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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The belfry of Millau consists of two distinct parts: a square tower of the eleventh century, vestige of an Aragonese palace cited from 1172, and an octagonal tower added in the seventeenth century. The square tower, 21 metres high, served as a prison from the 17th to the 19th century, especially during the Revolution. It was originally a symbol of the domination of King Alphonse II of Aragon, with defensive arrangements such as archeries and latrines.

In 1613, the consuls of Millau acquired the tower to install the communal bumblebee and a clock, adding the octagonal tower between 1614 and 1617. The latter, also 21 meters high, was crowned with an arrow destroyed by lightning in 1811. The current terrace, accessible by a side staircase, offers panoramic views of Millau and the viaduct. The adjacent L building, probably a medieval aula, completed the palatial assembly.

Ranked a historic monument in 1931, the belfry illustrates the political evolution of Millau: first under Aragonese influence (communal charter of 1187), then integrated into the French royal domain. The square tower, with its curved vaults and blue limestone, contrasts with the octagonal tower in ochre sandstone, reflecting 17th century techniques. The building thus combines defensive, symbolic and civic functions.

The fire of 1811 deprived the belfry of its arrow by 52 meters, reducing its height to 42 meters. The upper floors, formerly prisons, were abandoned after 1825. Today, the monument bears witness to 800 years of history, from the Viscounts of Aragon to the industrial revolutions, to the religious conflicts of the sixteenth century.

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