Strasbourg astronomical clock, Astronomical clock in Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, France
The Strasbourg astronomical clock is a tower timepiece in the cathedral displaying celestial positions and zodiac signs through mechanical means. The device operates via an intricate system of gears and moving figures mounted on the cathedral wall.
An original version was built in 1354 and already displayed astronomical movement. In the 1800s, the entire mechanism was rebuilt with modern precision engineering that powers it to this day.
The clock displays the blend of religious devotion and scientific curiosity that shaped medieval thought through its moving figures and celestial displays. Visitors witness how faith and observation about the heavens were intertwined in the minds of the craftspeople who built it.
The automated figures perform daily and show their movements to visitors. It is helpful to arrive early in the day and position yourself where you can see the entire mechanism unfold clearly.
The mechanism contains a system that automatically calculates the Easter date without requiring manual adjustments for centuries ahead. This perpetual calculation is a feature rarely found in other timepieces of its era.
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