There is only one astronomical clock in Slovakia, which also is the largest wooden sculpture
in the country. This unique technical and artistic gem takes the form of a seated Virgin Mary
of the Seven Sorrows, patron saint of Slovakia, and combines traditional woodcarving with
precise astronomical technology.
The heart of the astronomical clock is an astrolabe, an astronomical dial that displays the
position of the sun and the moon, the phases of the moon, the position of the sun in the
zodiac and other precise astronomical data, taking into account true solar time.
The Astronomical Clock strikes on the hour from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., featuring a procession of
the seven Slovak saints, including Sts. Cyril and Methodius and St. Gorazd. Two bells are
located in the small tower. One bell strikes the time, while the other creates a background
sound for the procession of the apostles.
Inside the clock tower, there is also a wooden statue of a “vartáš” or night watchman, a
historical figure who used to guard the peace of the villages at night. This figure serves as a
reminder of a forgotten tradition in Slovak villages, where every community had its own night
guardian.
The clock was completed in 2009 by the Slovak sculptor Viliam Loviška. The entire building
is testament to the skills of Slovakia’s domestic craftsmen and their spiritual legacy.
How to get there?
You will find the clock in the centre of the village of Stará Bystrica, right on the main square.
Parking
There is a parking lot directly on the site.