The entire cycle of figures takes exactly 15 minutes to play out during the midday performance.
The clock's mechanical movement is housed within a massive iron framework hidden inside the bridge structure.
Figures are made of copper and are mounted on a rotating chain system.
The clock was designed as an advertising project for the Anker Insurance company, which was headquartered in the adjacent buildings.
The background music changes according to the historical era associated with each figure displayed.
During World War II, the clock sustained damage but was restored to its original condition by 1956.
The clock sits above the site of the Roman legionary camp Vindobona, which is memorialized in the design details.
The dial is framed by a mosaic featuring celestial symbols and the signs of the zodiac.
The Ankeruhr is a Jugendstil-style Art Nouveau clock constructed between 1911 and 1917 by painter Franz von Matsch. It connects two buildings of the Anker Insurance Company across the narrow street of the Hoher Markt. The clock features a series of twelve historical figures that pass across the dial in sequence, accompanied by period-specific music. Each figure represents an important historical personality from Vienna's past, including Joseph Haydn, Empress Maria Theresa, and Prince Eugene of Savoy. The figures complete a full rotation every twelve hours, with a grand musical procession occurring at midday. The bridge-like structure is made of copper, bronze, and glass, spanning ten meters in width. It remains a functional timepiece despite its age, maintained by the city's technical departments.
From the center of the Hoher Markt square, looking upward toward the bridge to capture both the clock face and the figures in motion.
Arrive at the Hoher Markt ten minutes early to secure a clear line of sight before the crowd gathers.
Look for the small brass plaque nearby that lists the names of the historical figures to help identify them as they pass.
Combine your visit with a trip to the Roman Ruins museum located directly beneath the Hoher Markt plaza.
Do not wait for the daily performance at times other than midday if you want to see the complete, twelve-figure sequence, as individual figures only appear briefly during the standard hourly chimes.
