There are many legends being told about Prague´s Orloj. It has already been described many times, but it still attracts the attention of tourists; very often they do not have any idea what is it for.
It is not only a procession of the Apostles and the cock’s crow, which every hour conjures a smile on tourists´ faces. The fact that the astronomical clock also depicts the movement of celestial bodies and shows the calendar, is not often noticed by people. And even less can they guess what the particular decorative components symbolize.
People also do not realize that there are many people behind the way the Orloj looks and works. Whether it is the clockmaker, who sets up the mechanism or whether they are painters and sculptors, who take care of the clock decoration or the town hall workers, who set up the side clock and arrange illumination.
In this part of the project “Prague’s Metamorphosis” we want to introduce people who take care of the clock and also act as a reminder of history, which is not told so often.
Articles within the field
-
23. 6. 2008
Original Text
-
23. 6. 2008
Skeleton from Prague Astronomical Clock
-
20. 3. 2008
Czech and Moravian Astronomical Clocks
The Old Town Square Astronomical Clock (Orloj) is not alone; it has many companions in several Czech and Moravian cities. One of the most important Clocks is the one in Olomouc, which shared the same fate that has met the Prague one. Both of them were destroyed during the end of the Second World War in May 1945.
-
20. 3. 2008
The Astronomical Clock is Once More Complete after the Attack of Vandals
After the rest of the statues underwent renovation in the workroom of restorer, Jiří Matějka and his wife Darina Smetánková they finally returned to the Old Town Clock. The restorers also supplemented the missing hand on the statue of the Astronomer that was broken off by a vandal three weeks ago.
-
The Astronomical Clock in last twenty years
The astronomical clock at the Old Town Square is the second most admired historic sight beside the Charles Bridge. It is exceptional as there are no comparable competitors in the Czech Republic either by its extent or by its age.
- 12. May 2010
- 31. January 2010
(average rating: 3.01; 74 ratings)
Responsibility:: Editorial Office
