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Once considered one of the wonders of the world, the Prague Astronomical Clock may have lost its mysterious quality since the Medieval Ages but is still revered for its incredible early technology and aesthetic beauty, and one of the most treasured gems of the Czech capital. It is an iconic image of the Old Town Square, resting on the face of the Old Town Hall and drawing tourists to watch its hourly mechanical display. A wonder of the old times and the new, the Prague Astronomical Clock is a timeless beauty of the city and internationally known as the oldest functioning one of its kind in the world.

The key attraction of the Prague Astronomical Clock is when it comes alive during its hourly performance, in which figures of the twelve Apostles process through a window above the dial in a visual spectacle of movement and creative display of time. While the figures process, a skeleton statue rings a bell, a man shakes his head, another counts his money, and the image of vanity looks into a mirror.At the end, a rooster crows, and the bell of the tower rings out into the city. It is a truly captivating and slightly bizarre spectacle, but less dramatic is the constant movement of the astronomical dial, revealing the medieval image of the universe with the earth at the centre. During the summer, there is an extra layer of magic, as picture projections of Czech history are displayed on the clock.

The Prague Astronomical Clock is located in the real heart of the city, the Old Town Square, and is the key destination on any walking tour which tourists can easily follow the reach the destination. Alternatively, Metro lines A and B go to nearby stations, the most convenient being the stop called Staromestska, which is also a station on the tramline.

The history of the clock dates back to 1410 when it’s believed to be made by Mikulas of Kadan who collaborated with the astronomer Jan Sindel, to create the highly intricate design. It received improvements in the 16th century but stopped working for years, until it was restored in 1865 with a freshly painted face and modernised dial. Parts were destroyed in the war by the German army, but the replicas were later replaced, and it now stands strong and functioning with the past of the city tied into its own history.