Top 5 Facts: Cuckoo clocks

1. Prince
The first known description of a modern cuckoo clock comes from a 17th-century German nobleman, who wrote of Prince Elector August von Sachsen owning one.
2. Black Forest
Cuckoo clocks’ popularity grew during the 18th century, with Germany’s Black Forest at the heart of production. Today they are highly prized and can cost thousands of pounds.
3. Chalet
Through the 20th century cuckoo clocks were commonly built in the shape of a wooden chalet, a style that originated in Switzerland towards the end of the 1800s, where they were sold as souvenirs.
4. Minimalist
Today, cuckoo clock design has become more varied both in form and function, with traditional and chalet, along with more minimalist and modern timepieces all available.
5. Totally cuckoo
The world’s most extensive and finest collection of cuckoo clocks (with both old and new models) is at the Cuckooland Museum in Cheshire, England.