Astronomical clock
Orloj
Made in 1410: every hour the twelve apostles pass its little windows while Death rings his bell.
The Prague Orloj on the Old Town Hall was made in 1410, which makes it the oldest astronomical clock still working. Its dial shows the time, the place of the sun and moon in the sky and the signs of the zodiac.
On the hour, a skeleton rings its bell, the twelve apostles parade past two little windows above the dial, and a cock crows; crowds gather to watch.
More in Prague
Old Town SquareThe great square of the Old Town, with the Týn church, the astronomical clock and the Jan Hus memorial.
Týn ChurchThe Gothic church with two spiky 80-metre towers, behind the houses on the Old Town Square.
Charles BridgeThe stone bridge of 1357 across the Vltava, lined with thirty statues of saints.
Old Town Bridge TowerThe Gothic gate tower at the Old Town end of the Charles Bridge, one of the finest in Europe.
KlementinumThe vast Jesuit college beside the bridge, with a Baroque library hall and an astronomical tower.
JosefovPrague’s Jewish Quarter, with old synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery.
Old-New SynagogueBuilt around 1270, the oldest synagogue in Europe still in use.
RudolfinumThe neo-Renaissance concert hall on the Vltava, home of the Czech Philharmonic.
Powder TowerA Gothic gate tower of 1475 at the start of the Royal Route, once used to store gunpowder.
Prague CastleThe castle on the hill across the river, the largest ancient castle complex in the world; beyond this map.
TramsThe red and cream trams that rattle along the river and across the bridges.
Czech beerCzechs drink more beer per person than anyone; the pilsner was born in Bohemia.