The Czech Republic, like Russia, has its own famous chimes. They have double name– Orloy or Old Town Clock. The first name is more common in the world. They say that everyone who comes to Prague remembers this word first. “Orloj” translated from Czech means nothing more than “clock”. Apparently, this is why the Prague chimes also have a second name - Old Town Clock, so that the Czechs understand exactly what kind of clock they are talking about.

The Old Town clock is much older than its Moscow “brothers”. The clock was first mentioned in 1410; it was installed on the Old Town Hall. Their authors were two people - Mikulas Kadan and Jan Schindel. Moreover, the latter was not just a watchmaker, but a famous mathematician and astronomer of his time. Over its long history, the watch has been modified and redesigned many times. They say that this is why their mechanisms are so complex and intricate that even an experienced specialist in this field is quite difficult to figure out how and what works there.

There is also a legend that says that a watchmaker named Ganush finished creating the clock in 1490 (he added a calendar dial). After he completed the construction, the city authorities were so amazed by the beauty of the clock that they decided to blind the master so that he could not repeat his masterpiece anywhere else. To take revenge for such “gratitude,” Ganush committed suicide by throwing himself into the clock mechanism, which, due to damage, stopped at for many years. But this is nothing more than a legend. In fact, such a person did exist, his name was Jan Rouge (Ganoush was his nickname), and he modified the clock, adding a dial and some figures, but there was no blinding or suicide.

The Orloy chimes display quite a lot of information. In addition to the time itself, you can see the current date, the time of sunset and sunrise of the Moon and Sun, the current location of the Zodiac signs, even the position of the Earth relative to the Sun. But the most important thing is the performance that is shown every hour. It is for this puppet show that people constantly gather in the square in front of the town hall. huge amount tourists, as once in Moscow during the changing of the guard at the Mausoleum.

The performance is performed in the style of a medieval theater. There is a skeleton in the image of death, reminiscent of punishment for earthly sins, and ten apostles, symbolizing righteousness and a proper way of life, and an angel lowering the punishing sword of justice. Even today puppet show tourists watch with enthusiasm, but what can we say about the power of influence on medieval man, not spoiled by such spectacles. This is what watches were once created for.

The Old Town clock stopped only a few times. And each time it was a harbinger of some serious cataclysms. Last time this was when the Czech Republic was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War, which, by the way, actually ended near the Old Town Hall, when Soviet troops destroyed the last large German group in Prague on May 8.

Today, the Old Town Clock is called one of the most important attractions of Prague.

The incredible spectacle of the astronomical clock attracts many tourists. It can be seen every hour. At the signal of the skeleton-Death bell, the ancient chimes play a melody that sets in motion Vanity, Greed, Death and Lust, followed by a procession of 12 apostles.

Old Town Astronomical Clock or Prague Astronomical Clock, Prague Orloj (Pražský orloj) are located on a tower completed in 1364. The height of the four-story tower with a bypass gallery and corner turrets is 69.5 m.

History of watch creation

The tower has always been a symbol of the city. In 1410, an astronomical clock was installed on it, created by the royal watchmaker Mikulas from Kadan and astronomer Jan Schindel, master of the University of Prague. Around 1490, this unique clock was repaired and added to by the master Hanush of Rosa. There had been nothing like this in Europe before that time.

Probably around 1659 the clock was supplemented with wooden polychrome figures. The allegories “Avarice,” “Fashion,” and “Voluptuousness” recall vices, while Archangel Michael with a shield and a fiery sword from the scene “ Last Judgment"reminds one of the most important virtues - Justice. The astronomical clock consists of three parts located one above the other: the procession of the apostles, the dial of the astronomical clock and the calendar.

Every hour the apostles and Jesus Christ blessing them pass before the audience, every hour a skeleton ringing a bell reminds us that another hour of our earthly wandering has passed.

Clock design

The astronomical dial depicts the Earth as it was imagined by supporters of geocentrism, and the center of the dial indicates geographical location Prague. The surface of the dial depicts the universe - day, dawn, dusk and night. Three golden circles move around the sphere, representing the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, as well as the equator.

The calendar consists of a copper circle divided into two circular rings. In the inner ring there is a circle with twenty-four medallions made by the Czech artist Josef Manes in 1866 (copies are now there). Smaller medallions depict zodiac signs and seasons, while larger medallions depict scenes from the life of peasants.

It is noteworthy that, despite numerous repairs, the original design of the Old Town Astronomical Clock has been preserved.

How to get there

Take metro line A to Staroměstská station.

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Prague is famous for many attractions. Including the oldest clock in the world that is still working. The medieval clock installed on the tower has been of particular interest for several centuries. By looking at your watch you can determine not only exact time in Prague, but also Babylonian, Old Bohemian and sidereal time, as well as phases of the Moon and the zodiac constellation. There's even a calendar dial that identifies weekdays, weekends, and religious holidays. Prague Astronomical Clock Orloj is incredible achievement medieval astrology.

Tourists come to Prague and always come to the Old Town Square to look at the figures that come to life and come out of the clock. This action takes place every hour, and on holidays they organize a real light show. All performances are performed in a medieval style, and this creates an incredible atmosphere in the square. The clock on Old Town Square constantly attracts a crowd of people, so you can even watch everything from a cafe. But you need to take into account that the menu here is expensive compared to other areas of Prague. Many tourists and local residents This is not the first time they have watched the clock work, but each time the theatrical performance arouses genuine interest in them.

In 1338 Old town received the right to build his own town hall. A building was purchased in the central square, and later the tower was completed. The main decoration of the tower was the astronomical clock, but it was not properly maintained. As a replacement, mechanical and astrological clocks were built by Orloy. The history of the Prague chimes begins in the 15th century. The clock in Prague was so well made by master Mikulas from Kadan according to the design famous mathematician and astronomer Schindel, which is now the oldest working clock.

But modern look The watch was not made immediately, but gradually by different masters. For example, the silhouette of Death was added only 80 years after the clock was established. The clock was repaired many times and improved, because local authorities did not always care about its condition.

And in the 18th century they even wanted to throw away the watch because they could not find a suitable craftsman who would undertake the repair of the watch. IN late XIX century, the artist painted the clock, and added another item - a rooster.

During the war, a shell hit the town hall and all the figures burned along with the wooden dial. But the clock was not thrown away, but repaired and left as a historical property Prague culture. The watch restoration experts carried out such painstaking work that many parts were able to be completely restored. The entire mechanism remained as the creator intended, and changes were made only to decoration hours. Now the clock is closely monitored and the necessary repairs are carried out, because the Prague Astronomical Clock will forever remain in the history of Prague. And what would Old Town Square be like without a crowd of tourists?

The astronomical dial symbolizes geocentric system world (although the opposite has already been proven), but the data is still accurate. And this rather serves as confirmation that society is constantly developing, science is becoming more advanced, but time does not stop, both in the 15th century and in the 21st.

Legend of Orloy

Along with its widespread popularity, Prague clocks are shrouded in secrets and legends. And Orloj is considered one of the most mysterious and mystical attractions of the capital of the Czech Republic - Prague. And this is not surprising, because in the Middle Ages science was not so developed that craftsmen could create such high-quality and correct astronomical clocks. And even more so, those that will work until our time. Therefore, the Czech people speculated on a possible outcome. According to legends, Orloy will stop working only when the state declines or before a war that will lead to the degradation of the nation. Czechs associate watches with their own history, so they treat them with reverence. This coincidence or mystery still remains unsolved. The clock breaks during a difficult period in the Czech Republic.

Since the Middle Ages, Orla has been endowed with evil powers. The people of the 15th century can be understood, because alchemists, astrologers, scientists and prophets were involved during construction. And it was this category of people that was feared and endowed with evil powers. The common man of that time did not understand how a watch could provide so much accurate data without the help of outside forces. But even now this causes controversy, because watches not only show time, but also provide information about astronomical cycle, position of the Sun and Moon. The scientist himself who developed the watch says that everyone sees and understands as much as they can. And he doesn’t need any other understanding.

There are also legends that the clock is a symbol of the Devil's eye, which counts down to the end of the world. There were legends that anyone who looked into this eye was doomed. Therefore, some church leaders were afraid to even look at Orloy. But these are just legends; there were people from universities who understood more than the exact time.

There is another legend that is associated with any person who damages the watch. Madness and damnation await these people. Many emphasize that even good changes appearance will lead to serious consequences. After the artist painted the dial, his relatives claimed that he began to show signs of mental illness. There are legends that at the last stage of the disease the artist walked around Orloy with candles. These are just legends, but the value of the Orloj astrological clock in Prague remains unchanged.

One more interesting fact there are 12 animals around the dial. There is a lion at the top. In mythology, it is a protector and a symbol of valor. He is followed by other protectors or companions, and then by evil forces and at the very bottom a face with the personification of the Devil. And along with this world, people are displayed on the clock. Here is the Miser, and the Mage, and the Skeleton, and the Turk. People didn't mean to hurt any feelings evil forces, no living people. That's why everyone is shown here.

The sculpture of the archangels protects the Prague Orloj chimes from negative impacts, because this could affect the entire Czech Republic. People in the Middle Ages were afraid of the clock on the town hall and attributed mystical signs to it, but now the Czechs are afraid of losing their symbol.

Theater performance

On the square, from 8:00 to 20:00, the Prague Astronomical Clock on Old Town Square begins its permanent theatrical performance, which has captured the hearts of several generations of people. The main theme that is played out is medieval history.

Start of the show

The bell of the Death sculpture rings and one by one the apostles begin to appear in special windows. The last one to appear in the window is Christ. After the main characters of the action have appeared before the audience, a new action begins on the side of the astronomical clock and calendar dial. New heroes begin to appear, which are characteristic only of Czech astronomical clocks. Then Death comes into play. She flips hourglass and gives a signal to Turk. He tries to resist Death with expressed indignation. At this point, the Miser takes out his wallet and flips it around to feel the coins. And appears main symbol punishment of sinners - an angel with a sword. The performance ends with the crow of a rooster.

Some tourists come here in search of secret meaning, others - to enjoy a vibrant performance. Unfortunately, the theatrical performance has already lost that sacred meaning, which was originally laid out, but this does not stop tourists. Now it is a vibrant show featuring medieval figures and a huge Prague square. Therefore, the popularity of Prague chimes is not falling, but rather growing. After all, the astrological clock is constantly becoming more and more old.

Address on the map

• Staroměstské náměstí

How to get there?

The Prague Astronomical Clock is located on Old Town Square.

There are several options to get to the square:

• by metro to Staroměstská or Náměstí Republiky station;
• by tram to any of the stops: Náměstí Republiky, Dlouhá třída, Jindřišská, Staroměstská, Právnická fakulta.

You can also get there on foot or by taxi, because the square is located in the center of the Old part of the city.

Opening hours

Orloy operates daily, but the chimes can only be heard between 9:00 and 23:00. Especially exciting performance on holidays.

Few people know that Astronomical Prague clock, located in one of the towers of the town hall, are also called the Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj . The fact is that the original name of this legendary attraction is Pražský orloj, which in translation means the synonyms mentioned above. It is here that you can always see numerous tourists waiting for the action, which is called a real breakthrough of all times - a show when the figures inside the clock come to life.

By looking at the Astronomical Clock, you can determine the three hour measurements and find out the Central European, Old Bohemian or sidereal time of interest. In addition to this data, with the help of the watch you can see the zodiacal location of the Moon and the Sun. All necessary data is obtained from the upper - astronomical and lower - calendar dials.

Let's go up

The upper dial represents one of the oldest astronomical instruments - the astrolabe, which determines latitude and longitude. The author of the Astronomical Clock astrolabe was Jan Schindel, who was at one time a professor of mathematics and astronomy, as well as a rector at the famous Charles IV University. The astrolabe was made by Mikulas of Kadan in 1410, and 80 years later, in 1490, a lower dial with Gothic sculptures was added, made by the watchmaker Jan of Rouge. Only in the 18th century were moving figures and other decorative elements added, which daily attract the attention of tourists to this day.

Complex mechanisms required careful monitoring, and therefore a caretaker was assigned to the clock, who, in case of breakdowns, could always eliminate the cause so that the clock hands could continue to move. However, there was not always an experienced and competent watchmaker-keeper, and therefore there were periods when the Prague Astronomical Clock was left unattended or stopped moving. Between 1791 and 1866, the astrolabe was broken, while the clock mechanism continued to run.

After the events of May 8, 1945, when both Orloj and the entire Old Town Hall burned down from an incendiary shell, the complete restoration of lost valuables began. Within three years, restoration work was completed, during which it was possible to recreate both the mechanism itself and the astrolabe from the original materials. A small part of the parts was replaced, and the clock mechanism was also modernized. Most of the changes occurred in the decoration and decoration of the Prague Astronomical Clock.

Amulets on the top of the Astronomical Clock

In the Middle Ages it was believed that every building could be negative impact, and therefore it was customary to decorate buildings with various elements reflecting evil. Thus, two mythical Basilisks, which with just one glance are capable of turning all life on earth into stone, guard the building, located on the cone-shaped roof.

Under the dome of the roof you can see the next defender of the building - the rooster. It is this bird that meets the dawn that symbolizes courage and vigilance. According to legend, when a rooster starts to crow, all evil spirits run away, which is why on almost all medieval significant buildings you can see the figure of a rooster, which will definitely be installed at the top.

Just below the rooster is a statue of an angel, which was one of the first to appear on the clock. On both sides of the statue there are two windows in which you can see the 12 apostles.

This mysterious upper dial

The upper dial is a clock mechanism and an astrolabe. Here you can see the area of ​​the sun's movement. Unlike standard watches, there is no minute hand.

How the dial works

If you look at the dial, you will see several circles. So, the largest in diameter, where you can see large Arabic numbers, shows Old Czech time.


Just below you will see Roman numerals; you can use them to find out Central European time.


To tell the time, you need to find a large enough gold hand with a hand-shaped tip, and look at the Roman numerals.


Until the middle of the 20th century, the inhabitants of Prague lived according to Old Czech time, the beginning of the day began with sunset, and therefore there were many variations. That is why the outer circle rotates in two directions, relative to the dial. Noon in those days was marked by a cannon shot.

Roman numerals appeared relatively recently, thanks to which we can find out real time days.

Also on the smallest circumference of the dial you can see 12 Arabic numerals. It is these numbers, depicted on a light blue background, that indicate the daylight hours of the planetary day.


If you look closely, you can see that the twelve digits are divided into several sectors, some of which are signed. Where the number "1" is located, you can see the inscription ORTUS, which means sunrise, and where the number "12" is located - OCCASUS, which means sunset.


The night time of the planetary day is depicted on a dark blue background. Between the circles you probably noticed a light brown sector. It symbolizes dawn - AURORA and twilight - CREPUSCULUM.

The blue circle, which is located in the very center of the clock, denotes our planet, around which the Zodiac ring moves. It shows in which constellation the Sun is located. The zodiac ring is divided by 72 rays, which divide the months into days, each interval between them representing 5 days.


An arrow with a gold-plated Sun will help you determine the constellation, and an arrow with a dark ball will show the phases of the Moon depending on the location of the Sun. IN dark time day, this arrow can be easily recognized by its glow; on a new moon you can see its bright side.

Decoration and finishing of the dial

If you build an imaginable circle around the Astronomical Dial, you can see a huge number of sculptures depicting living beings, some of which are real, and some of which are fictional.

At the highest point of the circle there is a sculpture of a lion. If you were interested in mythology, watched films or read books, you should understand and know that the lion is at the top of the food chain, considered the king and protector of other living individuals. In addition, lions are always respected and are also considered a symbol of death in equal combat.


Next to the king of beasts is a sculpture of a faithful and vigilant dog, which was the first animal domesticated by humans. According to legend, it was dogs who guarded treasures from robbers and thieves. The image of a dog on a knight's tombstone meant the natural death of the deceased.

Next you will see a snake with a Phrygian cap. It's obvious that this sculpture has a double meaning, because the cap meant freedom from slavery in ancient Rome, and the snake is the most sinful and defiled devilish creature. Thus, this composition means purification and perfection, that is, transformation from the lower status of a snake to the higher and more intelligent status of a person.

Then, your gaze will fall on the cat, which was also a treasure guard, but not as reliable as a dog. The cat symbolizes independence, falsehood, malice, and was also considered a companion of magicians and sorcerers.

At the top of the dial you will see mascarons. These are images of faces with angry expressions. It was believed that mascarons located at a height scared away the external elements, which subsequently had to look for another place to demonstrate their power.

In the gutters of the structure there are sculptures of gargoyles, which, oddly enough, protect the masonry from excess moisture.

Then, your gaze will fall on the familiar toad, which means sin and also symbolizes heretics. Being in a lie, that is, in a swamp, toads constantly lie, making croaking sounds.

After the toad sculpture, you will notice another familiar nocturnal animal - the hedgehog. It symbolizes the protection of the hearth, but is not good, since character consists of three components: greed, aggressiveness and anger.

Under the astrolabe at the bottom of the dial you can find an image of the devil, which is presented in the form of an alert beast with bulging eyes.

On the east and west of the dial you will see two different sculptures that warn against dark forces. This is a face without a shape and a goblin, respectively.

Large statues on the sides of the dial

1. A Stingy Man with a bag and money is a Miser. There is information that previously in place of the miser there was a Jew who made money on interest, but due to political correctness, the statue had to be modified.


2. The image of a magician with a mirror symbolizes a noble spiritual activity - to look beyond the boundaries of the world. According to another interpretation, the sculpture means vanity looking at its image in the mirror.

3. The image of a skeleton - symbolizes Death. An hourglass and a hand reaching towards it means a bell that reminds of death.


4. Next to the skeleton is a sculpture of the Turk. According to one version, it is a symbol of pleasure and sin, according to the second, it is a reminder of the Turkish threat to the once existing Austrian Empire.

Bottom dial - Manes dial

Unfortunately, the original version of the lower dial, which is a calendar, has not been preserved. Today, tourists observe the dial, which was designed from a copy from 1659 by archivist Jaromir Erben. It was completed in 1866 artwork. Having agreed to do his job, he did not take a large fee, however, he contributed significant changes in Orloy. Legends said that anyone who deviates from the original design of Orloy will soon die. A combination of circumstances or a prophecy significantly changed the life of Joseph Manes: in subsequent years he experienced severe pain, against the background of which depression and mental illness developed. After completing the work, the restoration artist lived for 5 years.


The Manes dial consists of two discs. The inner gilded disk represents the constellations, and the copper outer disk represents the days of the year. Due to the value of the calendar dial, it was decided to move the original to the main Gallery of Prague, and in its place a copy was installed, the author of which was E. K. Liszka. Thus, it was decided to protect the Manes dial from natural conditions and preserve it in its original form.

Inner dial disc

The inner disk of the dial depicts the coat of arms of the capital of the Czech Republic, as well as the signs of the zodiac and the calendar cycle of paintings of the theme rural life in the Middle Ages. The paintings themselves symbolize 12 months.

• January - depicts the celebration of the birth of a child.
• February - depicts a peasant warming his feet by the fire and his wife carrying firewood.
• March - plowing is depicted.
• April - depicts tying up trees.
• May - depicts a guy decorating a hat and a girl picking flowers
• June - mowing is depicted
• July - depicts the harvest
• August - grain threshing is depicted
• September - sowing depicted
• October - depicts the grape harvest
• November - depicts cutting down trees and preparing firewood
• December - depicts the slaughter of a pig

Outer dial dial of Manes

The copper disk is divided into 365 segments, each of which contains a poetic syllabary calendar - tsisioyan. It also indicates the dates of mention of the saints. If the day is a holiday, then at the beginning of the tsisioyan the name of the saint honored on this day is indicated. If it’s an ordinary day, then Qixioyan takes on meaningful content on various topics.

Decoration of the Manes calendar dial

The main idea of ​​the external design of the dial is the image plant motifs and symbols of life, thus the dial is framed by a vine. It was believed that wine, being the drink of the Gods, freed people from earthly routines and brought joy, youth and eternal life.


By right side from the dial there are sculptures of a monkey and a phoenix bird leading a conversation. The phoenix was revered by all ancient civilizations, symbolizing eternity, the cycle of life and resurrection. The monkey was considered a tamed, dexterous and intelligent animal until in the Middle Ages it began to symbolize sinfulness, greed and the incarnation of the devil. The composition is complemented by a forest gnome and birds.

The entire structure seems to be supported by two sculptures of masons from the Middle Ages. You can tell them by their clothes social status. According to one version, these sculptures depict a master and an apprentice, whose works are interconnected.

In the lower left corner you can see a sculpture of an owl, which in ancient times symbolized night and wisdom; a little later the owl began to be associated with darkness and unbelief.

• Chronicler
• Astronomer
• Archangel Michael
• Philosopher

Performance in the style of the Middle Ages

Every hour from 8 am to 8 pm, an action takes place in the Old Town Square in the spirit of the Middle Ages, when the apostles appear one after another in the upper windows and the final participant is Jesus. At the same time, a little lower, on the sides, the figures also begin to move. Moving objects symbolize human vices. Thus, the skeleton, which symbolizes death, turns over the clock and nods to the Turk, and the Turk shakes his head negatively. On the other side, the Miser shakes his wallet, and the archangel with a sword punishes him, being the embodiment of punishment for sinners. The end of the performance is marked by the crow of a rooster.

How to get to the Prague Astronomical Clock

Address: Staroměstské náměstí 1/3, 110 00 Prague 1-Staré Město
Phone: 236 002 629

Get directions

The dial is decorated with a large number of sculptures that are placed around its circumference. Here we will see a lion (the protector of all animals), next to a dog (a symbol of fidelity, vigilance). His neighbor is a snake with a Phrygian cap, where the cap means freedom, and the snake means sinfulness. This sculpture signifies purification and transformation from snake to human. The cat, another decorative element, is the keeper of treasures, and also a symbol of falsehood, a companion of magicians.

The image of maskers at the top of the dial was supposed to scare natural elements. Gargoyles in gutters protect from excess moisture. Another image of the devil in the form of a beast with big eyes we find it under the astrolabe. The east and west of the dial are decorated with two figures: a shapeless face and a goblin. They are designed to protect against dark forces. On the sides of the dial there are large statues: the Miser, Vanity (Pride), Death, the Turk.

The Manes dial (pictured on the left, click on the photo to enlarge) has two disks. The gilded disk containing the coat of arms of Prague inside represents the constellations, the copper disk represents the days of the year. The paintings symbolize the cycle of the calendar: 12 sketches are 12 months (pictures of rural life in the Middle Ages).

The copper disk is divided into 365 day segments indicating the name of the saint revered on that day. IN wide circle Christian holidays are included. The red inscription indicates a day off. The dial is decorated with a grape vine - a symbol of joy and eternal life.

On its right side there are sculptures of a phoenix bird and a monkey. The first is a symbol of eternity, the cycle of life. The second is a symbol of sin, greed. The structure is “held” by a master and an apprentice. The sides of the dial are “populated” with the figures of the Chronicler, the Astronomer, the Archangel Michael and the Philosopher.

We watch the progress of the 12 apostles hourly. Some of them are not included in the gospel: St. Barnabas and Paul, which is why the Czechs call them “preachers” and not apostles. Every hour is played big performance. At the top of the structure are the 12 apostles; Christ closes their course.

The skeleton (Death), turning over the hourglass, rings the bell and waves menacingly at the Turk (a hint that his death is approaching). He turns his head in denial. The Miser jingles his wallet. Archangel Michael punishes him. And only the Proud Man cares about his appearance: he admires the reflection in the mirror. The rooster completes the scene with its crow, foreshadowing the chimes that chime every hour of the day.

You will see the progress of the 12 apostles every hour from 9:00 to 21:00. There will be a lot of people in the square during these hours, but the spectacle is worth it. Borrow good places in advance. The photo below is an example of the crowd watching the progress of the apostles, click on the photo to enlarge.

Be careful and vigilant, pickpockets can trade in such a crowd. Pickpocketing from tourists happens often; we wrote about this in the article “”.

You can take photos and videos on the square; you don’t need to pay for it. Don't forget to bring a camera or video camera.

Going down the stairs observation deck, pay attention to the photographs telling the history of the tower and Orloy.

In the evening, you can see street performers performing on the square.

Not far from the clock is the Staromestska restaurace restaurant, which was recognized as the best in Prague. If you're hungry, don't miss the chance to try the best ones. The prices here are high, but it's worth it.

Sitting in a cafe near the chimes, leisurely spend a few minutes near this ancient and unique Prague landmark. And although the proverb says that " happy hours don’t watch,” let contemplation of the Prague Astronomical Clock make you happier.

We wish you interesting walks around Prague, and read our interesting articles about the Czech Republic ( links below).