Prague Astronomical Clock, Prague, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Prague Astronomical Clock, known as the Orloj, is a medieval clock on the south wall of the Old Town Hall in Prague's Old Town Square. Installed in 1410, it is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working. Its dials, moving figures and hourly show make it the busiest photo stop in the city.

The story behind it

The clock dates to 1410, in the reign of Wenceslas IV, and has been telling the time for more than six centuries. Its dial is more than a clock face: it follows the sun and moon through the zodiac and shows several time systems at once, including Old Bohemian time, where the day began at sunset, as well as Babylonian time and the familiar Central European time.

The best-known legend concerns its maker, Master Hanuš. The story goes that the city council had him blinded so he could never build a rival clock elsewhere, and that in revenge he damaged the mechanism so badly it stopped for years. Historians debate who really built the clock, so treat this as a tale rather than a record. It is still the story guides tell beneath the dial.

What to look for

• The astronomical dial, where rings and pointers track the sun, the moon and the zodiac, with Old Bohemian and Babylonian hours marked alongside modern time.
• The two small windows above the dial, where the Twelve Apostles pass in procession on the hour.
• The figures flanking the dial, including Death with his bell, Vanity with a mirror, Greed with a bag of gold and the Turk, who shakes his head.
• The calendar dial below, a later addition, with medallions for the months and the zodiac signs.

Tips for your visit

• Viewing the clock from the square is free. Arrive a few minutes before the hour to get a place, as the crowd grows quickly.
• Spend about 15 minutes here to see the show and study the dials. Early morning or late evening is much quieter than midday.
• You can go up the Old Town Hall tower for a view over the square. Check current opening hours and access before you plan around it.
• The Church of Our Lady before Týn, with its two spires, stands on the same square, and the Charles Bridge is a short walk away.

See it on a quest

Ghost of the Crown: Prague's Royal Quest passes the clock as one stop on a longer walk through the area, so you reach it on foot and see it in context. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Old Town, Prague is a good fit for a clock whose figure of Death rings the bell every hour. You walk through the Old Town streets, hear about each place as you get there and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Save the Emperor: The Alchemy Mission, Prague suits the clock's mix of science and mystery. You walk to it as one stop of a longer route, the app explains what you are looking at, and a puzzle waits on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.