Sahat Kulla (Clock Tower) - Rahovec

Sahat Kulla (the Clock Tower) is located in the Gradina neighbourhood, in the old centre of Rahovec. It was built by Mahmut Pashë Rrotulli at the end of the 18th century. Above the door on the north-eastern side, in carved stone, there is an inscription in the Ottoman language – the year of construction according to the Hijri calendar 1206, which corresponds to the year 1792. Sahat Kulla has a strategic position, representing the highest point in the silhouette of Rahovec.

It served to orient the residents to the time and as a strategic observation point. Sahat Kulla has a rectangular floor plan, built of stones of various shapes, bound with lime mortar. The stones at the corners of the base are carved in a rectangular shape, thus creating pronounced corners along the four facades. The building is not plastered, so the structure of the masonry is clearly visible.

The upper part is covered with a hipped roof, covered with lead sheets. Above the hipped roof extends the lookout with a square floor plan, where the bell is placed. This lookout is also covered with a hipped roof, with lead sheets. Entrance to Sahat Kulla is through external stone stairs, located on the north-eastern side.

The stone stairs lead to the wooden entrance door, with a semicircular frame of carved stone. From the door, inside, there are wooden stairs that lead to the upper part. In the interior of Sahat Kulla there is the clock mechanism, with a carved inscription LEOPOLD DPABEINGER in SSJENN A793, which indicates the year of manufacture, 1793.

The clock that was placed in the tower does not work and is kept in the premises of the Museum of Rahovec. During 2009-2010 a complete restoration of Sahat Kulla was carried out, on which occasion a new clock was installed. With its position it dominated the landscape of the town, and with its characteristic form, Sahat Kulla in Rahovec is a monument of particular historical, artistic, social and scientific importance.