Clocks go back: Josef and Josef manually change church tower clock in Windhaag

Village tradition: Two church wardens ensure accuracy

They have been doing this for 25 years: Josef Hackl and Josef Wöß from the Waldviertel region manually change the hands of the church tower clock twice a year.

In the village of Windhaag in Waldviertel, tradition is upheld. Twice a year, Josef Hackl and Josef Wöß climb the 60 steps to the church tower to manually change the hands of the church tower clock. They have been doing this for the past 25 years, ensuring that the village's timekeeping remains accurate.

The clock, which was built in 1892, does not have an electric motor, so it must be manually wound up every eight days. Hackl and Wöß take turns climbing the tower to perform this task, which takes about 20 minutes.

In addition to winding the clock, the two church wardens also check the clock's mechanism to ensure that it is running smoothly. They also make any necessary repairs or adjustments.

Hackl and Wöß are proud of their role in maintaining the village's timekeeping tradition. They say that it is a way of preserving the community's heritage.

The villagers of Windhaag are grateful to Hackl and Wöß for their dedication to keeping the church tower clock running. They say that it is a symbol of the village's strong sense of community.