Clocktower

Overview

The clock tower in Haskovo was built in the early 19th century as a symbol of the city and the economic boom of that time. The tower was built of cut stone, with a tin roof and a sharp awl on top. It had an internal curved ladder that led to the clockwork. At that time, a copper bell counted the hours. In 1913, however, it was decided to demolish the old tower.

In 2013, the old tower was restored according to the photos from greeting cards exactly as it was. The restored clock tower is 23 meters high and is built of hewn Uzundzhovo stone. The only difference with the original is the satellite clock mechanism. The Regional Clock Museum preserves the original clock mechanism, as well as a model of the old tower. A bell rings to measure the elapsed hours. The bell on the tower is from the foundry that made the Big Ben bell in London. This foundry was founded in 1570 and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest in Britain.

The old clock tower is in the middle of the main shopping street in Haskovo. At one end of the street are several fountains, a small park, the buildings of the district administration and the municipality and the Monument of Envy. At the other end of the shopping street ends in front of the Ivan Dimov Drama and Puppet Theater.