This article presents a curated collection of 28 historical photographs of the Prague Astronomical Clock, known as the Prague Orloj, captured between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Orloj, mounted on the southern wall of Prague’s Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square, is one of Europe’s most iconic medieval astronomical clocks.

It features a complex mechanism including an astronomical dial that tracks the Sun and Moon, a calendar dial, and the famous hourly “Walk of the Apostles,” in which wooden figures move while a skeleton representing Death strikes the time.The article places these photographs within the broader historical transformation of the clock.By the mid-1800s, the Orloj had fallen into disrepair and often stopped functioning.A major restoration completed in 1866 modernized both its mechanical systems and visual appearance.

During this period, the wooden Apostle figures were added, and Czech painter Josef Mánes created a richly decorated calendar dial featuring zodiac signs and rural Bohemian life scenes.In 1865, a golden rooster was installed above the Apostle windows, later finalized in its public form by 1882.The early 20th century brought further changes, including a 1912 modification to align the clock with Central European Time.Following the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the clock became a symbol of national identity and cultural pride.

However, its history also includes destruction: during the final days of World War II in May 1945, the Old Town Hall was damaged by fire, destroying the wooden figures and severely harming the mechanism.The clock remained inactive until a community-led restoration restored its function in 1948.

The photographs highlighted in the article capture the Orloj during this dynamic period of renewal, national significance, and architectural evolution, offering a visual record of one of Prague’s most enduring cultural landmarks.