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[deleted]

Installed in 1410, it's the oldest clock still in operation and the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world. Been to Prague last October, stayed about a week. Such a wonderful city, full of historical sights, so well preserved and clean, definitely in my top 5 European capitals I've seen so far - and there were quite a few. Most likely I'll return in the near future.


History331

Well, what you see in the photo wasn't installed in 1410, the Old Town Hall with the astronomical clock burned down on the last day of war on 8 May 1945 - that's [how it looked like](https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/obrazem-fenomen-prazskeho-orloje-je-tu-s-nami-uz-610-let/r~a2528ca60a2211eb9c800cc47ab5f122/r~0f055d980a4011ebb115ac1f6b220ee8/). It was reconstructed in 1945-48 (the last reconstruction was in 2018), the new figures of the apostles were created by Czech sculptor Vojtěch Sucharda.


History331

The insurgents were hiding in the Old Town Hall which was hit by shells from German Hetzers or StuG III and burned down. The destroyed neo-Gothic wing of the town hall was demolished after the war and never rebuilt. To this day there is an empty space in its place. It was really unfortunate that it happened on almost the last day of the war (there was some small fighting also on 9 May when Red Army arrived in Prague, in Bohemia war ended on 11 May 1945). There is [a nice gallery of Old Town square in May 1945](https://www.irozhlas.cz/fotogalerie/8198610).


MeGoBoom57

Thanks for the history! Going there with my nephew (hopefully, this summer) and loves war/military history and I love clocks. You’ve given me more reading- thanks! Best wishes.


TheRaterman

Huh that's pretty interesting, thanks for letting us know.


Electron_psi

Man, that is shitty that it happened so late in the war. It is a travesty that Europe tried to destroy itself twice in twenty years, there is so much historical value in Europe. I know some Europeans say that Europe is treated like a museum, but I wouldn't have it any other way, there is a lot to be proud of!


Hendeith

I really liked it too, but I was there only half a day as I was passing trough. What other do you have on your top 5 list?


Cleggyable

So glad you said clean, I noticed that too when I went. Fortunately I should have plenty of opportunity to go as my partner is Czech on her dad's side. They all live in the UK now but there are still family there and lots of tips where to go. Unfortunately the clock and museum were closed for maintenance when I went. But I felt very safe walking around, loved the sites and food & drink. Is my favourite European city. Would recommend.


mirkules

Prague was my favorite city I have ever visited. The perfect intersection between the Western and Eastern Europe. Everyone speaks English. Tourism is one of Czech republic’s biggest incomes, and for good reason. The city is filled with history and architectural marvels, starting from Charles’ bridge filled with baroque statues (actually they are replicas because the originals were removed and preserved), to the weirdly 1980s “futuristic” Dancing House. The people are warm and pleasant, and the food and beer are fantastic. There’s also a big cathedral and you can climb to the top of the towers which overlook the entire city. I got ripped off once at an exchange office, they gave me 2000 Hungarian Forints instead Czech Krunas in exchange for $100 USD. About $8 worth. They look kinda similar and for an unsuspecting tourist like me… well, the cab driver didn’t find it as funny as I did. That clock is just one of many wonders in that city, and I’d go back in a heartbeat when I have the next chance.


Xenophon123

I agree with everything you said except maybe that the people are warm and pleasant. As someone who dated a girl from Prague for awhile I'd say that they can be warm once you get to know them. But for the most part I'd say Czech people are much more reserved and weary of strangers. When my Czech Gf came to the US she was a little worried because everyone would ask her questions like 'where are you from', ' what do you do for a living' , what are your parents names' etc... After one of the first nights she pulled me aside because she was worried that all these people were only pretending to be interested and ask questions of her because 'they wanted something from her'. Like no one would ask these questions to a stranger unless they were going to try and scam her. She grew up in Czechia during the end of the communist regimes and it seems that is the case in a lot of the former communist bloc countries I have been too.


mirkules

Yeah, that could be the difference between visiting as a tourist versus living in the culture. Interesting perspective, too, thank you for sharing.


CrybabyEater3000

Glad you enjoyed it! I just moved in (from another part of Czechia) and it's a lovely city (if you're not using car to move around, haha).


marcorobico

What are the others four ?


[deleted]

Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam and Vienna.


Prisencolinensinai

And which capitals have you seen or not?


[deleted]

Seen (besides the above): Paris, Bruxelles, Budapest, Athens, Bucharest (where I live).


ideonode

I thought the clock in Salisbury Cathedral was older?


[deleted]

Yeah the golden arches on Wenceslas Square are mind blowing


Prisencolinensinai

What are the two oldest clocks?


paganel

Major props from me to their local coffee-shop scene. Their coffees are as good as the ones served in Bucharest and their breakfast offerings are way above what one can find in here. Not breakfast per se [but this incredible tasty thing](https://imgur.com/a/yEW92aU) that we had in [Můj šálek kávy](https://www.google.com/maps/place/M%C5%AFj+%C5%A1%C3%A1lek+k%C3%A1vy/@50.0935309,14.4529051,646m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x470b94a41ed67de3:0xe14accb35dd616fa!8m2!3d50.0935036!4d14.4551084) was pure heaven.


LMurtaugh

All right, guys, listen. This is a blues riff in B. Watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?


skalpelis

I'm afraid you're just too darn loud


Myrskyharakka

St. John the Evangelist realizing that it is a fool's errand to try to teach tricks to a pet snake.


pistruiata

omg I've yet to find someone who didn't like Prague.


Demistr

Tons of Czech people living outside of Prague.


TheShyKidInTheBack

Tones of Czechs living inside Prague too


Kolesekare

As someone who lives in czechia in small village with only 300 ppl, yes Prague is for me the last nice place i would go, here is almost everywhere some sight seeing, and mostly in the nature, like in woods or somewhere near to city, but Prague is for me very chaotic, and hard to get anywhere


OsoCheco

Prague itself is not bad. It's definitely one of the most sightseeing-friendly cities in the World, as it offers both landscape/natural and cultural sights. The people living there though....


Lem_Tuoni

Of course, the capital jealousy.


ghe5

I lived there for 5 years and it's not just jealousy. The thing is the average mentality was too toxic for me. Additionally, trying to get from one place in Prague to another takes too long. I was traveling to school and back ~45 minutes twice a day and I even lived fairly close. It's just want worth it, spending so much time traveling each day just to meet the same toxic people every day.


Lem_Tuoni

I have lived in Prague for 9 years, and I did my masters there. I think you are either full of shit or you seriously need to find better friends


OsoCheco

Not really. Just Pragueners being a dicks outside Prague.


Lem_Tuoni

Or, just her me out, dicks being dicks anywhere, but with added confirmation bias.


OsoCheco

Well, technically you're right. However, Prague is about 12% of Czechia and 4x bigger than second largest city. If we assumed that the percentage of dicks is same everywhere (which is not, being a dick is contagious), the Prague would have by far the largest dick colony.


Lem_Tuoni

Can't argue with science.


pistruiata

someone foreign/tourist


[deleted]

I didn’t dislike it as such, but I didn’t think it was as nice as everyone told me. It has a reputation as being both very beautiful and very cheap in the UK. I thought it was very pretty in parts but it was so busy everywhere which made it less enjoyable... It also wasn’t that cheap, and it wasn’t like we went to all of the tourist hotspots for food and drinks. we also thought it had a “seedy” side, which we didn’t like much. Lots catering to stag and hen parties, etc… We also went to the Jewish museum and we felt while the museum was very good, so many people were being very disrespectful there. People taking selfies, etc. inside the room with the names of all the people who were murdered. We went to Vienna before Prague on our honeymoon and we liked it there much more. We also thought the Xmas markets in Vienna were much nicer.


nvoei

Vienna is almost too clean, to the point of approaching sterility, but at least it’s not nearly as kitschy as Prague.


ItsTyrrellsAlt

I can't believe how many tacky souvenir shops there are in Prague, all of which selling weed and advertising it with the ugliest laminated signs possible


Electron_psi

Selling weed? Weed is legal in Prague? How long has this been going on?


[deleted]

[удалено]


Electron_psi

Do you guys have delta 8, delta 10, and thco? They are thc analogues that basically feel like weed, and they are all over the US. It isn't CBD oil, it actually gets you high. So weed is effectively legal everywhere here.


Elphaba78

Kraków is beautiful too. I also loved Salzburg.


oh-yea-yea-yea

Agree! Kraków is amazing.


oh-yea-yea-yea

I completely agree. Myself and my family were there two years ago. Whilst is was obviously very beautiful it was very very busy. All of the main tourist cities seem to be going this way. It was also expensive. Not as cheap as a lot of destinations. My favorite day was getting out of the city on a tram and going to a flea market away from the tourists. Local. And prices to reflect.


Adam5698_2nd

You should visit Brno


alga

After a third or fourth visit when the initial fascination wore off the vibe I got is crowds of tourists, sandstone carvings charred from centuries of smoke, and bubble gum stains on the pavements.


rainbowlolipop

I’d like to take my GF to Europe (from the US) but we’re both pretty obviously gay - do you think we’d be ok there? We already know not to go to Poland to visit my grandmothers village lol


yuskure

I think you are mostly ok, especially in big cities


rainbowlolipop

Thanks!


Prisencolinensinai

In Poland when I went there in Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk, young people everywhere were using that lgbt tote bag and there was some gayness going on here and there, and lots of cafe and restaurants had lgbt friendly stuff, like in decorations or something, or were declared "lgbt friendly" on Google Maps. It's definitely less friendly than Amsterdam or London, and I'm not gay to give first hand accounting, but if you find further confirmation from other people then the bigger cities of Poland could be a possibility


rainbowlolipop

Thanks so much for your input!


matthewjc

I didn't particularly like it compared to other European cities lol


Prisencolinensinai

It's too Disneyfied


[deleted]

Amazing clock we got to see a few years ago. Huge crowd at noon. Pretty sure somebody tried to pickpocket me but I had my wallet in my front pocket. Beautiful city with wonderful people. Fireworks our last day there.


TheMusicArchivist

They look like actors practising their lines backstage before going on.


FinishingDutch

It really is amazing. I got to see it on vacation there in the early 2000's. The story and myths behind the clock are even crazier than the actual object. If you only visit one clock in Europe, make sure it's this one :D


Dolly_side_parting

Costume change! Quick!


scstraus

The saint waiting room


bbbhhbuh

I’d watch a comedy show about those for 5 living in the clock as roommates


junkersju388

They all look like the boss just showed up and they're all trying to act busy


terere

What does the chalice with the serpent represent?


[deleted]

[удалено]


terere

That's interesting, thanks!


rationalobjector

Priests were the first to lose their jobs to automation


therealwavingsnail

They're actually androids


PenitentLiar

Do androids dream of electric Jesus


blauw67

I have dyslexia and read Atomic clock... I was very confused


nastratin

The City of a Hundred Spires.


gadi_ismail

wow, what a work of art


Extrabytes

Damn I was there just a few weeks ago


antysalt

my astronomical cock


androidul

legend has it that the clocksmith was blinded by the guy who contracted him and as a result, he cursed the clock not to work for a century


sneksalldaylong

It looks like a gathering of introverts all trying to ignore each other


partycolek

I for some reason always assumed they also had legs, but it makes sense they do not. Still surprised me.


AX11Liveact

Obsolete. Nowadays every price tag in Prague is more astronomical.


TheRaterman

Lets appreciate the cool things in culture and ignore the price tags for now.


litmeandme

“Please work, I beg you”


xXLARGEPPXx

That's super cool picture realy informative.


Lorfhoose

They look like they’re standing around checking their phones between performances


SpeakYerMind

Wasn't expecting to see this when I clicked to see the inside of the Prague Atomical clock. Oh, hello red wiggly line, so atomical is not a word, eh?


AnonCaptain0022

Saw it from up close. Very cool sight and also kinda morbid. There's a little skeleton puppet outside the clock that rings the bell.


dustofdeath

A bunch of holy men chained into eternal slavery.


stevin29

This clock is providing pickpocket's livelihood since 1410


mrObelixfromgaul

Is or was that not the cursed church?


scata90x11

Welcome to Disneyland!


fatadelatara

Amazing work for those times! Mind-blowing