Astronomical Clock, Prague (must see)

Since the 1400s, the Astronomical Clock (or Horologe) on the Old Town Square has been a perennial favorite among visitors. Its hourly mechanical performance, unfolding from 9 am to 9 pm daily, never fails to captivate the crowds of tourists who gather to witness its spectacle. A true marvel, the clock's intricate design and complex mechanism, coupled with its astronomical and calendar dials, attest to the remarkable scientific prowess of its creators.

The clock's face symbolizes the Earth and the Sky, with one section denoting daytime and the other nighttime. An outer ring displays old Bohemian time, while the astronomical dial tracks the Sun and planets' orbits around the Earth (which is, of course, positioned at the center of the universe!). A third dial maps the Sun and Moon's journey through the zodiac signs. Along the periphery, an additional pointer indicates the date, day of the week, and saint's day, a matter of significance in medieval times.

Yet, the clock's main allure lies in its hourly performance of wooden statuettes, including Christ and the Twelve Apostles, emerging from miniature trapdoors and traversing from left to right. Atop the clock, perched on pinnacles, stand four symbolic figures representing the medieval threats of Death, Greed, Vanity, and a turbaned Turk. Below, stoic statues embody Philosophy, Religion, Astronomy, and History, observing the scene. As the show concludes, a cockerel emerges, flapping its wings to signal the end, followed by the clock's chiming of the hour as the spectators disperse.

Legend has it that the clock's creator, Hanus, suffered the loss of his eyes to prevent him from replicating his masterpiece. In retaliation, he purportedly sabotaged the mechanism, which remained broken for a century before its restoration. Another myth warns that if the clock halts for an extended period, it forebodes the fall of Prague.

Tip:
Ascend the clock tower or take the elevator for a panoramic view of the cityscape.