The bells of Reims Cathedral

The towers of Reims Cathedral mean height ! Take the 249-step spiral staircase up to the platform between the 2 towers of Reims Cathedral.

The building remains unfinished: a fire in 1481 prevented the construction of the spires, which are still missing from the towers today. Reaching over 80 metres in height, they should have reached 120 metres !

Today,only the south tower still holds the bronze bells that can be seen when you look up into the belfry: Charlotte and Marie ! Surprising, you may think... Not really !

These drones are named after their godparents.

• Charlotte, donated in 1570 by Cardinal Charles de Lorraine, Archbishop of Reims from 1538 to 1574, weighs 10 tonnes and measures almost 2.5 metres in diameter.
• Marie, a tribute to the Virgin Mary, weighs 7 tons and measures 2.2 meters in diameter.

Do bells still ring today ?

Yes, on special occasions such as Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and All Saints' Day, as well as events such as the death or election of the Pope.