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Twisted, twisted, twisted, helical: all these adjectives refer to the same characteristic, unique and original, of certain steeples in Europe.
Breathtaking architecture!
Bell tower tors de Barran, true architectural feats. These bell towers most often have a square stone tower on which rests a pyramid topped by a spiral spire, covered with slates.
The plans are numerous: octagonal, hexagonal, pentagonal or even in a square pyramid. Roofing materials do not consist only of slates, it is possible to find steeples covered with tiles, wood shingles or even metal such as copper, zinc or lead. The direction of rotation also differs from one country to another. In France, the vast majority of bell towers turn from left to right.
Regarding the torsion, two hypotheses confront each other: the first would like it to be the intervention of man and in particular the work of the Compagnons du Devoir, proof being that certain models explaining their work are found in buildings, the second would like meteorological phenomena, such as tornadoes , would have shaped these steeples to give them this twisted shape. To this day, about twenty of these European bell towers do not have a certain origin.
And where to see these famous twisted steeples?
There are more than a hundred twisted bell towers in Europe, spread out from the tip of Finistère in the west to Austria in the east, via England, Germany, and even Switzerland. Three other bell towers complete this list: two in Copenhagen in Denmark and one in Rome in Italy but they are not similar to the first since their construction is in Baroque style, the only common point remaining the twisted bell tower.
Two European territories have a high concentration of buildings, most often churches, with twisted bell towers: the first, in France, is located in the Baugeois, in the heart of the Anjou region, the other, in Belgium, around Herve in the province of Liège. France has no less than 65 twisted structures.
The prestigious twisted bell tower of Barran
The department of Gers is fortunate to have a church with a twisted bell tower, that of Barran, on the road to bastides and Castelnaux, 15km west of Auch. The twisted steeple of this church built in the 1972th century would also have suffered the inconvenience of time until it was broken. In 50, the frame was redone and the slates changed, once again by the assiduous work of the Compagnons du Devoir. A copper rooster has replaced the old tin rooster which rises to XNUMX meters.
The bastide of Barran
Created in 1278, the bastide of Barran has also preserved a gate tower which is 10m high and remains one of the best preserved remains from medieval times. Do not hesitate to stroll around this village which has many buildings from the past such as the Chapel of Castagnère, a small Romanesque church with 3 bells, or the Château de Mazères, the former summer residence of the Archbishops, which has been restored. for 25 years, and its bridge, an authentic haven of peace.
Jewels of architecture, shaped by men or time, the bell tower of Barran, like all the twisted bell towers in Europe, will not leave you indifferent and taking a photo is still the best way to keep it a timeless memory.
