The Big Bell

You are now ready to pass under the Big Bell, it’s the oldest belfry in France and one of the few preserved civil monuments in Bordeaux dating from the Middle Ages. The gate was built in the 15th century on the foundations of the old Saint Eloi gate in the 13th-century city walls, which was destroyed when the city walls were extended. Pilgrims passed through this gate on their way to Santiago de Compostela, which is why the neighbouring street is called Saint-James street, James being the Gascon name for Jacques just like in English. Over the centuries, the gateway was transformed into a belfry and became the communal bell tower. Magistrates used to ring the bell to announce the beginning of the grape harvest or to alert locals about  fires. The people of Bordeaux loved their bell tower, which became a genuine mascot and still features on the town’s coat of arms today. In fact, it was even used by the king to punish his subjects. For instance, to punish the people of Bordeaux for their revolt in 1548, Henry II had the big bell removed and smashed! It came back a few years later, to the great relief of the inhabitants, who had since been on their best behaviour. The present big bell, named “Armande Louise”, was cast in 1775 and weighs over 7 tonnes! Latin inscriptions are engraved on the bells. Translated, they read: I summon battle, I announce days, I tell the hours, I chase away storms, I toll festivals, I holler fire. It still rings out for major celebrations like on January 1st  to wish us a happy new year, May 1st and 8th, 14th  July, 28th  August to commemorate the liberation of the town, and 11th November! If it’s looking all dapper today, it’s because it knew you were coming, and obviously not because it was  lovingly restored in 2016.