Olomouc Astronomical Clock (Olomoucký orloj)
Olomoucký kraj
The Olomouc Astronomical Clock (Olomoucký orloj) is set into the northeastern façade of Olomouc Town Hall in the Czech Republic. Originally built in the 15th century, it has been reconstructed multiple times, with its current look dating to a complete 1955 rebuild in socialist realism style. The clock sits in a tall arched alcove about 14 metres high and combines timekeeping with astronomical and calendar displays. Its lower dial represents the earthly sphere, showing minute and hour as well as day, month, year, and the Moon’s phase. Above, the upper dial represents the heavenly sphere, presenting a star map and the Sun, Earth, and planets against the twelve houses of the zodiac. Around the main face, mosaics include the Ride of the Kings and a “procession of maidens,” alongside figures such as a worker holding a wrench and a chemist with a flask. At noon, a brass cockerel announces the moment and animated figurines-depicting various proletarian professions-move past the clock’s windows for several minutes. The alcove’s perimeter also features mosaic allegories of the twelve seasons and two traditional festivals, reinforcing the clock’s blend of civic art, ideology, and astronomy.
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Astuce: Arrive a little before noon to secure a good viewing spot for the brass cockerel and the animated procession of figurines. Take time to study both dials: the lower one focuses on civil time and the calendar, while the upper one is the astronomical display with zodiacal context. Look closely at the mosaics around the alcove-many visitors miss the seasonal allegories and festival motifs on the perimeter. If you are interested in the clock’s earlier appearance, consider pairing your visit with the city museum, which holds fragments from the version damaged in May 1945.
Faits intéressants
- •It is one of the few heliocentric astronomical clocks in the world.
- •The arched alcove containing the clock is approximately 14 metres high.
- •The calendar section includes Czech name days and (in its 1955 form) important days of the Communist regime, including the birthdays of Stalin and Gottwald.
- •Noon is announced by a brass cockerel, followed by an animated procession of proletarian figures lasting about seven minutes.
- •Sixteen bells used for the carillon were cast by P. Hilzer in 1898.
- •The carillon was originally intended to play “The Internationale,” but it now plays three folksongs: “Daleká, šeroká cesta přes Holomóc,” “Vrbe jož se zelenajó,” and “Za Náměšťó na kopečko hádajó se o děvečko.”
- •The clock appears in the opening scenes of the 1969 Czech film “The Joke,” based on the book by Milan Kundera.
Histoire
The first undisputed written mention of the Olomouc Astronomical Clock dates to 1519, though local tradition places its construction between 1419 and 1422.
Over the centuries it was repeatedly rebuilt and fitted with different moving figures, and it also experienced long periods of stoppage in the 19th century.
In 1898, parts that remain among the oldest in today’s clock were created, including a heliocentric dial by Eduard Korfhage.
The clock was damaged by a grenade in May 1945 during the final days of the Second World War, and after a brief return to its earlier form it was completely rebuilt in 1955 by Karel Svolinský in socialist realism style, with a commissioning ceremony held on 9 May 1955.
Guide du lieu
Northeastern Town Hall façade and arched alcove
Start by stepping back to take in the full height of the arched recess (about 14 metres) that frames the clock. The alcove’s scale is part of the spectacle, turning the clock into a civic monument rather than a small timepiece.
Lower dial (earthly sphere) and calendar
Move closer to read the lower dial, which focuses on civil time and the calendar cycle. It indicates minute and hour and also tracks day, month, year, and the Moon’s phase; the calendar below includes Czech name days and selected commemorations tied to the Communist-era program of the 1955 rebuild.
Upper dial (heavenly sphere)
Then study the upper dial, which presents the astronomical display: a star map with the Sun, Earth, and planets, set against the twelve houses of the zodiac. This is the part that underscores the clock’s unusual heliocentric concept.
Noon animation: brass cockerel and figurines
If you time your visit for noon, watch for the brass cockerel that announces the hour, followed by the moving figures that pass the windows. The procession highlights socialist-era themes through depictions of working professions.
Mosaics and perimeter allegories
Finish by circling your gaze around the surrounding mosaics: the Ride of the Kings and a ‘procession of maidens’ appear above, while a worker with a wrench and a chemist with a flask flank the main face. Along the perimeter are allegorical mosaics of the twelve seasons and two traditional festivals, adding a folkloric layer to the socialist realist program.
Contact
Téléphone: 585 513 111