It has proudly stood in the Saint-Jean Cathedral since 1379: the astronomical clock of Lyon has hardly aged... or almost. Standing nearly 10 meters tall and 2 meters wide, it sure makes an impression. It’s not just a clock; it’s a monument in its own right, a gothic masterpiece straight out of another era. Just imagine how many times its hands have turned since its medieval birth: 471,580, to be exact. And it never gets tired.
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A clock that reads the stars (and the Gregorian calendar)
If this clock fascinates so much, it’s not just because it tells the time: it brushes against the supernatural. Thanks to a perpetual calendar, it displays the day, month, Christian holidays, and even lunar phases. But it goes even further with an astrolabe worthy of the greatest astronomers: the position of stars, dates of eclipses, length of the day... it had it all figured out long before Google. And to top it all off, it’s adorned with gilding, animated statues, and carillons that still sing at the exact hour.
A giant restoration for an eternal clock
In 2023, after more than a year of meticulous work, the clock has regained all its glory, ready to face the centuries to come. Watchmakers, painters, cabinetmakers: a whole ballet of artisans came together to breathe life back into this treasure of Lyon's heritage. And the craziest part? Its mechanism is still original. No software, no AI, just the intelligence of humans from the 14th century who already knew how to tame time. A true lesson in humility.
With a blend of technical marvel, historical heritage, and aesthetic beauty, the Saint-Jean clock is much more than just a relic of the past: it's a living testament to human ingenuity. Whether you're a history buff, a curious passerby, or just a leisurely Sunday stroller, it's definitely worth the detour. In Lyon, even time seems to have decided to pause in order to admire it.
