CLOCHERS DE TOURMENTE ENTRE LOT ET MONT-LOZERE

"The so-called 'storm bell towers' are limited to the fringes of Mont Lozère. Built in hamlets without churches, these structures served various purposes: ringing the Angelus, tolling the death knell, calling for the village school, warning against hailstorms, and sounding a signal for people lost in fog or storms. Today, their use is limited to tolling the death knell and warning of fires . These bell towers resemble the type of bell-gable with a single opening and a semicircular arch, and are erected on a rectangular base that tapers towards the top. Some have a small chamber for the bell ringer, built into the thickness of the base. Sometimes featuring a small niche for a statue of the Virgin Mary or a saint, they are all topped with an iron or stone cross. These structures were all designed in the 19th century. A heritage ensemble linked to social and economic life can be associated with them." Information from the Mérimée database

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