Gallery » EUROPE/AFRICA/ MIDDLE EAST » Round the World 2019 - Europe » Vienna 2019 » 29 July: Jesuit Church & Anker Clock
Our goal for today was to be at Anker Clock (in German, Ankeruhr) at 12:00 noon to see the changing of the 12 figures! And, yes, we had success (more on that will follow)!!
We began our day by locating the Jesuit Church. The Jesuit church was built from 1623-1627. While the outside is a bit plain, its interior is stunning! It contains marble pillars, gilding and various ceiling frescoes. The church is dedicated to the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
The Jesuit Church sits in a courtyard with the Alte Universitat and the Wissenshaften Academy, both of which are impressive due to their age and exterior decorations. The Alte Universitat (or Old University) was finished in 1624. It is now part of the University of Vienna. The Wissenshaften Academy, built 1773-1775, now houses the Austrian Academy of Sciences. At one time both of these buildings were under the direction and supervision of the Jesuits. In 1773, the Unversity of Vienna was nationalized and only the Church remained under the Jesuits.
After admiring these buildings, it was time to continue on to the Anker Clock. The Anker Insurance Company (now Helvetia) had this Art Nouveau clock built (1911-1914). The clock bridges two of the company's buildings together. In the course of 12 hours, twelve historical figures move across the face of the clock. However, every day at noon, all of the figures parade, each accompanied by music from its era. It’s so amazing to observe! Ed did a great job in capturing each figure. Below is their order of appearance: 1. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor, who allegedly died in Vienna in AD180. 2. Charlemagne or Charles the Great, who first incorporated “Austria” into the Holy Roman Empire around AD800. 3. Leopold VI, Duke of Austria, who awarded Vienna its city charter in 1221. 4. Walther von der Vogelweide, a famous travelling singer of Leopold VI’s time. 5. The first Habsburg ruler of Austria, Rudolf von Habsburg and his wife (you just see her head). 6. Hans Puchsbaum, the 15th-century architect and master builder closely associated with St. Stephen’s Church. 7. Emperor Maximilian I, a major player in the expansion of the Habsburg monarchy. 8. Johann Andreas von Liebenberg, mayor of Vienna at the time of the second Turkish siege of 1683. 9. Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg, who led the defense of the city in 1683. 10. Prince Eugene of Savoy, military genius and saviour of various Habsburg causes. 11. The 18th-century Habsburg monarch, Maria Theresa, and her husband. 12. Austrian composer Joseph Haydn (1732-1809).
It was wonderful to see this amazing clock – actually a work of art!
In our wanderings around the old city center, we came upon a statute of Gutenberg in front of the Regensburger Hof building (very impressive with its domed towers). Interestingly, there wasn’t much information regarding Mr. Gutenberg. Hopefully most visitors know that he was the inventor of the first printing press and is best known for being the printer of the “Gutenberg Bible."
As we returned back to The Hilton in the afternoon, we once again passed by St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It’s always an impressive sight! We once again returned to the Lounge to enjoy a cold beverage. Then we went to our room until it was time to enjoy the evening happy hour.
