The Seven Bell Towers of Belvès - Where the Village Speaks in Stone and Sound

Walk through Belvès, and you might hear it before you see it — a distant bell, a soft echo, something calling out from above. Here in this proud bastide village, the skyline isn’t defined by grandeur or modern towers, but by something more poetic: seven bell towers, scattered like quiet sentinels across the rooftops.

They don’t shout for attention. Some lean shyly behind houses, some crown churches or former convents. One is so subtle, many visitors miss it entirely. But together, they create something rare — a village in harmony with its past, marked not just by walls and roads, but by sound and silhouette.

> “I thought it was just one bell at first,” said a traveller from Lyon. “Then I turned a corner and found another... and then another. Like breadcrumbs from the past.”

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A Bastide with Bells

Belvès was born with purpose. Founded in the Middle Ages as a bastide — a fortified town with strong civic pride — it developed quickly, and each new place of worship, community gathering, or religious order brought with it a new bell, a new tower, a new chapter.

Today, those chapters still stand. No two are quite the same.

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The Towers Themselves

Some towers still have their bells. Others have simply kept the shape—the arched openings, the sloping rooftops, the stonework that has weathered time.

Here are just a few of the towers you might spot:

The Belfry (Tour de l’Horloge): A proud clock tower that once kept time for the whole village.

Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption: The main parish church with its distinctive square tower.

Former Benedictine Convent Tower: Tucked just behind a row of houses — a beautiful relic of sacred life.

Chapel Bell of Capelou (on the outskirts): Often counted among the seven, as its tolls still reach the village.

Private Towers: Some once belonged to noble or religious buildings long gone — but the stone still stands.

Each bell once marked a moment: the start of work, the call to mass, a warning of danger, a celebration, a funeral. Even if many are silent now, the sense of rhythm lingers in the walls.

A Walk with Your Eyes Open

There’s no official map. No marked trail. And that’s what makes it wonderful.

Start at the market hall and simply walk. Let your eyes wander upward. Sometimes a tower will appear unexpectedly, rising behind terracotta roofs. Others need a keen eye and a little imagination. Some are still active, others long since quiet. All are part of Belvès’ soundscape — past and present.

“It’s like a scavenger hunt,” said a Belgian visitor. “But instead of finding prizes, you find perspective.”

Bring a Camera, But Also… Just Pause

These towers are deeply photogenic — especially in golden evening light — but don’t rush. Sit under one. Listen. Let your imagination fill the silence. Think of weddings, bells rung by hand, warnings shouted from balconies. Imagine the same view five hundred years ago.

> “The view hasn’t changed much,” says Elise, who grew up in the village. “And when the bell rings, it still gives me goosebumps.”

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The Bells Themselves

Some bells are still used on feast days or holidays. Others are preserved, cracked with age. Local lore tells of bells being hidden during wars, re-cast after revolutions, or donated by wealthy families. Each has its own secret.

You might not hear all seven in one day — but then again, you might. The charm is in the unpredictability.

A Village Shaped by Sound

Most towns are remembered for what you see. Belvès, uniquely, is remembered by what you hear — or imagine hearing. The seven bell towers form a kind of musical map, invisible but deeply present. Even in silence, they ring.

“We came for the market,” said one couple overheard in a restaurant. “…We stayed for the bells.”

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Tips for Your Visit

Don’t rush. Give yourself time to walk slowly and look up.

Sunset and early morning are the best times to photograph the towers.

Ask a local. Many know the stories and will happily point one out.

Keep an ear open. On some days, you’ll hear the bells ring just once or twice — and it feels like a gift.

Outside the village: If you include Capelou’s bell, take a short walk out of town along a shaded path. It’s worth it.

❤️ Why It Matters

The bell towers of Belvès aren’t just architectural details. They’re a memory system, a vertical poetry, a gentle echo of lives lived before us. In a world that often rushes forward, these seven towers invite you to look up, listen closely, and linger.