Bern #5

The Zytglogge. 

 

This mechanical clock was originally built in 1220.  It was part of the outer defensive wall.  By 1300s, the building itself was converted into a women's prison. In the 1400s, it was burned out by a fire and the astrological clock and the musical clock were added during it's reconstruction, followed by the cast iron bell part.

 

It was neat to see hear and see.  It has several different parts, so it actually takes a good 5-10 minutes to complete it's hourly function.  One of the clock faces has paintings of Adam and Eve being thrown out of the Garden of Eden.  The other side has a sundial, the astrological clock that marks hour, day and month, and a musical clock that has a jester ringing bells above a king that has spinning bears under it.  Right above the clock is a painting of all the Roman gods that have to do with planets.  The neatest part is the giant bell striker that was made to be Chronos (human embodiment of time).  He strikes an hourly bell and there's a quarter hourly bell right underneath him.