Bell-tower

A bell-tower is a Clocher of square or round form, generally bored arcades on several levels. The term gets busy in particular for the Italian bell-towers of the Renaissance. The bell-tower was generally built like an element with whole share, not forming part of the church or the Cathédrale. It sheltered the Cloche S which were used to call the faithful ones to the Prière. With the Rebirth, the bell-tower became the object of competition between the Italian cities and its construction was often entrusted to large artists.

One finds two old bell-towers of round form, built between 7th and the 10th century, close to the churches Saint-Apollinaire-the-Nine and Saint-Apollinaire-in-Class, with Ravenne. The leaning tower of Pisa (1174-1350), Romance bell-tower of the cathedral of Pisa, in Tuscan, is an example of the kind. The bell-tower of the cathedral of Florence, of square form, was built according to the drawings of Giotto. Good example of Gothic architecture, this bell-tower of seven stages, with the marble frontages of color, owes its carved reliefs in Giotto, Andrea Pisano and Luca Della Robbia. The bell-tower of the Basilique Saint-Marc with Venice in is another remarkable example.

With the appearance of the dome, triumph of architecture and engineering, the bell-towers were little by little abandoned towards the end of the Rebirth. This architectural kind reappeared however in Northern Europe, towards the end of the 19th century, when eclecticism gave the past to the last style. Among the most remarkable examples, one can quote the bell-tower of the cathedral of Westminster, with London, conceived by J.F. Bentley in 1897.

The term was borrowed from the Italian bell-tower which means bell-tower.

One of the most famous bell-towers of the world is the leaning Tour of Pisa.

The bell-tower of the abbey church of Brantôme (XIe century) in the Dordogne is certainly the oldest bell-tower of France.

One finds some also much in Provence, in particular in the Vaucluse. One of the characteristics of the bell-towers vauclusiens is that they are out of wrought iron. The construction of a wrought iron bell-tower was cheaper. Moreover, in this area where the mistral blows regularly, the wrought iron bell-tower made it possible to let pass the wind.

Origin of the name

The Campania, area of the south of Italy, was famous in the first centuries of the Christian era for its metallurgical activities and in particular the manufacture of Cloche S and sonnailles intended for the herds or the public activities like the assemblies or the sales by auction. The first Monastère S will take again this use to inform the monks of the various prayers and the use of the bells will join the religious offices gradually. The churches will comprise little by little Clocher S or Campanile S separated for the installation from increasingly large bells.

According to the dictionary " The Petit Robert " , it can also be a question of a lantern overhanging certain civil buildings.

External bonds

Site on the bell-towers of Provence

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