Clock Tower in Gjakova

The Clock Tower of Gjakova was built in the early 19th century, likely between 1812 and 1820, during a period of urban expansion under Ottoman rule. It was commissioned by local authorities to regulate daily life—calling merchants to open stalls, signaling prayer times, and marking curfews. 

Constructed from hewn stone, the tower stands approximately 30 meters tall and features a wooden belfry at the top, where a mechanical clock once rang out over the city. The clock mechanism was imported from Austria and maintained by local craftsmen. The tower’s design reflects a blend of Ottoman and Balkan vernacular styles, with a square base and tapering vertical profile. 

During the 1999 war, the tower suffered damage but was later restored as part of Gjakova’s cultural preservation efforts. Though its original clock mechanism is no longer functional, the structure remains intact and continues to serve as a visual anchor for the Old Bazaar. For visitors, the Clock Tower offers more than a photo opportunity—it’s a reminder of how cities once measured time communally, and how architecture can preserve memory even when its function fades.