Jousting Glockenspiel (Germany)

This is Munich, Germany’s famous town square (in this case actually a long trapezoid). It is primarily known for the glockenspiel that now only plays twice a day in winter (11 and noon), or three times in summer (add 5 pm). Every day at those times you’ll see people line up with their cameras and cell phones. They wait to record the music and the spinning characters on the levels below the clock face.

The clock’s figures celebrate the wedding of Duke Wilhelm V and Renata of Lorrain in 1568. The wedding was extremely elaborate with thousands of horses accompanying the bride on her way from Dachau to Munich, and the festivities lasting two weeks.

There was jousting at the wedding celebration, which was held in the square. This is referenced by jousting figures in the clock that pass before the king and queen sitting at the table. After many revelers go by, two men on horses go by each other. The second time they pass the Bavarian horseman knocks the other one down and wins the tournament.

Beneath that window, when the procession and jousting are done, the coopers do their dance. I was told, that finally, the bird above the wedding chirps three times when everything is done, but I couldn’t see/hear if that happened or not.

For a video of the glockenspiel in action go to https://youtu.be/3Ih066oRb1Y on my YouTube channel.

There is also a cute Fish Fountain in the Square.