Clock Tower of Razgrad, Ottoman clock tower in Razgrad, Bulgaria
The Clock Tower of Razgrad is a rectangular stone structure rising about 26 meters high, built on a square base measuring roughly 4.4 meters per side. The lower section features stone blocks while the upper part transitions into a wooden octagonal form.
An earlier clock tower was built in 1764 during Ibrahim Pasha's era, but the current structure dates to 1864 when master builder Todor Tonchev reconstructed it. The new tower was raised using the original foundations.
The tower displays a blend of Ottoman design principles with local construction methods, evident in its stone base and wooden octagonal crown. This mix of influences shaped how the structure became a gathering point in town life.
The tower is easily located in central Razgrad and serves as a key landmark for navigation around town. The chiming mechanism that sounds every half hour and on the hour helps visitors orient themselves by ear.
A bell inside the tower bears an unreadable Hungarian inscription, suggesting it was acquired during the Austro-Turkish War around 1731. This bell connects a distant conflict to the local story of the town.
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