Grosse Cloche
A medieval bell-tower gate in the old town, with a bell weighing nearly 8 tons hanging inside; the gate appears on Bordeaux's city coat of arms.
The Grosse Cloche is one of the few surviving medieval city gates in Bordeaux. It was originally the bell tower of the old town hall; between two conical spired towers hangs a bell weighing about 7.8 tons, rung only on major festivals. The gate spans Rue Saint-James, a stop on the Way of St James pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, and it also appears on Bordeaux's city coat of arms. The nearby Rue Saint-Éloi and Rue Saint-James are lined with small restaurants. The exterior can be viewed at any time; the interior is only occasionally open for guided tours.
Opening hours
Exterior open all day; interior visits per tourism bureau guided tours
Nearby sights
- Bordeaux Old Town (Saint-Pierre)
- Musée d'Aquitaine
- Porte Cailhau
- Rue Sainte-Catherine
- Marché des Capucins
- Place de la Bourse & Miroir d'eau
- Basilica of Saint-Michel
- Bordeaux Cathedral & Pey-Berland Tower