Bitola clock tower
The clock tower of Bitola (also called Sahat Kula of Bitola ) is the landmark and one of the most important structures of the North Macedonian city of Bitola . It stands on the southern bank of the Dragor in the central park of the city center, where the New Mosque and the Church of St. Demetrios are also located.
The clock tower is one of the most representative cultural monuments of Islamic art in North Macedonia.
Building history
The exact time when the tower was built is unknown. According to some historical records, it is mentioned as early as the 16th century during the Ottoman rule . However, due to insufficient description from these sources, it cannot be said whether it is the current building.
Other writings put the construction time as the year 1830. A legend from these years says that the Turkish city lords collected around 60,000 eggs from the inhabitants in order to mix them with the mortar and thus make the walls stronger and more resistant.
During the mid-1990s, the monument was extensively restored, but its original was preserved.
construction
The 30 m high clock tower is square in its floor plan. It is divided into three areas (starting from the bottom): the stone base, the clockwork with the four dials and the spire with a terrace. The walls are stylishly decorated with wrought stone.
The terrace can be climbed by a spiral staircase. In more recent times, a cross has also been attached to the top of the tower.
clockwork
The original clock mechanism from Ottoman times was replaced in World War II by a clock mechanism from the German Nazi regime that still works today , as thanks for the maintenance and care of the German military cemetery from the First World War by the city administration.
The clock also has its own carillon , which was refurbished by German companies in 2009.
Bitola clock tower
(1930s)
Bitola clock tower
(1930s)
The clock tower in the evening.
The clock tower at night.
source
- Goran Popcanovski: Saat Kula - The clock tower. In: Bitola.de. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013 ; Retrieved February 12, 2012 .
Web links
Coordinates: 41 ° 1 ′ 51 ″ N , 21 ° 20 ′ 2 ″ E