Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The belfry of Abbeville, erected in 1209 at the initiative of the local bourgeois, is one of the oldest in France. Its construction was authorized by the Count of Ponthieu, whose horse effigy always crowns the girouette. Originally, it served as a watchtower near the medieval enclosure, then as a treasury in the 15th century. Its defensive role declined after the construction of the Collège Saint-Vulfran in the late 15th century.

In 1940, the belfry was almost entirely destroyed during World War II, only the Gothic treasury of the 15th century survived. Its restoration, carried out from 1945 to 1986, relied on historical documents to regain its original appearance. Since 1954, it has housed the Boucher-de-Perthes Museum, dedicated to archaeology and local history.

Architecturally, this 27-metre square belfry, with thick walls of 2.30 meters at the base, combines robustness and symbolism. A 15th-century stair turret provides access to the floors, where the echevinal hall, the dungeons and the bells were formerly located. A bas-relief of 1887 commemorates Enguerrand Ringois, a local hero who was thrown into the sea in 1368 for refusing allegiance to King Edward III of England.

Ranked a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, the belfry illustrates the medieval communal power and architectural ingenuity of the period. Its treasury, in Gothic style, today preserves the archives and serves as entrance to the museum. The monument thus embodies both the tumultuous history of Abbeville and its preserved heritage.

External links