Westhalten Meridian Line

Since ancient times, humanity has sought to accurately pinpoint the middle of the day, the exact moment when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, dividing the day into two equal parts.

The meridian line, a specific type of sundial, allows determination of this moment called true noon or solar noon. Unlike traditional sundials, it only indicates the time of noon, corresponding to the Sun's passage due south when its altitude is at its maximum. These instruments, still visible on some buildings, served a practical purpose: to set the mechanical clocks of bell towers, town halls, or other public buildings. Their mechanisms, often irregular, required regular calibration using the meridian line.

In Alsace, two types of meridian lines stand out: the models