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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Tower of the Horloge d'Evreux, also called belfry, is a clock tower built in the early 15th century near the town hall. It was designed by the architect Pierre Moteau and peaks at 44 meters, with 140 steps. Originally referred to as a "clock", it evolved to become a symbol of the city, although historical sources never officially described it as a belfry.

Before 1396, a cathedral tower served as a watch for the inhabitants, equipped with an alarm bell. That year, Évreux installed a first clock in a wooden building, becoming one of the first cities in the kingdom to own one. The local bourgeoisie, concerned with better control of time for commercial activities, decided in 1403 to build a dedicated tower, including a clock and a bell.

The construction began in 1406 with the construction of the "Lousse" bell, named in honour of the dolphin Louis, son of Charles VI. The tower was completed in 1410, and the clock, made by a Mantes craftsman, started ringing in 1412. In 1464 the inhabitants wanted its reconstruction, but in 1481 Louis XI ordered its partial demolition. The clock is preserved and resettled after the reconstruction, completed in 1498.

In 1656, during the Fronde, the tower was hit by aarquebuse during a siege designed to capitulate Evreux, faithful to the king. Ranked a historic monument in 1862, it remains a major architectural and historical testimony of Normandy, linked to urbanization and the measurement of time in the Middle Ages.

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