Astronomical Clock -The Orloj

Time, Art, and Mystery

The Prague Orloj, located on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall, has kept time since 1410. Designed by clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and astronomer Jan Šindel, the clock is a medieval masterpiece combining scientific accuracy with symbolic storytelling.

Every hour, crowds gather to witness the “Walk of the Apostles,” a short but delightful show where twelve wooden figures appear in rotation. Below them, allegorical sculptures — Vanity admiring herself in a mirror, Greed clutching a money bag, Death ringing a bell — turn in a macabre dance that has fascinated visitors for centuries.

The astronomical dial is rich with details: it shows Old Bohemian time, Babylonian time, and the zodiac calendar, tracking not just hours but cosmic movement. Above it all, a golden rooster crows, ushering in the next hour.

The Orloj represents Prague’s unique blend of history, science, myth, and faith — a reminder that even time can be poetic.