Auguste Vérité’s Astronomical Clock
Monumental, spectacular and remarkably precise, the astronomical clock of Saint Peter’s Cathedral tells the story of time, the movement of the heavens and the liturgical calendar.
A monumental machine built to tell the story of time
Built by Auguste-Lucien Vérité between 1865 and 1868 at the request of Bishop Joseph-Armand Gignoux, the clock was installed in the cathedral from 1876 onwards.
Its Romano-Byzantine architecture combines columns, trefoil arcades, tympana and capitals. In its lower section, a central motor and several auxiliary motors drive the dials, the chimes and the animated scenes.
Portrait of the Astronomical Clock
Discover, in pictures, the history, dimensions and main mechanisms of the clock designed by Auguste-Lucien Vérité.
What does the clock show?
It does far more than tell the time: it brings together astronomical, calendar-related, geographical and religious information.
The Celestial City
The upper section represents the symbolic setting for the Last Judgement scene. Christ in Majesty presides over it all, flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph.
Below, the Archangel Michael weighs souls in his scales. This animated scene comes fully to life during the audiovisual presentation offered to visitors.
The Celestial City and the Last Judgement
The Earthly City
Below the Celestial City lies the world of Men. Behind the windows stand figures from different continents, alongside several people connected with the clock’s creation.
During the Last Judgement animation, these figures disappear, giving way to flames evoking the end of the earthly world.
The Rooster
Placed between the Earthly City and Saint Michael, the rooster crows three times on the hour. It recalls Saint Peter’s denial during the Passion of Christ.
In Christian tradition, it also symbolises vigilance and hope.
The Crowing Rooster
The Central Dial
The central dial depicts Christ in Glory, surrounded by the twelve apostles in medallions. It also bears the text of the Creed.
The 24 hours are arranged in an unusual layout: midnight sits at the top of the dial and midday at the bottom.
The Different Bays
Around the central dial, several groups of dials provide an exceptional wealth of information about the sky and the passage of time.
The central bay
It brings together twelve dials, including the ecclesiastical computus.
- the date of Easter;
- the seasons;
- the Sun’s declination;
- the length of day and night.
The left-hand bay
It follows the Sun and gives the time in cities to the west of Beauvais.
- sunrise and sunset;
- the time in Paris, London, Madrid or New York;
- the moveable feasts of the liturgical year.
The right-hand bay
It shows the Moon along with several calendar indications.
- the phases of the Moon;
- the time in Rome, Jerusalem, Beijing or Sydney;
- the year, the century and the perpetual calendar.
Left side bay
Visible to the public, it adds further astronomical information.
- the last eclipse visible from Beauvais;
- the tides at Mont-Saint-Michel;
- the stars visible from Beauvais.
Right side bay
Built on the same principle, it is not visible to the public.
- the position of the six planets known at the time;
- the tides in Jersey;
- the stars visible at Beauvais’s nadir.
A complete work
All of this information is brought together in a spectacular case, where mechanics, sculpture and painting form a coherent whole.
The Dials and the Side Panels
Two videos offer a closer look at the astronomical indications and the side sections of the clock.
Details of the Dials
The Side Panels
An Essential Restoration
After nearly 150 years in operation, some mechanisms require careful, painstaking restoration. The work is being carried out by clockmaker Jean-Paul Crabbe, of the company PRECITIME.
Donations go directly towards safeguarding this exceptional piece of heritage and passing it on to future generations.
L’Heure de Vérité
This reference work, published by Éditions Monelle Hayot, explores the history, the mechanisms and the many secrets of the astronomical clock.
Richly illustrated, it is available for sale at the cathedral’s gift kiosk.
Plan Your Visit
Daily audiovisual presentations offer an insight into how the clock works and let visitors watch the automata in action.
