The Clock Tower of Bitola

The clock tower stands in the very centre of Bitola, so it is impossible to miss this sight while visiting the small Macedonian city. Moreover, it has a unique appearance and an intriguing history. The Macedonians call this tower Saat Kula.

The clock tower is situated at the beginning of the central street of Bitola, Sirok Sokak. It is considered to be erected in the 1830s, though the accurate construction date is unknown. Historians discovered some references to a clock tower in the 16th-century sources, but there is no evidence it was Saat Kula. So, experts date it back to the early 19th century when the nearby church of St. Demetrius was built.

The clock tower is quite a mysterious landmark. There is a legend that the construction required 60 thousand chicken eggs to make a special solution for building walls. Allegedly, the stones were coated with this mixture, so the walls became stable and have lasted to this day.

The tower is 33 metres high, and the side of the square foundation is 5,8 metres. There is an open terrace at the top. In the dark, lamps illuminate the whole clock tower making it visible at night. You can come up using the stairs inside the structure. At Christmas, the citizens of Bitola have a tradition: they light candles at the tower and pray for their health and health of the family.

The watch mechanism has been updated many times. In 1936, the German authorities replaced it with a more modern one in gratitude to Bitola for establishing a cemetery for soldiers who died in the First World War. Later, the mechanism changed in 1962, 1970, and 2009. Now 15 bells weigh 900 kilograms.