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The history of the tower bells (continued) The next writings date from the revolutionary period: the bells were taken down on December 12 and 13, 1793. During this operation, the third bell, known as "la None" (likely because it was particularly used by the chapter for this office), was broken. On December 21, it was decreed that the four largest bells would be weighed in Chambéry as they could not be weighed in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne1. The following day, the syndic-procurator of Arc informed the general syndic-procurator of the dispatch of 24 bells to Chambéry, including: 9 bells from the Chapter, 4 from Saint-Christophe, 2 from the Bernardines, 1 from the Capucins, 1 from the Pénitents, 1 from Saint-Antoine, 1 from the Miséricorde, 1 from Bonne-Nouvelle, 1 from Notre-Dame, and 1 from the Collège. This would make a total of 10 bells for the Grand Clocher tower of the Cathedral and Notre-Dame. Several writings indicated that the cathedral's carillon consisted of 11 bells. With the obligation to leave one bell per belfry to sound alarms and civil assemblies, the cross-referencing of information therefore provides a certain logic. Private archives offer a variation to the above information in a writing by abbé Guiguet, vicar at the cathedral between 1853 and 1858. He recounts "from contemporary and eyewitnesses" that the cathedral's carillon was composed, as of December 2, 1793, "of nine bells; three formed, as today, the clock's chime, but they were arranged to serve simultaneously for the carillon. They were preserved, along with the clock". At the Concordat, the three bells of the clock and its movement seem to have been reinstalled, meaning they were not sent to Chambéry in 1793. In the 19th century, the cathedral's liturgical carillon was therefore partially reconstituted. In 1812, a bell known as "des Pénitents" was cast in Briançon, likely by the Vallier and Gautier dynasties, founders active in that town who also largely contributed to the repopulation of Savoyard belfries during that period. In 1828, the large bell cracked, and a new one was immediately commissioned by the Chapter. This bell cost 1994.6 livres at a rate of 36 livres per quintal, weighed in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, a sum fixed on September 17, 1828. Payment was made to the founders Jean-François Gautier and François Vallier on September 14, 1829, after a one-year guarantee on the bell. The years 1864 and 1865 saw the arrival of two bells in the belfry: first the third by the Beauquis brothers, then the second by the Paccard brothers. No archives have been found to help contextualize these purchases. Many questions remain open, particularly that of a recasting or an addition, but also the manufacturing of these two bells (a year apart!) by these two competing founders! At the end of 1873, the small "Pénitents" bell cracked. A new bell was ordered from the Paccard brothers. A quote was submitted to the chapter with the trade-in of the old bell, weighing 174 kilos. A new bell weighing 228 kilos would therefore be installed in its place. In 1935, the ringing bells of the Grand Clocher were electrified. They first started with the three large ones, considering that "the small bell is not suitable for this transformation". The municipality took charge of burying the electrical wires between the sacristy and the Grand Clocher, and the diocese financed the electrification itself. It was probably at this time that the "Cloche du Chapitre", installed in the slender belfry adjoining the cathedral, was silenced. Its access is unfortunately impossible today, but its rehabilitation is under study. We hope to be able to reach it one day to uncover its secrets and give it liturgical use again! Although the cathedral chapter is currently dormant, new practices are emerging in the cathedral. A "guard of honor" has formed around the relics that the cathedral houses. It notably organizes public or private venerations and participates in the great liturgical hours of the cathedral, the mother church of the diocese.

The history of the tower bells The large bell tower of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is imposing with its silhouette and large dimensions. It should be known that, in reality, it was initially the bell tower of the Notre-Dame church, neighboring the cathedral. This enormous tower was adorned with a spire between the 15th century and the Revolution, making it a tower of almost 80 meters! When it was razed, this spire fell on the church and damaged the nave. The religious building was therefore reduced, and the street separating them was created. This bell tower housed, during its golden age, a peal of over 10 bells! On May 10, 1326, the Confraternity of the Holy Spirit requested permission from the canons to use a bell to announce their assemblies. This request was granted. The archives of the chapter of Vercelli (Italy) house a document of interest to the bell history of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: in 1475, Amédée Gavit, vicar of Cardinal d'Estouteville, then bishop of Maurienne, commissioned Claude Milon of Geneva and Claude Vionnet of Sallanches (Faucigny) to cast new bells for the cathedral. Unfortunately, there are not enough elements to fully appreciate the work that took place there. Another document, found in the parish archives of Saint-Pancrace, precisely details the casting of new bells during the summer of 1667. Canon Nicolas Féjoz recounts the following: • On July 23, the large bell was lowered, and on July 26, the second bell. Both were recast on July 30: the large bell under the invocation of All Saints and the second in honor of Saint John the Baptist. • On August 3, a contract was made to recast the fourth and fifth bells. • On August 8, the bishop blessed the two large bells and another bell, also dedicated to All Saints. We do not know what rank this last one occupied in the peal... • On September 7, the bishop blessed four new bells: the fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth bells in order of weight. In 1712, Canon Cueillerat paid 200 florins to Georges Arnaud, a founder from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, for the casting of a bell for the Notre-Dame church.

This 11th-century tower was the bell tower of the Notre-Dame church. In the 15th century, a very large spire of almost 80 meters adorned the bell tower. This part was demolished by the French revolutionaries in 1794. The trace of the revolution is still visible on the East face of the bell tower. Part of the Notre-Dame church was damaged during the destruction of its bell tower. They are now separated by a street. Its condition does not allow it to be opened to the public, but it occasionally hosts exhibitions visible from the ground-floor windows.

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The views at the top of this pass are definitely worth the detour 👍