Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Seiryudo Cave – named after Seiryu, the Azure Dragon, this cave features deep vertical columns surrounded by dense vegetation.
Genbudo Park
Hunter House Hamburgers
Jesus Backpacker
One of the chamber’s rooms.
Dr. Wolf’s Wunderkammer
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
This event showcasing the bounty of the Traverse City region’s amazing agriculture, craft, and creativity culminates with a Grand Tasting on August 23.
The Atlas Obscura Guide to Traverse City’s Event Season
She’ll get you and your little dog too.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Explore Witch History Without the Kitsch?
How to Turn Your Road Trip Into a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Graceland Cemetery.
Prowling for Coyotes in Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Germany Lübeck Astronomical Clock at St. Mary's Church

Astronomical Clock at St. Mary's Church

A stunning two-story timepiece within a medieval Brick Gothic church.

Lübeck, Germany

Added By
Gretchen Mora
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The bottom calendar wheel of the astronomical clock.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
The astronomical clock in Marienkirche, Lubeck.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
The clock.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Info (in German) on the handout.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
  Erin Johnson / Atlas Obscura User
  Erin Johnson / Atlas Obscura User
  Erin Johnson / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

St. Mary's Church in Lübeck has many fascinating features inside and outside its ancient Brick Gothic walls. One of them is a stunning two-story timepiece. 

The astronomical clock's massive faces show the time, date, location of the zodiac signs, and the positions of the Sun and Moon. The contraption was faithfully built in the 1960s by a local clockmaker named Paul Behrens. He considered the masterpiece to be his greatest achievement and maintained it up until he died.

Each day, when the clock strikes noon, a procession of eight little people meant to represent the citizens of the world passes before a figure of Christ, who then blesses them. Interestingly, the last date on the calendar dial of the clock is in 2080, though this most likely doesn’t mean anything.

The beautiful astronomical timepiece took the place of one that was originally built in the 16th century that, like many of the church’s other medieval artifacts, was ruined during World War II. Sadly, little of this clock remains, though the newer version is a simplified replica of it. The parading figures of the original clock were meant to represent the prince-electors from the Holy Roman Empire.

The astronomical clock is located within St. Mary's Danse Macabre chapel, which was named for the stained glass, historic organ, and paintings that also stood there before being destroyed during the war.

Related Tags

Churches Clocks Time Astronomical Clocks Art Calendars Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

The church is free for children under 18. Adults pay €2.

Community Contributors

Added By

gretchenmora

Edited By

Erin Johnson

  • Erin Johnson

Published

September 22, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mary%27s_Church,_L%C3%BCbeck
  • http://www.st-marien-luebeck.de/
Astronomical Clock at St. Mary's Church
Marienkirchhof 2-3
Lübeck
Germany
53.8677, 10.685
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Danse Macabre Stained Glass

Lübeck, Germany

miles away

The Devil's Stone

Lübeck, Germany

miles away

The Broken Bells of St. Mary's

Lübeck, Germany

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lübeck

Lübeck

Germany

Places 8

Nearby Places

Danse Macabre Stained Glass

Lübeck, Germany

miles away

The Devil's Stone

Lübeck, Germany

miles away

The Broken Bells of St. Mary's

Lübeck, Germany

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lübeck

Lübeck

Germany

Places 8

Related Stories and Lists

13 Astronomical Clocks Connecting Time And Space

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • The Astronomical Clock.

    York, England

    York Minster Astronomical Clock

    This memorial to World War II's fallen airmen shows us the movements of the stars that once guided them.

  • The Gdansk Astronomical Clock

    Gdańsk, Poland

    Gdansk Astronomical Clock

    A huge wooden clock that is so beautiful its creator was forcibly blinded.

  • St. Anne’s with two of its four clocks visible.

    Cork, Ireland

    The Four-Faced Liar

    On the clock tower at St. Anne's Church in Cork, you never know which face is telling the truth.

  • Paddington Real Time Clock by Maarten Baas

    London, England

    Paddington Real Time Clock

    Look up from the busy streets to discover how time is kept!

  • Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Sweepers Clock

    The hands on this clock appear to be created by two workers sweeping debris into careful positions.

  • Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

    Ascension Cathedral

    Rebuilt several decades ago, its striking murals prevent it from being reconsecrated as a church.

  • Cappella di San Giovanni

    Bozen, Italy

    Cappella di San Giovanni

    Inspired by the more famous Scrovegni Chapel, Cappella di San Giovanni contains several amazing frescoes.

  • Mercogliano, Italy

    Montevergine Sanctuary

    During World War II, the Shroud of Turin was secreted to this remote southern Italian complex.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.