Prague Astronomical Clock (Pražský Orloj) was finished in 1410. The author does not seem to be clear. It could be Mikuláš z Kadaně or Jan Ondřejův (Šindel) z Hradce Králové. In 1490, Orloj was repaired by Master Jan Růže, also known as Master Hanuš. A long history of disrepair and repair continued.

Then, just hours before the end of World War II on May 8, 1945 a grenade set the tower on fire and since Orloj was on a wooden structure it collapsed. While the political scene was not conducive, Vesečtí brothers queitly fixed it behind the scenes by 1948.

Today, Orloj is operating with about three quarters if its original parts! It is under the care of Petr Skála and Zdislav Šíma.

There are several legends about the astronomical clock, the most famous being the one about Master Hanuš, whom the legend considered the clock's creator. The town councilors were afraid that Master Hanuš might create a another Orloj elsewhere and had him blinded to prevent that. Hanuš knew who was behind this and despite his blindness disabled the clock. It took more than a 100 years to find the problem.

References: Pražský orloj - Legenda o Mistru Hanušovi