Royal Castle clock in Warsaw to be refreshed and made accessible for its 50th anniversary on July 19.
The Royal Castle clock in Warsaw, located on the Zygmunt Tower, will be refreshed and made accessible to visitors in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Bartłomiej Górski, the castle clock conservator, shared that further renovations are planned.
Historical Damage and Restoration
The original clock, created in 1622 by Jan Sulej, was severely damaged during a fire on September 17, 1939. Its hands stopped at 11:15 AM and remained so until the castle’s destruction in 1944. In 1974, the clock was restarted at the same time, marking the completion of the castle’s structural restoration.
Modern Conservation
Bartłomiej Górski, the clock’s conservator since 2018, highlighted that the current clock mechanism, a mechanical masterpiece, was crafted by his father, Marek Górski, along with other craftsmen. Despite the rise of quartz technology, a mechanical design was chosen for its authenticity and longevity.
For the upcoming anniversary on July 19, the clock will be visually refreshed. A comprehensive renovation is also planned to enhance its historical and aesthetic value, making it a prominent exhibit.