The largest clock in the world: tower, flower, wrist. Old Joe is the tallest singles champion. Clock tower - Straubing, Germany
Clock towers often become the main attractions of the city, and sometimes symbols. Today tower clock perform a largely aesthetic function, but until the middle of the last century they were a vital urban structure. Below are the most beautiful clock towers in the world.
Big Ben, London, England
Let's put everything in its place: Big Ben is the largest of the six bells in the Palace of Westminster, but this name is most often erroneously attributed to the Clock Tower. The tower, which is known to the entire population, was built in 1859, and until 2012 it was officially called " Clock tower Palace of Westminster" or the Tower of St. Stephen. However, for the anniversary year of the reign of Elizabeth II, the tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower. By the way, once there was a prison in this tower, however, a brave English suffragette became its only prisoner in the whole history.
Rajabai clock tower, Mumbai, India
The tower in Venetian and Gothic style with remarkable masonry was at the time of construction the most tall building cities. Of course, the tower is admirable, and, by the way, it is surprisingly similar to Big Ben (oh yes, the Elizabeth Tower). Not surprisingly, the tower was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, an English architect who also worked on the drawings of Big Ben. Currently, the tower's chimes play the same tune every 15 minutes.
Clock tower of the Old Town Hall, Prague, Czech Republic
This tower houses one of the oldest astronomical clock in Europe. The movements of the mechanical figures and the complex design of the clock have always attracted a crowd walking on the Old Town Square, where the town hall is located. The clock on the tower was installed in 1410, and it still shows, in addition to time, the phases of the moon, the days of the equinox, the position of the Sun in the zodiac, and even Christian holidays.
Zytglogge clock tower, Bern, Switzerland
This tower with astronomical clock maybe a little less noble and unusual, but also quite photogenic, moreover, one of the oldest in the country. Built between the beginning of the 13th century, the tower is located in the old part of the city, which is an object world heritage UNESCO.
Jam Gadang Clock Tower, Bukittinggi, Indonesia
26-meter white clock tower in the far Asian country bears the subtle features of local architectural styles. The name of the building literally translates as "Big Clock", and the building itself is an important milestone in the history of the city of Bukittinggi, in West Sumatra. The tower in the city center was built in 1926 during the Dutch colonial era, as a gift from the queen of the city administration. The top originally featured a figure of a rooster, but this was removed during the Japanese occupation and replaced with a structure similar to the traditional rooftops of the Minangkabau people who inhabit the city.
Clock tower of Sultan Abdul Samad building, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The 43-meter tower is attached to magnificent palace Sultan, ruling Selangor at the time of the start of construction, in 1897 for the anniversary of Queen Victoria. The facade and domes of the palace are specifically Islamic, but the clock tower is very similar in structure to those in, say, Great Britain (with the exception of the domed golden top). Every year on August 31, the clock on the tower strikes at midnight - in honor of Malaysia's independence day, which the country received on this day in 1957.
Khan Al-Umdan Clock Tower, Akko, Israel
Khan Al-Umdan, also known as Khan-i-Awamid, is the largest and best-preserved caravanserai in Israel. The building was erected in 1784, but the clock tower was added only in 1906, next to the main entrance to the palace: the tower was added in honor of the anniversary of the reign of Sultan Abd al-Hamid II.
Clock tower of Abdul Hamid II, Beirut, Lebanon
The tower was erected in 1897 near the Grand Serail (Government Palace) in honor of the anniversary of the coronation of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, as well as in order to call local Muslims to daily prayers. This tower looks very western.
Abraj al-Bayt clock tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The tallest of the skyscrapers in the Abraj al-Beit complex is the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel. Actually, at the moment it is the highest building in the country and the third tallest in the world after the Burj Khalifa and the tower in Shanghai. The height of the tower is as much as 601 meters, and the dial of the tower clock is the largest in the world. In addition to the hotel, this tower houses the Museum of Islam and the Lunar Observatory.
Clock tower of Metz station, Metz, France
The building of the station of the beginning of the last century in architecture resembles old church, and the attached 40-meter clock tower (they say it was designed by Kaiser Wilhelm himself) famous for its statue of the stern knight Roland, standing on the defense of the town.
Clock tower of Munich Town Hall, Munich, Germany
The Gothic tower was erected in 1908. The mechanical figurines of the surprisingly pretty clock are scenes from the history of the 16th century. The "show" lasts about 12-15 minutes, and at the end a small golden cockerel chirps three times, thus marking the end of the performance. 
Moscow is a city where you can find many unusual and unique buildings. However, buildings with clocks have a special, magnetic appeal. We invite you to meet the most famous buildings capitals that will always prompt you exact time.
Clock in Moscow City
In the territory business center Moscow City is already visible low, but at the same time very unusual building. Soon, here, in a two-story multifunctional concert complex, the world's largest clock will appear. To date, the record holder is a clockwork in Mecca with a diameter of 46 meters. The capital clock will be one and a half times larger - their diameter will be 64 meters. This means that the building will be able to enter the Guinness Book of Records.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
At any time of the day, this clock will be able to determine the exact time both from the embankment and from the City towers. The functions of the arrows will be performed by the rays of lighting devices built into the structure of the building. The giant clock is expected to start counting time as early as 2018.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
The clock on the building of the theater. Obraztsova
The most fabulous and extravagant clock in the city is located on the facade of the Obraztsov Theatre. It is impossible to pass indifferently past this creation of the sculptor D.M. Shakhovsky. The clock with dimensions of 4 meters in height and 3 meters in length is an ensemble of twelve houses. Every hour, a fairy-tale figurine appears from the corresponding house, a rooster crows and the melody of the song “In the garden, in the garden”, familiar to everyone from childhood, plays. At noon, spectators come out to greet all 12 dolls at the same time. By this time, a young audience, thirsty for magic, always gathers near the theater building. Even in the age of high technology, small children look with great admiration at this seemingly simple mechanism from the past.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
The clock appeared on the facade of the theater in 1970. The building itself was an unremarkable gray concrete structure. In order to somehow rectify the situation, the head of the Puppet Theater Sergey Obraztsov decided to decorate the facade with an unusual clock. The concept proposed by him was undertaken by two sculptors - Pavel Shimes and Dmitry Shakhovsky, and the clockwork itself was created by Veniamin Kalmanson. Once upon a time, the clock rang even at midnight, but after numerous complaints from residents, a quiet regime began to be observed.
Clock on the RAS building
This year on the building Russian Academy Sciences for the first time launched a clock that stood for a quarter of a century. The mechanism was assembled by specialists from the Czech Republic 23 years ago, but due to lack of funding, the work was never completed. As a result, the chronometer stood idle for more than two decades. A year ago, it was decided to launch the watch. To do this, we again turned to watchmakers from the Czech Republic, who modernized the device in accordance with the most modern technologies. Now four dials are working in test mode. In the future, they will be supplemented with a white background for black arrows and bright backlighting. After the official launch, they will call every quarter of an hour.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
Clock-chimes on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin
The famous chimes occupy three floors of the Spasskaya Tower. They are a symbol not just of Moscow, but of all of Russia. The total weight of the chimes is 25 tons, and their arrows are translated manually. The first clock on the Kremlin tower appeared in the 16th century and burned down in 1656. The dial showed day and night hours, depending on the time of year and the length of the day, their ratio changed. At the same time, it was not the arrow, made in the form of a golden ray of the sun, that rotated, but the dial itself. Contemporaries said that when Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich returned from the Lithuanian campaign and saw the charred Spasskaya Tower, he wept bitterly. It was only 13 years later that they decided to restore the clock.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
According to the available records, all the metal parts were carefully "washed in a large trough", and then "boiled in a huge beer cauldron" for two days. After cleaning the parts with river sand, they were wiped with a rag and abundantly “smeared with pickled lard”. However, by 1702 they again fell into disrepair. Peter I ordered to deliver to Moscow a new clock "with a bell game with dances, in the manner that they are in Amsterdam." From Holland, the mechanism, bought for 42 thousand silver thalers, was brought on 30 wagons. The rolling ringing of 33 bells installed on the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin was heard "in the surrounding villages for more than ten miles." Additional alarm bells were also installed there, announcing fires and enemy raids. The dial on Peter's watch has finally become familiar, with 12-hour divisions.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
Now the chimes are chiming the national anthem Russian Federation at noon, midnight, 6 am and 6 pm, and at 3 and 9 am, 3 pm and 9 pm, the anthem "Glory" is performed. For most Russians, bells are associated with the onset of the new year. By the way, President Vladimir Putin recorded most of his New Year's addresses against the backdrop of the chimes of the Spasskaya Tower.
"World Clock" in the Okhotny Ryad shopping center
One of the main attractions of the capital is the huge "peace clock" on Manezhnaya Square. Glass dome in the shopping center Okhotny Ryad» represents divided into time zones and covered with titles major cities. It rotates slowly, making a complete revolution per day. The beginning of a certain time occurs at the moment of crossing the time zone with a digit. At the top of the dome there is a sculpture by Tsereteli depicting George the Victorious who defeats a snake.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
"Rocket" in the Central Children's Museum on Lubyanka
Along with Big Ben, the Kremlin Chimes, the clock on the Old Town Square in Prague and in Chinese city guangzhou clock in central children's store on Lubyanka entered the top five most accurate and famous in the world. The so-called "Rocket" consists of five thousand parts and weighs 4.5 tons. The main mechanism is located at the level of the fifth floor. The development and installation of the monumental clock was carried out in a record six months by the engineers of the Raketa watch factory under the leadership of Jacques von Polier. Experts assure that the clock mechanism in the Central House of Museums on Lubyanka will last without overlays for a whole century.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
Zodiac clock at Kazansky railway station
One of the most famous clocks in the capital appeared on the facade of Kazansky railway station in 1926. The project was developed by the talented architect Alexei Shchusev, who personally insisted that the clock be chiming and ordered the bell in advance. The architect himself also drew the signs of the Zodiac for the large blue dial. In 1941, the bell fell off the tower during the explosion of a high-explosive bomb. He was put in place only 30 years later. In 1996, during the comprehensive renovation of the Kazansky railway station, it turned out that the dial giant size it is impossible to remove it. Then climbers were invited to carry out restoration work, they did an excellent job. Currently, the clock needs another restoration, but the mechanism works properly.
Photo © Sergey Avduevsky / Moscow is changing
Text © Anna Koval
Sights of Europe: "Big Ben", London in the UK
The most famous clock in Europe is Big Ben. They were created in 1859 and fixed on 4 sides on the Tower of St. Stephen's Palace of Westminster in London,. The dial diameter is 7 meters, the length of the hour hand is 2 m 70 cm (metal), the length of the minute hand is 4 m 30 cm (copper). The clock got its name from the name of a large bell fixed on the Tower, weighing 13.7 tons, which strikes every hour. In the event of a clock lag, a coin weighing 1.5 grams is placed on the pendulum - an old English penny.
Big Ben, London, UK
Sights of Europe: "Old Town Orloj", Prague in the Czech Republic
The Prague “Eagle” (in the tower clock) cannot be called just a clock, they still show the position of the Sun and Moon relative to the Earth, however, according to medieval concepts. Made in 1410 by the master Ganush, who was then blinded so that he could not repeat his creation. There is a clock on the Old Town Hall in Prague,. Every hour, a performance is played out in front of a crowd of tourists: Death rings a bell, Greed shakes his wallet, Vanity holds a mirror and the fourth figure - the Turk, and at this time, 12 apostles pass through the opened window and already in the final, a rooster cries over the square.
"Old Town Orloj", Prague in the Czech Republic
Sights of Europe: "Kremlin Chimes", Moscow in Russia
The Kremlin Chimes were born in 1851, installed on the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin,. The dial diameter is 6 m 12 cm. The hour hand is 2 m 97 cm, the minute hand is 3 m 27 cm. Every 15 minutes, 9 bells ring and a large bell strikes every hour. Previously, the main clock of the country was musical: at noon it sounded - “How glorious is our Lord in Zion”, and at midnight - “Transfiguration March”. The watch got its name from the French word “courant”, which means “current” or “running”.
One of the most important clocks from a historical point of view is the Greenwich Clock. They are at the gate. Royal Observatory in Greenwich, . They were created in 1852 by master Charles Shepherd, which is why they are sometimes called Shepherd's watches. This is the most important 24-hour clock, from which the countdown for all mankind begins. In diameter, they are not at all large, only 92 cm.
"Greenwich Clock", Greenwich in the UK
The most theatrical hours, of course, are located at the Puppet Theater. Obraztsova in Moscow, . They were created in 1970. The height of this structure is 4 m, and the width is about 3 m. Every hour, a rooster crows first, and then passers-by listen to the melody of the song “In the garden, in the garden” and some animal looks out from one of the 12 windows, but all together they can be seen at noon and midnight.
"Clock of the Puppet Theater named after. Obraztsova, Moscow in Russia
Sights of Europe: Zwinger Clock, Dresden in Germany
Hours in Palace Complex Zwinger installed in 1933 in Dresden, the same is unique in its kind. Under the clock are 40 Meissen porcelain bells. Once the bells were gilded with a white rim on the skirt. This clock is also musical, every hour they play a beautiful folk melody, which appears thanks to the electronic bell control mechanism.
"Zwinger Clock", Dresden in Germany
Belfry of the Zytgloggeturm with chimes from 1530 in Bern,. This is the oldest clock in Switzerland. One clock shows the time, the second is astronomical - the day of the week, month, phase of the moon and zodiac sign. Exactly 4 minutes before the beginning of the next hour: the golden rooster crows, then the jester hits the bells, and after him the bears (the symbol of the city of Bern) come out and show their outfits with the symbols of the city. One bear has a pipe, the second has a spear, the third has golden armor and a sword, the fourth has a drum. Then a knight on a horse and in golden armor appears on the stage. The fifth bear flaunts in a crown - a symbol of the power of Bern, the sixth holds a bundle and finally, a rooster crows, flaps its wings so that Chronos turns the hourglass over, and Hans von Tan hits the bell with a hammer. Then another lion will nod as many times as it is now, and again the rooster will crow.
Zytgloggeturm Belfry Clock, Bern in Switzerland
Watch " World Time” at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, show the universal time. They were created in 1969. The height of the directly rotating cylinder is 2 m 70 cm, and the structure itself rises 10 meters. In 24 sectors, the names of world capitals, mostly former socialist countries, are written, on the base where the pillar is mounted, a mosaic wind rose is laid out, and above the dial is a model of the solar system.
"World Time", Berlin in Germany
The Warsaw Millennium Clock entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest tower clock. They are located at an altitude of 165 meters, on the 42nd floor of the Palace of Science and Culture. Made in 2001, their diameter is 6 m 30 cm.
Millennium Clock, Warsaw in Poland
And finally, the whole sculptural composition in Paris, in front of Gare Saint-Lazare, . As the sculptor Armand Pierre Fernandez, who designed this object in 1985, said: “The number of objects brought together changes their quality and appearance.” The name of the sculpture “Time for Everyone” absolutely accurately shows the frailty of being, the transience of life and makes everyone who comes to the station think about the fact that sometimes you need to stop, just like the hands on the clock and answer the question where you are going and why.
"Time for All", Paris, France
Sights of Europe: clock towers, tower clocks of Europe
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85-meter clock tower, made in Venetian and gothic styles. Located on the campus of the university in the southern part of Mumbai, India. At one time it was the tallest building in the city. The construction of the Rajabai Tower was started on March 1, 1869, designed by the English architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, and completed in November 1878.
Old Joe (Old Joe)
Old Joe or the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Tower is located on the campus of the University of Birmingham, in the suburb of Edgbaston, UK. It is the tallest free-standing clock tower in the world. Its height is 100 meters. It was built in 1908 and named after the university's first chancellor, Joseph Chamberlain.
Peace Tower
In eighth place in the list of the most famous clock towers is the Peace Tower, officially the Victory and Peace Tower. Located in the heart of the parliament building in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. This 92.2-meter tower was built on the site of the old 55-meter Victoria Tower, which burned down in 1916, along with for the most part complex.
Zytglogge
Zytglogge is a medieval clock tower with an astronomical clock located in the historic part of Bern, Switzerland. It was supposedly built between 1218 and 1220 and was used in different periods as defensive tower, prisons, and also as a clock tower, which served as the official determinant of the exact time for the city. Now, perhaps, it is considered the most popular attraction in Bern.
The Spasskaya Tower (formerly the Frolovskaya Tower) is one of the 20 towers of the Moscow Kremlin overlooking Red Square. It houses the main gates of the Kremlin - Spassky, and in the tent are installed famous watch- chimes. The 71-meter tower was built in 1491 by the Italian architect Antonio Pietro Solari during the reign of Ivan III.
Rathaus-Glockenspiel is a popular tourist attraction located on central square Marienplatz, in the city of Munich, in southern Germany. It was built in 1908 as part of New City Hall. Every day at 11 a.m. (as well as at noon and 5 p.m. on summer time) to the sound of chimes, 32 human-sized figures stage two stories that took place in the 16th century in Munich. The show is about 12-15 minutes long.
The Old Town Hall with a height of 56.59 meters is located in historic district Czech capital Prague. The complex was founded in 1338, and over time it was gradually completed and expanded. The Old Town Hall Clock, first installed in 1410, is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and also the oldest still in operation.
Abraj al-Beit - a complex of high-rise buildings with total area 1,500,000 sq.m., located in the city of Mecca, in the west Saudi Arabia. It is the largest building in the world by mass and also the tallest building in Saudi Arabia. Most high skyscraper- The Royal Clock Tower Hotel is 601 meters high. The diameter of the watch is 43 meters.
Philadelphia City Hall - 167-meter seat of government American city Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Second Empire style building was built between 1871 and 1901 by Scottish-born architect John MacArthur Jr.
Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower)
Big Ben is the informal name for the largest of the six bells in the Palace of Westminster in London. Big Ben is often called the clock and even the tower itself, although correct name 96.3-meter tower - "Elizabeth Tower". It was built in 1858 and opened in May 1859. Considered one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The large Westminster clock with a dial diameter of 7 meters and a total weight of 5 tons is the world's largest four-sided striking clock.
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giant watches
In Saudi Arabia, in Mecca began the countdown of the most big clock in the world. They are located on one of the most tall buildings in the world with a height of 601 meters. The largest clock has a diameter of 43 meters and is located 400 meters above the ground. Four of their dials are set on the four cardinal points. The giant clock is visible from anywhere in the city. At the top of the tower, above the clock, there will be a 61-meter-high spire crowned with a crescent.
dial decoration
The dials are composed of 98 million mosaic pieces arranged in a strict pattern. It is decorated with the coat of arms of Saudi Arabia located in the center with a palm tree and swords crossed under it. Above the clock is the inscription “God” in Arabic.
According to the Al-Arabiya TV channel, a special high-precision movement with protection against adverse external influences was developed and manufactured for this watch. The watch is powered by powerful solar panels.
Project implementation
During the call to prayer, the watch will be visible even at a distance of 30 kilometers due to the special illumination of the dials, which is provided by a huge number of lamps (21 thousand) of white and green colors, symbolizing the color of Islam and the flag of Saudi Arabia.
On this moment the clock is working in test mode, as its installation and construction of the skyscraper is still ongoing. How much money was spent on the project is unknown, but the Saudi Arabian media mentions a figure of $ 800 million. So it is quite possible to say that this, in addition to everything else, is also the most expensive watch in the world.
Skyscraper with a clock
Plus, the skyscraper with the biggest clock will also be the most big hotel in the world. It should be noted that not all residents of the city and pilgrims equally favorably perceive the skyscraper with a clock hanging over the Masjid al-Haram mosque, sacred to all Muslims. But the craving of Arabs from Saudi Arabia for gigantomania is irremediable.
