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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Beaune Clock Tower, also known as the Belfry, is an iconic monument built between the 13th and 14th centuries, located in Monge Square in the city of Beaune, in the Côte-d'Or. Originally owned by the abbey of Maizières, it was transferred to the city in 1395 on the order of Duke Philip III the Hardi, for an amount of 200 Francs-Gold. This transfer marked the beginning of its central role in urban life, notably with the installation of a clock financed in 1397 by taxes on salt. The oldest bell, dated 1407, bears witness to this founding period.

Over the centuries, the tower has undergone numerous modifications and repairs. In 1575, a contract was made with Curtil's Jehan roofer to restore his roof to slate and leaded tiles. In 1681, a report described its degraded state: only the base was habitable, the upper floors mainly used to house the clock mechanisms. An elevation of 3.90 metres was then decided to improve the sound range of the clock throughout the city. At that time, the dial was surmounted by a moon, later replaced by a golden globe indicating the lunar phases, made in 1620 and restored in 1780.

The seventeenth century also saw the addition of a statue of Mercury in lead on one of the skylights. Despite plans to demolish in 1750 because of its critical state, the tower was finally consolidated thanks to popular opposition. The repairs continued with major works in 1785 and then in 1893, where the frame, roof and campanile were restored according to the plans of Selmersheim. A new clock, bought in Paris in 1860, and a dial replaced in 1880 modernized its operation. Ranked a historic monument in 1885, it remains a symbol of Beaunois heritage.

Architecturally, the tower consists of a vaulted cellar with well, a ground floor once occupied by a shop, and five floors accessible by stone or wooden stairs. Its dust windows and slate roof topped by a lead campanile adorned with a ducal crown illustrate the Burgundian medieval style. Since 2009, bright projections have animated its facades in the evening, featuring watchmaking and interactive light games.

The clock tower embodies both Beaune's political history, marked by tensions between the city and religious institutions, and its technical evolution, with constantly improved watchmaking mechanisms. Its rescue in the 18th century reflects the Beaunois' attachment to this monument, now at the heart of their cultural identity.

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