Brno astronomical clock, Modern clock tower at Freedom Square in Brno, Czech Republic
The Brno astronomical clock is a black stone tower made of polished granite at Freedom Square in Brno, Czechia. The smooth surface displays digital readouts for time, date, and astronomical information, while four openings at the base point in different directions.
The city unveiled this monument in 2010 to commemorate the end of the Swedish siege in 1645. Citizens had rung the noon bells one hour early, causing the attackers to begin their withdrawal before reaching the agreed deadline to break off the assault.
The name of the clock recalls the defense of the city during the Thirty Years' War, when citizens used a trick to fool the Swedish besiegers. The modern design deliberately breaks with the traditional clock towers found in other historic cities of Central Europe, creating a contemporary meeting point on the central square.
The monument is best visited shortly before 11 in the morning, when visitors gather to catch the marbles. The glass marbles are dispensed through one of the four openings, and many people try to grab them as souvenirs.
The mechanism releases a different colored marble each day, and the color changes according to a set cycle. Experienced collectors know the sequence and try to get specific colors, while tourists often only stop by once.
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