This clock is often called dancing because every day at exactly noon it puts on an entire performance. It lasts 15 minutes, but during that time almost the entire history of Austria passes before the eyes of astonished tourists.
12 figures depicting the most important historical figures move past the dial. Among them are Emperor Charlemagne, who is considered the founder of the Austrian state, Empress Maria Theresa with her husband Francis I of Lorraine, the world-famous composer Joseph Haydn, and others. Each one to its own melody. At the same time, the figures have plaques attached indicating the current hour, with a pointed top that shows the minutes. And the minutes, interestingly, are marked not on the dial, as on ordinary clocks, but on a special horizontal scale above it.
This unique clock is located on Hoher Markt square, which is considered the oldest part of Vienna. It is positioned at the height of the second floor between two buildings. A passage between these buildings was specially constructed for it, and the clock mechanism was housed there.
It was created by the painter and sculptor Franz von Matsch, who in 1911 made the clock especially for the insurance company “Anker” (“Anchor”), which is why it is also sometimes called “Ankeruhr” or the “Anchor Clock”.
