Stundengeläute
Stundengeläute is the term used in German for the tolling of bells on the hour in church towers or clock towers. The word combines Stunde (hour) and Geläute (ringing or pealing), and the practice has historical roots in medieval Europe. It served to regulate daily life, mark religious times, and provide a public time signal for communities.
Typically the hour is announced by a number of bell strikes corresponding to the clock hour (for
Mechanisms have evolved over time. Historically, Stundengeläute was produced by mechanical clockwork or weight-driven hammer actions
Regional variation exists in the exact sequences and tonal choice of bells, but the core function remains: