Sarajevo Clock Tower

Sarajevo Clock Tower

Sarajevo Clock Tower (Bosnian: Sarajevska sahat-kula) is a clock tower near Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and it is one of the largest clock towers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is built in 17th century. After fire in 1697 when burned during attack by Eugene of Savoy, clock tower has been rebuilt, as well as in 1762.

After Austria-Hungary occupation, small part of object is added, and clock has been brought by two Sarajevan traders from London in 1874, because the old Turkish clock worn out. Old clock is moved to Vratnik onto the Vratnik's mosque.^[1]

On the tower there is a clock Gillett & Johnston, made 1873 in London.^[2]

The builder of the tower is Gazi Husrev-beg, one of the most famous vakifs from the Ottoman period. First written trace about the tower dates from 17th century. The tower has 76 wooden stairs, arranged in square order, where muvekit goes up to clock once a week and sets time. Clock must be set, because it shows lunar time. It is assumed that this is the only clock in Europe that shows time in Lunar calendar.^[3] This clock shows midnight right in the moment of sunset in Sarajevo. In the yard of Gazi Husrev-beg's mosque there was also muvekithana, in which on basis of precise measurements and bowl of water right time for salat prayer was determined.

In 1967 the clock has been repaired, and hands and numbers on all four clockfaces were gold plated. During islamic month of Ramadan, when clock rap out 24 hours, then it's iftar time. After the first tick, kandils turn on Beg's mosque, and traditionally after that cannon from the Bijela Tabija shoots, which marks the end of fasting.

National monument

In 2006, Commission to preserve national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina decided to declare Sarajevo Clock Tower a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[4]

References

Coordinates: 43°51′33″N 18°25′43″E / 43.85917°N 18.42857°E / 43.85917; 18.42857