The Tour Pey-Berland bell tower in Bordeaux

The Tour Pey-Berland is the separate bell tower of the Bordeaux Cathedral, located at the Place Pey Berland. Its construction took place from 1440 to 1500 at the initiative of the archbishop of the same name. The tower was designed to be isolated from the rest of the Cathedral to protect the cathedral from the vibrations of the bells. After completion, the church had initially no money for the purchase of bells, so the tower was used for housing until 1790. After 1790, a lead factory was set up in the tower, and bells were finally installed after 1851 when the tower began to be used for its original purpose.

The tower is open to the public, and visitors can walk up its 230 steps for a panoramic view of Bordeaux. The structure houses a total of 4 bells, with 2 on each level. The lower level has two large bells, Marie and the bourdon Ferdinand-André II. Ferdinand-André II replaced a short-lived 11-ton predecessor which had been cracked upon delivery and melted down. Both bells were cast by the Bollée foundry in Le Mans and were hung dead to protect the 15th-century freestanding tower from structural vibrations. However, as of 2026, the large bells are able to swing.

The upper level has 2 smaller bells, Marguerite and Clémence. These two bells currently operate and chime to mark services, masses, weddings and funerals at Saint-André. Since 1925, electric motors have been used for the bells, which are controlled from inside the cathedral itself.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons