If you’re strolling from Isartorplatz through the historic arches of the Isartor and want to quickly check the time down in the valley, you’ll have to look closely! Two tower clocks hang on the medieval city gate, built in 1337. One of them regularly baffles passersby. While the clock on the east side ticks in the classic clockwise direction, the tower clock on the west side—facing the valley—runs completely reversed and counterclockwise! We’ll explain the whole story behind this quirky detail in downtown Munich.
Karl Valentin and Willy Brandt: The Secret Behind the Reversed Hands
The fact that the clock on the west side runs backward is, of course, no technical oversight, but a deliberate tribute to the legendary Munich comedian Karl Valentin. Since 1959, the towers of the Isartor have housed the Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum, which reopened on July 10, 2026, following fire safety renovations. The clock running backward is a symbol of simply looking at things from a different perspective —entirely in the spirit of Valentin, who was known for his whimsical humor. At the same time, the mirror-reversed clock face playfully references the famous statement by former Chancellor Willy Brandt: “In Bavaria, the clocks run differently.”
Historic Preservation and Fundraiser: How the Memorial Clock Came to the Isartor
Today’s Karl Valentin Memorial Clock hasn’t been hanging on the tower forever—it was only installed in 2005. This curiosity was made possible by a 10,000-euro donation from Petra Perle, the former owner of the Turmstüberl. Since the historic building is strictly protected as a historic landmark, there was initial resistance. It wasn’t until former Mayor Christian Ude intervened and the city council unanimously approved the project at City Hall that the way was cleared for this unique work of art from the Georg Rauscher Tower Clock Factory.
If you visit the Isartor, it’s worth taking a detour to the museum in addition to checking out the clock. In addition to the revamped Karl Valentin exhibition, you can also discover the new exhibition “Liesl Karlstadt – Flight to the Moon” there, which opened in the summer of 2026.
