Located in the heart of Bitola, the iconic Clock Tower stands 32 meters tall and is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Historical records suggest that a clock tower existed in Bitola as early as 1664, though it remains unclear whether it referred to the same structure seen today. Due to limited documentation, historians generally believe that the present-day Clock Tower was built around 1830, alongside the nearby Church of St. Dimitrij. Today, it remains a must-see attraction for visitors exploring Bitola’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.
Drawing by Edward Lear – 1848 – Bitola with the Dragor River and the Clock Tower
E.Therond, Bitola 1875
“There is a legend that the Turkish authorities collected 60,000 eggs from the local population of Bitola and the surrounding villages, which were to be used in the mortar during the construction of the Clock Tower. The builders believed that this would make the walls much stronger.”
The Clock Tower on a postcard from 1908
Until 1912, the Clock Tower measured time according to “A la Turka”, after which the modern time measurement “A la Franga” was introduced.
Pekmez Market with the Clock Tower in 1915
“The “Pekmez” Market was located around the Clock Tower and was demolished in 1947. It was the place where countless oriental desserts such as baklava, kadaif, jam, etc. could be found, and where the most beautiful teahouses and pastry shops in Bitola were located.”
Саат кулата во 1917
The first clock face and mechanism were manufactured by the German company “Konfage” and were installed in 1927. The bell ringers were replaced by clockmakers who were responsible for maintaining the clock and mechanism. The base of this clock face was white with black numbers and hands.
As a token of gratitude for the construction of the Memorial Tomb of the German soldiers who died in the First World War, a new clock mechanism arrived from Germany in 1936, when 15 new bells, weighing 900 kg and a new, larger dial were installed.
The clock mechanism was renovated in 1962, and in 1970 a keyboard was installed on which new compositions were performed such as “Bitola Babam Bitola”, “Biljana platno beleshe” and others.
Today, the Clock Tower is one of the most representative landmarks of Bitola and among the most visited tourist locations.
