Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Lyon Horloge Charvet
AO Edited

Horloge Charvet

After decades of damage, this feat of timekeeping and automaton art has been given a new lease on life.

Lyon, France

Added By
Javier Pascual Aguilar
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Romainbehar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  Romainbehar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  Jeanne Menjoulet / CC BY 2.0
  Romainbehar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  Romainbehar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  Romainbehar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Horloge_Charvet_20210120_.jpg
Horloge Charvet   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Horloge Charvet in Lyon, France, is a historic clock known for its intricate design and longevity. It was installed in 1864 on the facade of the Charvet haberdashery, a well-known company in Lyon. The clock was crafted by Aimé Jacquet, a famous local clockmaker, and features a rich blend of artistic and technical elements typical of 19th-century craftsmanship.

The Charvet family, owners of the haberdashery, commissioned the clock to enhance the appeal of their store and attract customers. Over the years, the Horloge Charvet became a popular landmark, symbolizing Lyon's vibrant economic and cultural life. Its ornate design with detailed sculptures and gilded decorations reflects the opulence and creativity of the time.

Throughout its history, the clock has undergone several restorations to preserve its functionality and aesthetic appeal. These efforts have ensured that Horloge Charvet remains a significant piece of Lyon's heritage, drawing both locals and tourists. Today, it stands as a testament to the city's historical dedication to art and craftsmanship, continuing to mark the passage of time while enriching the cultural fabric of Lyon, albeit not in its original location. Long located at 8 rue de la Poulaillerie, it has been situated since January 2021 on the facade of the Hôtel de Gadagne, which houses the Museum of the History of Lyon.

Related Tags

Astounding Timepieces Automata Horology Clocks Time

Community Contributors

Added By

Xavixavir

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

July 29, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Horloge Charvet
1 Pl. du Petit Collège
Lyon, 69005
France
45.763928, 4.827678
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Traboules Secret Passages

Lyon, France

miles away

Musée Miniature et Cinéma

Lyon, France

miles away

Astronomical Clock of Lyon

Lyon, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lyon

Lyon

France

Places 16
Stories 4

Nearby Places

Traboules Secret Passages

Lyon, France

miles away

Musée Miniature et Cinéma

Lyon, France

miles away

Astronomical Clock of Lyon

Lyon, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lyon

Lyon

France

Places 16
Stories 4

Related Places

  • Winters Clock

    Stockport, England

    Winter's Clock

    Three mechanical figures—a soldier, a sailor, and Father Time—announce the time on this local landmark.

  • Cervantes, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

    Ciudad Real, Spain

    Chime Clock at Casa del Arco

    Ciudad Real's former town hall found new life in 2005 when the chime clock with automatons was installed.

  • Grafton, Massachusetts

    Willard House & Clock Museum

    The world's most comprehensive collection of Willard timepieces is a celebration of early American clockmaking.

  • Ghantaghar

    Kathmandu, Nepal

    Ghantaghar

    This legendary clock tower has dominated Kathmandu’s skyline since it was built in 1894.

  • Paddington Real Time Clock by Maarten Baas

    London, England

    Paddington Real Time Clock

    Look up from the busy streets to discover how time is kept!

  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Allen-Bradley Clock Tower

    This was once the largest four-sided clock in the world (yes, even bigger than Big Ben).

  • Time Ball Tower

    Cape Town, South Africa

    Time Ball Tower

    A 19th-century relic of timekeeping.

  • Noon Gun firing

    Cape Town, South Africa

    The Noon Gun

    From atop a hill at the center of Cape Town, a cannon has been signalling the time since 1806.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.