Grosse Cloche
Grosse Cloche
4.5
Monday
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
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2,058 within 5 kms
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351 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- BrucestewartLivingston, United Kingdom10,155 contributionsA fine architectural featureThe clock and bell that comprise part of this impressive tower are well worth seeing. The structure itself is one of the entry points to the city dating back to medieval times. There is a similar entry point at Porte Cailhau, the major difference being the external decorations on the towers..Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 April 2024
- WarbyBicester, United Kingdom3,748 contributionsBeautiful bell towerAs you walk along the main front of Bordeaux you come across this impressive Bell Tower. Looking stunning and with a great archway. Really looks like the old entry to a walled cityVisited May 2024Travelled soloWritten 17 May 2024
- Suresh CCharlotte, North Carolina974 contributionsLovely place - close to popular attractionsThis is a very beautiful massive tower or castle entrance. After completing our visit to reflection pool and Place De La Bourse, we walked to this place. We then went to a tram station near by to take the train to Olympics stadium to visit a football match. Overall good experience in the city. We also rented a car to travel to Saint Emilion and Beynac-et-Cazenac including a boat ride in Dardogne river.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 25 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,117 reviews
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fivi
Zamora, Spain1,710 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
And we continue to discover these doors, currently considered historical monuments. And after the Burgundy Gate, it was the turn of the also called San Eloy Gate after the homonymous church next to it. It is truly impressive, although the bell does not appear from below to weigh nearly eight tons. As in other places for centuries it was the bell that announced the joys and sorrows of the Bordeaux, today it rings six times a year on special occasions such as the new year and also the first Sundays of the month. The weather vane on the central dome, a golden lion, is curious. You can visit its interior for five euros.
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland29,093 contributions
Mar 2022
Arriving from the Cours Victor Hugo one will face the 'Grosse Cloche' from its southern side, the former outer part of the town walls. Walking through its Gothic gate, once the 'Porte Saint-Eloi', one will come to the Rue St.James and see its less ornate former town side. There are a lot of similarities with the other medieval city gate left from old Bordeaux, the Porte Cailhou, both topped by two conical towers with a different type of tower in the middle. The one here has a pyramidal lower part and is topped by a gilded 'Lion de Guyenne'.
The big bell, which gave the whole structure its name can be seen under a wide arch above the entrance gate. The 'Armande Louise', as it is called, dates from 1775 and weighs 7800 kilos, thus a bit less than the about 80 years younger 'Ferdinand André' bell of the Tour Pey-Berland by the Cathedral. Underneath it on both sides are old clocks. The interior of the 'Grosse Cloche' building, which was once also used as a prison, can be visited on appointment.
The big bell, which gave the whole structure its name can be seen under a wide arch above the entrance gate. The 'Armande Louise', as it is called, dates from 1775 and weighs 7800 kilos, thus a bit less than the about 80 years younger 'Ferdinand André' bell of the Tour Pey-Berland by the Cathedral. Underneath it on both sides are old clocks. The interior of the 'Grosse Cloche' building, which was once also used as a prison, can be visited on appointment.
Written 25 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brucestewart
Livingston, UK10,155 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
The clock and bell that comprise part of this impressive tower are well worth seeing. The structure itself is one of the entry points to the city dating back to medieval times. There is a similar entry point at Porte Cailhau, the major difference being the external decorations on the towers..
Written 20 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China1,78,208 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
This is a imposing bell tower located along Rue St. James in Bordeaux. Built in the 15th-century and originally an entrance into the city and part of the medieval wall around Bordeaux, the tower previously served as a dungeon and was given its present 7 tonne clock in 1775. Seems they only ring it a handful of times a year now for preservation purposes. Worth a look-see if passing through this area.
Written 11 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bbel38
Grenoble, France1,314 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
You must take this nice and picturesque little street (Rue Saint-James) that leads to this little gem. The street starts from Place Fernand Lafargue.
The “Big Bell” is a Gothic building, which served as a belfry for the Old Town Inn. The construction dates back to the 15th century.
Its gate and towers have been classified as historic monuments since July 1886.
The “Big Bell” is a Gothic building, which served as a belfry for the Old Town Inn. The construction dates back to the 15th century.
Its gate and towers have been classified as historic monuments since July 1886.
Automatically translated
Written 11 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raúl N
Antequera, Spain2,290 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
It is the most charming corner of the city. Although its name refers to the "great bell" to which the Bordeaux are especially fond since its origin, what I liked the most was the huge mole with curved, conical shapes that take us to the tales of childhood, tales of castles, struggles and princesses.
The route of the gates of Bordeaux, is a route that I recommend and in the center of the most interesting of that route, is this beautiful gate with an immense bell.
The route of the gates of Bordeaux, is a route that I recommend and in the center of the most interesting of that route, is this beautiful gate with an immense bell.
Automatically translated
Written 23 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Warby
Bicester, UK3,748 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
As you walk along the main front of Bordeaux you come across this impressive Bell Tower. Looking stunning and with a great archway. Really looks like the old entry to a walled city
Written 17 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suresh C
Charlotte, NC974 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
This is a very beautiful massive tower or castle entrance. After completing our visit to reflection pool and Place De La Bourse, we walked to this place. We then went to a tram station near by to take the train to Olympics stadium to visit a football match. Overall good experience in the city. We also rented a car to travel to Saint Emilion and Beynac-et-Cazenac including a boat ride in Dardogne river.
Written 25 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brown_Samantha
Kennewick, WA1,829 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Very photogenic! Love this old big clock, right in the center of Old Town Bordeaux. We saw it as part of the "big square" route, you can see so many interesting sights. Makes a great day in Old Town.
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
podinfrance
Bordeaux, France36 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
The Gros Cloche is the first main entrance to old Bordeaux, its also the entrance which led to the path to Compostelle. Its certainly been rebuilt over the centuries, but it is still awesome
At the top of RueSt James, a great walking street with several nice bars and restaurants. Very close to the center of where you want to be.
At the top of RueSt James, a great walking street with several nice bars and restaurants. Very close to the center of where you want to be.
Written 28 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pourquoi y a-t-il les numéros 6 et 11 dans le cadran de l'horloge?! Et pourquoi ces chiffres ci-dessus?! (15 - 10 - 5 -0)
Written 1 June 2018
sitinurdalili96
Alor Setar, Malaysia
Hi. I would like to know about the big bell. How the big bell works? Is the bell an electronic bell or it need someone to knock the bell to ring it? Or wheater the ringing of the bell is related to the solar equation clock? I need to know the details of the bell and its working mechanism for my school assignment. I would like to hear the feedback.
Written 28 November 2017
I'm afraid I've only visited it as a tourist and have no technical knowledge of it whatsoever. I guess that's likely to be largely the case on this web site. I suggest you look online to find your answer. Google's always a good place to start.
Good luck.
Written 28 November 2017
Bonjour, j'ai vu que des visites de la grosse cloche sont organisées, cependant, elles sont limités à 5 personnes.
Pour les personnes qui ont visité l’intérieur du batiment, pourriez vous me dire si vous avez réserver votre visite en avance?
Merci
Written 14 July 2016
Bonjour!,
Je suis désolé, j'ai vu la Grosse Cloche mais seulement à l'exterieur.
Je n'ai pas vu l'intérieur du batiment, peut-être la prochain fois que je visite Bordeaux si je ne dois pas de travailler, je visiterai l'intérieur.
Written 4 August 2016
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