The Most Famous Cuckoo Clocks In Germany

Cuckoo clocks are among the most authentic souvenirs you can purchase in Germany to remember your holiday for ages, every hour! Germany is also peppered with cuckoo clock masterpieces, which are worth visiting for their sheer uniqueness. Here’s our guide on where to find these one-of-a-kind masterpieces in the country.

The largest cuckoo clock in the world

The largest cuckoo clock in the world (as per the Guinness Book of World Records) in Triberg is so big that you can walk right into it, and you must, to be able to admire its amazing engineering both from the outside as well inside! This massive clock was designed by Black Forest clock-makers Ewald and Ralf Eble, and is a celebrated example of traditional cuckoo clock craftsmanship of the region. The clock chimes every half an hour, so make sure you stick around for it – you won’t be disappointed!
Schonachbach 27, Triberg, Germany, +49 7722 96220

The smallest cuckoo clock in the world

Triberg is home to not only the largest but also the tiniest cuckoo clock in the world, measuring 5.12 inches (13 cm) tall, 5.51 inches (14 cm) wide, 4.72 inches (12 cm) thick and weighing 6.6 lb (3 kg), and designed to fit right in your pocket. This is a signature souvenir at Hubert Herr’s souvenir store, a family business that has been designing cuckoo clocks since the 1800s.
Hauptstraße 8, Triberg, Germany, +49 7722 4268

The largest free-hanging cuckoo clock in the world

The little town of St. Goar by the Rhine boasts a unique attraction – the largest free-hanging cuckoo clock in the world. This massive (3.5 meter (11.5 foot)-high and 2 meter (6.6 foot)-wide) timepiece hangs outside a family-run souvenir store in the old town of Bingen. Other than its sheer size, the clock also has the unique characteristic of having two faces – a rarity in cuckoo clocks. Every hour on the hour, the little figurines in the clock spin with the accompaniment of music, and the show culminates with the cuckoo bird chiming.

Heerstr. 131, Sankt Goar, Germany, +49 6741 934120

The largest free-standing cuckoo clock in the world at St.Goar

The largest cuckoo clock in Bavaria

This beauty, perched by a bubbling stream in the midst of dramatic Bavarian highlands, makes for an incredibly picturesque setting. The largest cuckoo clock in Bavaria is also a souvenir shop, so once you’ve admired its pretty facade and enjoyed the show put up by the dancing figurines every half an hour, you can pop in to purchase a souvenir to remember your time in the Black Forest.

Höllsteig 76, Breitnau, Germany

Giant cuckoo clock with 21 moving figures

The House of Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks is a popular store filled to the brim with irresistible cuckoo clocks and other souvenirs. It belongs to a family of gifted clock-makers that has been producing masterpieces for generations, right up to the current owner Adolf Herr who often greets visitors with a smile, a drink and expert suggestions. Right outside the store is a massive cuckoo clock that boasts as many as 21 spinning, dancing and moving figurines – simply pop a coin in and enjoy the show!

Adolf Herr, Landstr. 7, Hornberg, Germany, +49 07833 8037

The largest cuckoo clock outside the Black Forest

The huge cuckoo clock at the Harzer Cuckoo Clock Factory, Gernrode, Harz Mountains, briefly enjoyed the status of the world’s largest cuckoo clock before being relegated to the rank of the largest cuckoo clock in the world outside the Black Forest. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is worth a stop. For a small fee, you can browse a fascinating range of cuckoo clocks from various eras and even see clock-makers at work. The cuckoo clock also doubles as a weather clock.

Lindenstraße 5, Gernrode, Germany, +49 39485 658930