Prague’s famous Orloj celebrates 600th anniversary

Prague City Hall is marking the 600 anniversary of its famous Astronomical Clock, also known as Orloj, one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions. The oldest part of the Orloj, the mechanical clock and astronomical dial, dates back to 1410 when it was made by clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and Jan Šindel, a professor of mathematics and astronomy at Charles University. Later, presumably around 1490, a calendar dial was added and the clock facade was decorated with gothic sculptures. To mark the anniversary Prague City Hall has mounted a big screen on its southern wall where people can watch a documentary about the clock’s history.