After the virgin, the campanile and the bell come down from the bell tower of Rodez Cathedral

Since this Tuesday morning, the northern perimeter of Rodez Cathedral has been occupied by a lifting machine. And for good reason. As part of the renovation of the west facade of the building, the campanile and the bell it houses will also be the subject of restoration work. This requires lowering these elements, which rise to a height of more than 80 meters, back onto dry land.

A long-term task since the stone campanile, which also serves as a support for the Virgin, who herself was brought down last month, is made up of eight elements.

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Following which, the elements of the campanile will join the Vermorel workshops and the bell will go to the Corrèze bell-maker Brouillet. A bell which, for the record, dates from the 16th century. “Following the fire of 1510, Bishop François d'Estaing ordered a new clock for which a “prisoner bell” serving as a gong was designed, placed at the top of the bell tower. This bell bears a Latin inscription and the date of 1523. Despite some interruptions during the 20th century^e century, it still strikes the hours today, thanks to the monumental mechanism recently restored by the association of Friends of the Cathedral, and presented in the bell tower. we explain to the Drac.

This operation will also allow it to be “better studied” before it is put back in place.

The repair of the bell tower is therefore continuing its normal course. The bell, the campanile and the virgin should have found their place in 2026, for the 500 years of the bell tower!