User
2017   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
Clock figurines   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Inner working mechanisms of The clock   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Astronomical Clock   Nan Palmero
  Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
We are in Prague on a visit   moolarue / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the Astronomical Clock Tower   Nan Palmero
  gabsterlamb / Atlas Obscura User
Prague Astronomical Clock at Night   Cali Buckley / Atlas Obscura User
Prague Astronomical Clock at Night   Cali Buckley / Atlas Obscura User
Prague Astronomical Clock   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
Prague Astronomical Clock   vasilisapremudra / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The legend of the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town of Prague seems to have come straight from the Brothers Grimm. The dark tale is set in the fifteenth century, when the clock is said to have been created by the great clockmaker Mikuláš from Kadaň. Such was the reputation of his craftsmanship that Mikuláš was approached by many a foreign nation, each wishing to have its own town square topped with a marvelous astronomical clock. Mikuláš refused to show the plans of his masterpiece to anyone, but word got back to the Prague Councilors.

Overcome with fear that Mikuláš might build a bigger, better, and more beautiful clock for another nation, the Councilors had the brilliant clockmaker blinded, ensuring that their clock would never be topped. Driven mad, the clockmaker took the ultimate revenge, throwing himself into his extraordinary work of art, gumming up the clock's gears and ending his own life in one stroke. In doing so, he cursed the clock. All who tried to fix it would either go insane, or die.

While this is only a legend, it stands as a testament to the extraordinary nature of the Prague Astronomical Clock. The clock has been modified, destroyed, and repaired many times since its creation in 1380. It is perhaps the most well-known astronomical clock in the world, with four moving automatons (including a skeleton ringing his death knell for each hour), and rotating statues of the 12 apostles. It displays Babylonian time, Old Bohemian time, German time, and Sidereal time. It also shows the moon's phases and the sun's journey through the constellations of the zodiac. The calendar dial, just below the clock, shows the day of the month, the day of the week, feast days and allegorical pictures of the current month and sign of the zodiac.

Though the legend of Mikuláš is apocryphal, Prague is not without a dark history - the cobblestones of the Old Town Square below the clock are marked with 27 crosses commemorating 27 beheaded Czech noblemen. Be sure to go upstairs for a tour of the interior of the fascinating clock.

In Czechia, the Prague Astronomical Clock is known simply as the Orloj, from the Latin word horologium.

As the saying goes, imitation is the highest form of flattery. When it was created, the Prague Astronomical Clock was an outstanding technological achievement. In modern times, Koreans fascinated by the Orloj built a working replica of the clock and the tower of the Old Town Hall. Their building in Seoul is called Castle Praha Hongdae.

Related Tags

Clocks Inventions Astounding Timepieces Amazing Automata Architectural Oddities Eccentric Homes Astronomical Clocks Architecture Homes

Know Before You Go

There are free walking tours available in and around this area. Also check out the main Visitor Information Center located next door and book a ticket to climb the main tower for amazing views of the square and city. You can also combine your ticket with a historical tour of the tower, which includes an up-close look at the inner working mechanisms of the clock.

Community Contributors

Added By

michelle

Edited By

dmikolajunaite, dustinko, SEANETTA, Sebastian Wortys...

  • dmikolajunaite
  • dustinko
  • SEANETTA
  • Sebastian Wortys
  • emorata
  • info45
  • moolarue
  • MVX
  • jonko61
  • houseofballs
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • Cali Buckley
  • LucyKG
  • Grave with a view Marjolein
  • gabsterlamb
  • rbenn250
  • breaingram
  • epfromer
  • JFMJ
  • nanpalmero
  • katielou106
  • vasilisapremudra
  • tjw2121
  • Lana Velkov
  • nwalgis
  • Beanns

Published

June 30, 2013

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  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_astronomical_clock
  • http://travelphotodiscovery.com/a-first-impression-of-prague-czech-republic/
  • https://www.amazingczechia.com/sights/prague-astronomical-clock-orloj/
  • https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/2018/11/01/prague-astronomical-clock-renovation/
Prague Astronomical Clock
Staromestske Namesti
Old Town Hall
Prague
Czechia
50.086998, 14.420779
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