Sundial, Taganrog

The Sundial of Taganrog is a device with a triangular metal gnomon fixed perpendicular to a dial containing engraved numbers and monthly corrections. The rod casts shadows on specially calculated figures to indicate local solar time.

The sundial was established in 1833 under Governor Baron Otto Germanovich Frank and stands as one of Russia's oldest timekeeping devices of this kind. The monument underwent repairs in 1972, 1990, and 2006-2007 to maintain its working condition.

The sundial is a protected regional cultural monument that represents traditional time measurement methods in Russian public spaces. It shows how people once relied on natural observation rather than mechanical clocks.

The device works best on sunny days when shadows are most visible and readings are clearest. You can find it on Grecheskaya Street near other historic sites, easily accessible from the road.

The mechanism incorporates special mathematical adjustments for each month of the year, which sets it apart from most other sundials. This feature allows it to show local time consistently accurately throughout the year.

Location: Taganrog

GPS coordinates: 47.21274,38.93749

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:27