CZECH REPUBLIC: PRAGUE: ORLOJ CLOCK

(9 Dec 1999) Czech/Nat
While the toll of midnight may potentially throw the world's clocks and computers into chaos, there is one time piece which will definitely have no problem.
The Orloj's (pronounced OR-loy) spectacular tolling of the hours on the Old Town Square in Prague is watched by thousands of tourists every day, making it one of Europe's most famous clocks.
This is the heart of ``Magic Prague,'' the Old Town Square, magnet for the nearly four million tourists who visit Prague every year.
And at the centre of the Square is the six hundred year old Orloj, the clock on the old town hall that draws the most sightseers.
Each day at the top of the hour hundreds gather beneath the clock to watch the tolling of the hour.
What is mundane on an ordinary clock is a magnificent display of medieval technology at work.
Otakar Zamecnik (OHT-ahk-ar ZAH-mech-neek) is the Orlojnik, or the keeper of the Orloj.
For nearly two decades he has been making weekly visits to the clock to make
sure it doesn't miss the hour.
He say that while the Y2K problem might throw other timepieces into a spin, the bug will definitely have no effect on the Orloj.
SOUNDBITE: (Czech)
``The year two thousand definitely can not have any affect on the Orloj because it is not run by a computer. It has been here for six hundred years and can run for six hundred more.''
SUPERCAPTION: Otakar Zamecnik, Orlojnik
It is the way it tolls the hour for the past 600 years that is so special.
What happens inside might only be of interest to the expert horologist, but from the square below, it is a spectacle to behold.
The twelve apostles each make an appearance, peeking out of two windows high above the crowd below.
And below tiny figurines move and ring bells and the golden rooster crows.
The show only lasts a few minutes, but it's a show that's been happening since the 14th century, and the crowd always seems pleased.
And while Y2K bug may potentially throw air travel into chaos and set off nuclear missiles, in Prague on New Year's Eve, the Orloj will keep on ticking...
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[@performa9523]

A totally incredible and improbable work of art. That something so intricate and beautiful was built so long ago was maintained all these years, and then managed to survive dozens of wars (including 2 World Wars) is astounding. I'd love to see it in person someday!

[@Pidalin]

I think it's not original, if I know it correctly, this is copy from 19th century, but some parts can be original, who knows

[@Wxtst.3]

@@Pidalin Why do they say it’s been around since 1410 if it’s just new parts :(

[@Pidalin]

@@Wxtst.3 Not just new parts, but many parts are copy, original parts are in museum. But I think inside clock mechanism is original.

[@Wxtst.3]

@@Pidalin Idk why they don’t mention that - very misleading!

[@Pidalin]

@@Wxtst.3 Why they don't mention that most of castles or old bridges are completely new? Because of money from tourists. :-) There are some floods every few years, if you have some gothic bridge, yes, few bricks are probably really from that time. :-) When you look for example on old paintings of Karlštejn castle, it looked very different until 19th century, all roofs are modern. You can't even change it back to original look because of some 19th century reconstructions are already protected as historical sights too. This time was very unfriendly to historical buildings, they didn't have any laws about keeping medieval sights and it was mostly owned by some nobility so they were reconstructing it every few years too modern style in that time. That's why cities like Český Krumlov are so unique, becuase there is almost no baroque an later architecture.

[@stormjack3805]

I am from the Czech Republic and this is a great video please go to the Czech Republic and go to Pražský Orloj ( Prague orloj )

[@larryhagemann5548]

Thank you for the contribution...very cool.

[@mohammednalwala9653]

I FEEL THAT BEFORE ANYBODY TRAVELS TO THIS PART OF EUROPE ONE SHOULD BE AWARE AND HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE VISITING PLACES WHICH WILL HELP ENJOYING EUROPE AT THE BEST

[@legaciestr]

Sanaa Sanitary Mohmd Nalwala WHY IN CAPITAL LETTERS

[@michaeledgarhorsky1139]

❤❤❤

[@slodkiocb]

Clock was build on flat earth model (geocentrism)

[@KENANDBEN098]

What is she doing with the hands? 2:02

[@thankfully1202]

I'd like to hear the explanation of what it all means.

[@ramjadhav2674]

Czech and pragh can I see

[@maafya8748]

Flat earth proved

[@Mirinovic]

Sun rotated aroud erth proved :-D