Carfax Tower

You’re now standing in front of the Carfax Tower. It is sadly everything that remains of the church of Saint-Martin, which was the town’s main parish church since 1122. Seven centuries later, as you can imagine, the town has evolved. It has grown and has different needs. In 1896, the town needed more room to move around. It was decided to demolish the main part of the church, but to keep the bell tower. Its tower is 23 meters high, and it isn’t allowed to build any higher than this one! This makes it the focal point of the town, as well as its highest point. Its name, Carfax, comes from the Latin “quadrifurcus”, which has been transformed into the French “carrefour”, meaning crossroads. I’ll leave you to admire the clock and its two golden bells framed by the quarter boys, the little characters who chime every quarter-hour. And good news: it’s open to the public. For a small fee, it goes without saying, you can climb the 99 steps to the top for a 360° view of the city’s dreamy spires. The Carfax Tower is a Grade II listed historic building, meaning it is of more than special interest. The English have classified their historic heritage into three categories corresponding to three grades, the first being the most exceptional. So two here isn’t bad at all!