The Prague Orloj has been keeping time on the Old Town Hall since 1410. Legend says the city blinded its maker so he could never build a finer clock. Here it is in bricks. The astrolabe has a black outer ring, a gold hour ring, a blue sky above a black night, a brown earth disc, and sun and moon hands. Below it turns the calendar wheel with its month medallions and the city crest. Death rings his golden bell beside the Vanity, the Miser and the Turk, the apostles stand at their blue shutters, and the golden rooster crows under a steep slate roof. The tourists below are waiting for the hour to strike.
The Prague Astronomical Clock, or Orloj, has been mounted on the tower of the Old Town Hall since 1410, and it is the oldest astronomical clock still in operation. It was built by the clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň together with the astronomer Jan Šindel, although a popular legend credits a Master Hanuš, whom the city councillors supposedly blinded so he could never build a finer clock anywhere else. Its astrolabe dial tracks the sun and moon across a sky of blue day and black night, while the calendar plate below, painted by Josef Mánes in the 1860s, marks the months with country scenes and zodiac signs.
Every hour a crowd gathers in Old Town Square to watch. The skeleton of Death rings his bell and turns his hourglass, the figures beside him stir, the apostles pass by the small windows above the dial, and a golden rooster crows. This brick model captures that scene in sandstone tones, from the layered astrolabe rings and calendar wheel to the little figures and the tourists waiting beneath the steep slate roof.
How many pieces does the Prague Astronomical Clock model have and how big is it?
The model uses 1225 pieces in 116 different part types, built over 149 steps in the picture-only PDF instructions. The finished tower stands about 50 cm tall, with a footprint of roughly 13 × 22 cm.
How do I get the bricks for this Orloj model?
Bricks are not included; you receive a parts list as a CSV file and as a BrickLink wanted list (XML), so you can order every part in one go. Buying the parts on BrickLink costs an estimated $95–180, not including shipping.
Is this an official LEGO set?
No, it is an independent fan design and is not affiliated with the LEGO Group. It uses standard parts compatible with LEGO® bricks, so you can also build it from pieces you already own.
Digital download. Bricks not included. Fan designs, not affiliated with the LEGO Group. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse this site.
