Astronomical clock of Chartres, Astronomical clock in Notre-Dame Cathedral, Chartres, France
The astronomical clock in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Chartres is a round metal and stone mechanism with a central astrolabe pattern showing celestial movements. The face displays concentric rings with zodiac symbols, lunar information, and the path the sun takes seasonally.
Records indicate a timekeeping device in the cathedral from 1407, but the current astronomical clock was built and installed in 1528. A major restoration in 2009 restored it to working order after centuries of use.
The clock shows how medieval people connected astronomy with their faith and daily worship routines. Visitors can observe the way celestial knowledge was woven into religious architecture and timekeeping.
The clock is positioned high up inside the cathedral, so viewing from ground level works best with binoculars or from a distance for clarity. Daytime visits with good natural light offer the best viewing conditions to see the details of the rings and pointers.
A dark circle on the dial represents the yearly path of the sun, with a pointer that moves to show how daylight changes from season to season. This feature lets visitors see directly how the sun's movement shifts throughout the year.
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