Strasbourg Cathedral
The Astronomical Clock
The Notre-Dame cathedral of Strasbourg is one of the great tourist attractions of the Alsace region of France. Inside there is an extra delight waiting the horologist: the famous astronomical clock ("L'Horloge Astronomique"). This is one of the largest astronomical clocks in Europe.The Strasbourg cathedral clock has a long history. The first clock was built in around 1352. This stayed in place for about 150 years until it finally failed.
Work on a replacement began in 1547 but due to the religious turmoil of the time was not completed until some thirty years later. Major modifications / rebuilding work took place again in the 19th century.
The clock is on four main levels and provides a variety of astronomical information. It's magnificent in itself, but what makes it such a tourist attraction for visitors to Strasbourg is the collection of automata that perform on the various levels. These include a cherub turning an hour glass, another hitting a gong and a figurative representation of the four ages of man.
The main "show" takes place an 12:30 daily. On the top level, figures of the twelve apostles parade in front of Christ and bow before him whilst a cock spreads its wings and crows.