In Tours, the Saint Gatien cathedral revealed its attic

The start of this unusual visit goes through a hidden door in the cathedral, you cross it folded in half and then you have to climb the steps of the south tower up to 70 meters high: “It was clearly indicated that you had to be in good physical condition” recalls Hubert Garcia, instructor at the France building who leads the visit.

One of the first attractions of this visit is the proximity to the bells. The guide Hubert Garcia shows these explorers the chamber of the famous bronze campanes, to allow “the discovery of the mechanism with a small electric motor powered from the sacristy” .

The enthusiasm of Maryline, one of the visitors, was not even dampened by the 300 steps that must be climbed to reach the tower walkway and enjoy the view of the city: “with the means they had at that time to create such masterpieces, it moves me!” she said. Before her eyes 360 degree towers, and in her ears Hubert Garcia who reveals some secrets of the cathedral: “the two towers are not of the same height, in the north tower we can see a helical staircase, a staircase which turns, all in stone, sculpted, which rests on a frame and we do not know precisely the origin of this staircase, but it is magnificent. One of the hypotheses is that it is a prototype or training before reproducing it in certain castles and in particular Chambord. explains the French buildings instructor.

Other elements refer to Chambord, and they fascinated two of the visitors Ondeline and Oliver: “the details of invisible sculptures from below, which took hours and hours of work and in fact no one benefits from them on a daily basis. I find it crazy” said Ondeline again ” everything that man can do for God over several centuries. It’s incredible to have undertaken a building like this!”

The route ended under the framework of the cathedral, the famous beams which look like boat hulls and the luckiest ones were treated to a visit to the Triforiuma narrow passageway at the foot of the stained glass windows which overlook the entrance to the cathedral.