Clock Tower (Sahat Kula)

The Clock Tower, known locally as Sahat Kula, marks the main pedestrian entrance to Herceg Novi Old Town from the old square below. The tower was built in 1667…The Clock Tower, known locally as Sahat Kula, marks the main pedestrian entrance to Herceg Novi Old Town from the old square below. The tower was built in 1667 under Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV, during the long period of Ottoman control over the town that ran from 1482 to 1687.

The structure is a simple square stone tower rising about 15 metres above street level, with a single clock face on the outer wall facing the square. A decorative inscription in Ottoman Turkish above the clock face names the sultan and records the year of construction. The clock mechanism itself has been replaced multiple times over the centuries; the current movement dates from the Austro-Hungarian era in the late 19th century.

Pedestrians now bypass the tower to enter the Old Town rather than passing through it, but it remains the most recognised architectural landmark on the threshold between the modern town and the walled historic centre. The street furniture around the base has been preserved, including the original stone benches used for public gatherings during the Ottoman period.

The tower is visible at all hours and needs no ticket. Its position at the Old Town threshold means it is effectively unavoidable for anyone entering on foot. The square itself holds three or four small cafés with outdoor seating, which make convenient first or last stops on a walking tour.