Interesting Facts about the Astronomical Tower in Prague, Czech Republic.

Prague is full of Gothic buildings and you are sure to find an interesting story associated with each one of these buildings. Well, same is true about the Astronomical Tower in Prague. 

Here is one interesting story that I heard about this tower.

The locals claim that when the mechanical figures were created, town officials had the clockmaker blinded so that he would never duplicate his masterpiece. In vengeance, the blind man climbed the tower and stopped his creation. The clock remained silent for more than fifty years. Centuries later, during dreary decades of communist domination, the legend of the blinded clockmaker became a Metaphor for thwarted creativity.

Also, this story is very similar to that of Taj Mahal. You don't know the story? Well, here is the short version.

Mughal emperor Shah Jahan ordered his chief architect, ustaad Ahmad Lahori, to build a magnificent tomb for his most beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in her early 30s. The emperor wanted to build two tombs. First tomb was built for his deceased wife. After completing the work on the white marbled tomb, the emperor was so impressed by the work of his 20,000 men that he ordered to get their hands cut so that they couldn't replicate it for someone else! (and you thought your boss was bad!)

Shah Jahan's son didn't think that building a second tomb, a replica of the Taj Mahal but build in complete back marble, was not a cool idea so only one was constructed.

Anyway, enough of Taj Mahal.

World's oldest working Astronomical Tower.

Here are some interesting facts about the Astronomical Tower in Prague:

1. This is the world's oldest "working" astronomical tower.
2. Clock was installed in 1410 A.D, making this the third oldest astronomical clock in the world.
3. Astronomical clocks were created at a time when it was not necessary to show the minutes on the clock. A moment of time did not matter much. The tower clockmakers created separate dials to show the minutes. (Imagine what would happen if a minute worth of information is lost on the web!)
4. The astronomical clock was fully mechanical from 1566 A.D. onwards.
5. The present-day calendar, which is right below the clock was added later in the year 1870.
6. One of the few building in Europe with a Muslim figure. Since science, especially astronomy was flourishing in the muslim world at the time of construction so a tribute maybe? Who knows.
7. All the original figures are placed safe in Prague Museum so the ones that you see on the tower are 3D printed models. (Well, not 3D printed but are copies of the original).
8. At the end of World War II, the clock was serious damaged. 
9. Since 1948, the bell and drum mechanism are set to chime on the hour according to Central European Time.
10. The clock does not show daylight saving.

Close up of the Astronomical Tower, Prague. 

So these were some of the interesting facts that my guide and the fellow travelers revealed to me. For more facts though, you can check THIS website.

p.s.

This article is the second part in the series of articles that I will posting about Prague.

If you like this article then you might also like the "30 Best Photo of Prague".