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Area:
Staré Mêsto
Category:
Best views
Address:
Staromêstské námêstí
Info:
(724 508 584). Metro Staromêstská.
Open Nov-Mar 11am-5pm Mon; 9am-5pm Tue-Sun. Apr-Oct 11am-6pm Mon; 9am-6pm Tue-Sun.
Admission 50 Kč.

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Astronomical Clock

Staromêstské námêstí

The orloj has been ticking and pulling in crowds since 1490 – even if its party trick is laughably unspectacular, prompting ‘Is that it?’ looks from bemused spectators. Every hour on the hour, from 8am to 8pm, wooden statuettes of saints appear, with Greed, Vanity, Death and the Turk below. The clock gives Central European, Old Czech and, for some reason, Babylon-ian Time, all courtesy of Master Hanuš, who was blinded so that he’d never duplicate his masterpiece.

      

4 Comments

  • Dan said...
    The clockwork figures are beside the point. The main even here is not the show, but the 600-year-old scientific instrument that is the original portion of the Orloj.
    For those interested in Prague's Hermetic, scientific and esoteric history, the Orloj is a must-see. The puppet-show? Not so much. Posted on Apr 05 2008 23:20
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  • claire said...
    This is worth seeing but nothing hugely exciting happens. I was expecting a big show! Posted on Feb 27 2008 12:59
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  • frances yozawitz said...
    Very nice Posted on Nov 30 2007 14:27
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  • Anita said...
    I don't think that people will be drawn to Prague's Astronomical Clock with no decent picture. Posted on Aug 31 2007 19:22
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4 comments

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