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Sarajevo Clock Tower: A Lunar Timekeeper

Visit the Sarajevo Clock Tower, the only public clock in the world that keeps lunar time, marking the start of each new day at sunset.

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The Sarajevo Clock Tower, standing beside the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, is a 30-meter-tall historical monument and the only public clock in the world that keeps lunar time. Built in the 16th century, it marks the beginning of each new day at sunset, a tradition maintained by a timekeeper.

A brief summary to Clock Tower

  • VC5H+MGR, Mudželiti veliki, Sarajevo, 71000, BA
  • +38762626626

Local tips

  • Observe the clock when its hands shift to 12:00 at sunset, marking the beginning of the new day.
  • Explore the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque located next to the Clock Tower.
  • Learn about the complex techniques used by the muvekit (timekeeper) to calculate lunar time.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From Baščaršija Square, walk east towards the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque. The Clock Tower is located immediately next to the mosque. The walk is short and easy, taking only a few minutes.

  • Public Transport

    Take tram line 3 or 6 to the Baščaršija stop. From the stop, walk towards the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque; the Clock Tower is right next to it. A single tram ticket costs 1.60 KM (€0.80) if purchased at a kiosk or 1.80 KM (€0.90) if bought from the driver.

  • Taxi

    Take a taxi to Baščaršija. From the city center, a taxi ride should cost approximately 5-10 BAM. Ask the driver to drop you off near the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque; the Clock Tower is easily visible from there.

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Discover more about Clock Tower

The Sarajevo Clock Tower, or Sarajevska sahat-kula, is a striking stone tower that has marked time in the heart of Sarajevo for centuries. Located next to the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, it is more than just a timepiece; it's a testament to the city's rich cultural and religious heritage. Believed to have been constructed in the 16th century, the clock tower has been rebuilt twice, once after a fire in 1697 and again in 1762. The current clock mechanism was brought from London in 1875. What makes this clock tower unique is that it is the only public clock in the world that keeps lunar time, also known as "ala Turca" time. This means that the clock strikes 12:00 at the moment of sunset, marking the beginning of a new day according to Islamic tradition. Since sunset times vary daily, a timekeeper, or muvekit, was responsible for calculating the correct time using complex techniques and instruments. The tower has four clock faces, each oriented towards a different cardinal direction. In 2006, the clock tower was declared a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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