Sarajevo Clock Tower (Sahat Kula) is one of the highest and most beautiful ones in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was built in the 17th century.

After a fire in 1697, when it was burnt during the invasion of Eugene of Savoy, Sahat Kula was restored, but again it was damaged, and again renewed in 1762.

Sahat Kula - Clock Tower

After the Austro-Hungarian occupation the top of the tower was added, and a new clock, since the Turkish one, was old and had to replaced, was brought to Sarajevo by two Sarajevo traders, one of them Hašimaga Glođo, and the other Mustafa Hadžikapetanović, from London in 1874.

The old clock was taken to Vratnik, and placed on the Vratnik Mosque. On the tower, the clock mechanism is branded by Gillete & Bland Croydon, made in 1873, in London.

Builder of the tower is Gazi Husrev-bey, one of the greatest Bosnian vakifs from Ottoman period. The first written proof of it dates from the 17th century. The tower has 76 wooden steps, lined up in the squared series, up on which Muvekit climbes once a week to adjust the time.

The clock must be adjusted, because it shows the time “a la turca” (lunar hour). It is believed that this is the only (public) clock in the world that shows the time by the Lunar calendar.

This clock shows exactly noon at the moment of sunset in Sarajevo. In the yard of Beys mosque there is Muvaqqithana, where at, based on precise measurements and containers with water was accurately determined the time of pray. In the year 1967 the clock was repaired, and the hands and numbers on all four sides were gilded.

When, during the Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan clock tower at strikes 00:00, it is the time of Iftar.

After the first beat, on the Beys mosque kandilji are lighted, and after that from Bijela Tabija, cannon which traditionally shoots, indicates the end of fasting for that day.