If you’re planning a trip to Prague, one of the must-see attractions is the Prague Astronomical Clock. This stunning clock has been ticking since the 15th century, and it’s a true masterpiece of medieval engineering.
But, is the Prague Astronomical Clock working? Let’s find out.
History of the Prague Astronomical Clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock, also known as the Orloj, was installed on the southern wall of the Old Town City Hall in 1410. It was designed by Mikuláš of Kadaň and Jan Šindel, two renowned clockmakers of their time. The clock has three main components: the astronomical dial, which shows the position of the sun and moon in relation to earth; the hourly dial, which displays Roman numerals and shows the time; and lastly, there are twelve medallions with zodiac signs.
The Functionality of The Prague Astronomical Clock
Now coming to our main question – Is it working? Yes!
The Prague Astronomical Clock is fully functional and running smoothly. It’s still ticking after more than 600 years, making it one of the oldest working clocks in the world.
Maintenance
Over these 600 years, the clock has undergone several renovations and repairs. The most recent restoration took place between 2017-2018 when it was shut down for six months for maintenance work. During this period, all four faces were cleaned thoroughly using special techniques that helped preserve its original color and design.
How To Read The Clock?
The astronomical dial is quite complex to read at first glance but follows a simple principle – The sun sits at its highest point at noon. Hence when you look at the astronomical dial during noon time in Prague (Czech Republic), you can see the sun at the highest point indicating it’s 12 O’clock. Similarly, the position of the moon can help you determine the current phase of the moon.
- Blue section- Shows daylight hours
- Black section- Shows night hours
- The outer ring- Shows Old Czech Time
- The golden hand- Indicates the position of the sun and shows time in Central European Time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you’re visiting Prague, don’t forget to check out this stunning piece of medieval engineering. The Prague Astronomical Clock is working perfectly fine and is a testament to human ingenuity and craftsmanship that has stood the test of time.