Zytglogge Clock Face I
The clock face of the Zytglogge in Bern's Altstadt.
The Zytglogge (clock tower) is one of the landmark building’s in Bern, a former city gate on the western end of the old town.
The tower was built in the 12the century, but was destroyed by fire in 1405, after which it was used as a prison for prostitutes.
It was fitted with an astronomical clock made by Caspar Brunner between 1537 and 1530, which figures mechanical figures – including a parade of bears, the symbol of Bern – which process around the eastern face of the clock four minutes before every hour.
The clock played a part in Albert Einstein formulating his Theory of Relativity. He was working as a patents clerk in the city and lived just down the road from the clock. When he was travelling away from the clock on a tram, he theorised that if he was travelling at the speed of light the clock would appear to be stuck at the same time while his own watch ticked on, proving time was relative.
Zytglogge Clock Face I
The clock face of the Zytglogge in Bern's Altstadt.
The Zytglogge (clock tower) is one of the landmark building’s in Bern, a former city gate on the western end of the old town.
The tower was built in the 12the century, but was destroyed by fire in 1405, after which it was used as a prison for prostitutes.
It was fitted with an astronomical clock made by Caspar Brunner between 1537 and 1530, which figures mechanical figures – including a parade of bears, the symbol of Bern – which process around the eastern face of the clock four minutes before every hour.
The clock played a part in Albert Einstein formulating his Theory of Relativity. He was working as a patents clerk in the city and lived just down the road from the clock. When he was travelling away from the clock on a tram, he theorised that if he was travelling at the speed of light the clock would appear to be stuck at the same time while his own watch ticked on, proving time was relative.