The big parade is at noon only!

This clock in Vienna has two sides—make sure to look at both so you don’t miss the historic, storytelling side.

The animated clock displays different rotating elements over a 12‑hour cycle. At 12 noon, all twelve historical figures appear in sequence, accompanied by music. At every other hour, only one symbolic figure moves across the clock to mark the time. Even if you can’t be there at noon, the clock’s details and symbolism are rich, charming, and fun to observe.

Above the clock, the sun motif and the serpent below immediately raise questions about the deeper meaning behind the artwork. At the top, an angel and a skeleton represent humanity and death. Instead of traditional minute markings, each five‑minute interval is shown through symbolic images—an owl, a pierced double heart, a theatrical mask, gears, and more. Interpretations vary, but many see references to love, medicine, music, art, knowledge, and mechanics. While the hour (in Roman numerals) is “carried” by the figure of the hour, the minutes are indicated by a small triangle sliding along a numbered horizontal scale above.

The clock was first designed in 1914 and ready to operate in 1915, but its official inauguration was delayed until after the First World War. With the fall of the monarchy, several elements were modified to reflect the new era.

Damaged during the Second World War, the clock was restored and put back into operation in 1956, with updated sound technology.

The timepiece sits between two buildings and is named after the insurance company Der Anker, which commissioned it. And yes—the guidebooks are right: the real show happens only at noon. Don’t assume something special will occur just because people gather before any random hour. When we visited, a local even joked about tourists waiting for nothing. hahaha!

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