The Prague Orloj: how the astronomical clock works and when to watch

On the hour, on the south wall of the Old Town Hall, a few thousand people look up at once and wait. A small skeleton shakes a bell. Two windows open. Twelve wooden apostles shuffle past. A cockerel crows. It is over in under a minute, the crowd claps, and the square carries on.

Czechs call it the Orloj, and it is both a tourist magnet and a genuine medieval machine. Here is what you are looking at and how to see it without getting elbowed.

What you are looking at

The astronomical dial is the upper part. It shows the sun and the moon, the zodiac and time in several systems, including the familiar central European time, old Bohemian time and sidereal time. It is a lot for one wall, and part of the charm is that nobody reads it at a glance.

The calendar dial is below, with twelve medallions for the months. It dates from about 1490 in the usual account. The painted plate in use today is a nineteenth-century work based on designs by Josef Mánes, and the originals are kept in the Prague City Museum.

The figures stand round the dials: Vanity with her mirror, Greed, a Turk and, the one everybody watches, Death, who rings the bell and turns an hourglass. Above are the two windows for the Apostles. The current wooden Apostles were carved by Vojtěch Sucharda after the Second World War, replacing those lost in 1945.

How it keeps time

Behind the dials is a mechanical movement driven by weights and regulated by gears. It needs winding and care, so every so often the clock is stopped for repair. Restorations make the news in Prague and usually split opinion: some want every detail left alone, others want the square's crown jewel at its best. If you arrive during repairs, the dial may be covered or the show paused, so check the official tourist pages first.

The legend

Guides love the tale of Master Hanuš, the clockmaker supposedly blinded by town councillors so he could never build a rival. It is a legend with no evidence behind it, but it's a good one. More of them in Prague legends every visitor should know.

When and how to watch

The show runs on the hour during the day. Exact times and seasonal changes are on the official tourist pages.

You can also climb the Old Town Hall tower, by lift or stairs, for views over the square and the roofs. Tickets are sold at the Hall; check the official page for times and prices. Go on a clear day, and go up before the hour if you want to hear the bell from above.

Watch your pockets

Crowds attract pickpockets, and the Old Town Square is a place they work. Read how pickpockets operate in Prague before you stand in a dense crowd, and note that cafés on the square are pricey. Our tourist traps guide lists the usual ones.

Make it a walk

The Orloj is a good start for the Old Town. The Charles Bridge is minutes away, and the Jewish Quarter is covered in our Jewish Museum guide. If you like your landmarks tall, the Žižkov TV tower gives a very different view of the city. For a longer plan, see three days in Prague.

Beyond the hourly show

At a quiet moment you can study the carvings, the zodiac symbols, the saints' emblems and the little scenes of country life marking the months. A zoom lens or binoculars helps. The Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Jan Hus Memorial stand on the same square.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Prague astronomical clock?

The astronomical dial dates from 1410, and the clock is often described as the oldest astronomical clock still working.

When does the Orloj perform?

On the hour during the day. Check the official Prague tourist pages for current times, as maintenance can change the schedule.

Is the legend of the blinded clockmaker true?

No evidence supports it. It is a popular legend, not recorded history.

Can I go up the Old Town Hall tower?

Yes, there is a viewing platform. Tickets and times are on the official tourist information site.