Olomouc Astronomical Clock, Astronomical clock on the northern wall of Town Hall in Olomouc, Czech Republic
The Olomouc Astronomical Clock sits on the northern wall of the Town Hall and displays two large dials showing earthly measurements and celestial bodies. A detailed star map and a system tracking planetary positions are among its distinctive features.
The clock was damaged by artillery fire during World War II in 1945 and required complete reconstruction. It was rebuilt in 1955, reflecting the socialist realism style of that period.
The mosaics on the clock face show local customs like the Ride of the Kings, a traditional procession that still happens in the region today. The carillon plays tunes that connect the monument to the everyday rhythm of the city.
The best time to watch is at noon, when a brass rooster crows and mechanical figures of workers parade through the windows. The show lasts only a few minutes, but it is worth being in the square beforehand.
This clock displays planetary movements according to the heliocentric Copernican model, which makes it one of the rare clocks of this kind. Showing the sun at the center was a boldly modern statement at the time of its 1955 reconstruction.
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