Approaching the Old Town Square from the west side
View across the Square
Twin Towers of the Church of Our Lady before Tyn
General view of the base of the Clock Tower
A closer view, including two windows where figures of the Apostles appear
Both Dials
The Astronomical Dial
The Monthly Calendar Dial
I’ve had time to reflect on my short visit to Prague. Three
to four days was not long enough to see all the main attractions and to savour
the delights of the city, but I was able to take in a general picture of what
was worth looking at and learning about. The ‘taster’ was sweet enough to
entice me there again for a more in-depth study. However, I have to be
realistic about financing such a trip and finding time to accomplish it.
Bearing in mind these considerations, the probability of a longer sojourn there
is remote, which brings me to the conclusion that if want to learn more about
Prague, I’ll have to do so by using resources available such as my photos,
guide books and maps, and by consulting websites.
As a starter, the Old Town Hall with its Astronomical Clock
is a worthy subject. The clock is situated in the Town Hall Tower, and it is
said to be one of the oldest and most elaborate of its kind in the world. This fantastic
kinetic ‘art’ dates back to 1410 when it was built.
The display comprises three features: The astronomical dial,
portraying the position of the sun, moon and other astronomical phenomena; ‘The
Walk of the Apostles’, which are animated sculptures that move on the hour and
a calendar dial with medallions representing months of the year. For a better
understanding of their functions, visit the first link below.
The main attraction of Prague for me is the wonderful array
of architectural examples: Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Cubist
buildings. What better architecture could you see than the Church of Our Lady
before Týn with its Gothic twin towers and Renaissance and Baroque interior?
Links
Prague Astronomical Clock (Wikipedia)
Webcam of the Astronomical Clock
Astronomical Clock Movement Speeded Up
The Medieval Astronomical Clock in Prague
The Old Town Hall Tower and Astronomical Clock
Prague Portal
The Top Ten Reasons to Visit Prague
1 comment:
Hello Bill, I'm really enjoying your blog about Prague. From your photographs, there was certainly no shortage of sight see'rs, and the astronomical clock certainly looks interesting.
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