Great Bells of Europe
by country

Here are listed 65 existing and former great bells of Europe, in countries for which the numbers of such bells are relatively low.  They are grouped by country, and then shown in descending order by weight.  The list includes qualifying bass bells of carillons, chimes, zvons, etc., and is believed to include all bells heavier than 14000kg.

Not yet included are many other great bells of France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain weighing between 4000 and 14000 kg.  Separately listed are great bells of the British Isles, great bells of Germany (bearing the 16 sequence numbers which are not included below) and great bells of Russia.

Following the list are some References to related information about the data found here.

nr.   City, County, Country - EquivalentWeight lbs

• "name", pitch, reported weight, maker, year
• Institution name and address
• Remarks
• Links:
  >
  

"nr" is the sequence number of each bell in the matching table of all European bells by weight.

This list of countries is in order by the heaviest bell of each.

Italy

• "Maria Dolens", B, 22639 kg, Paolo Capanni (Castelnuovo nei Monti), 1964
• "Campana dei Caduti"
  On Miravelle Hill near Castel Dante
• The greatest bell in Italy; hung in an open frame.
  First cast in 1924 by Luigi Colbachini (Trento) at 11500 kg (250cm);
  recast in 1939 by Luigi Cavadini e Figli at 17000 kg (3m);
  broken in 1960, it was recast to its present weight, and was blessed on 31 Oct 1965 at St.Peter's in Rome.
  Diameter 321 cm, height 336 cm, clapper 600 kg, suspension 10300 kg.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

16.   Messina, Italy - ~29100 lbs

• "name"?, D, 13200 kg, Daciano Colbachini (Padova), 1935
• Torre Guelfonia
  Tempio de Cristo Re
• Electrically rung on the Veronese system
  Diameter 266 cm
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

41.   Milano (Milan), Italy - ~19000 lbs

• "Maria Nascenta", pitch?, ~8600 kg, Giovanni Battista Busca, 1582
• Central tower or spire (of cathedral?)
• Also "Sant Ambrogio", 4000 kg, 1576, and "di S.Barnaba", 2000 kg, 1530
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

47.   Catania, Sicilia (Sicily), Italy - 16790 lbs

• "name"?, B?, 7616 kg, Giacomo Sanfilippo e Figli, 1614
• Duomo (Cathedral)
• To have that note, this bell must have an unusually thick profile.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Austria

• "Die Pummerin", C, 20132 kg, Karl Geisz (St.Florian), 1951
• Stephansdom (St.Stephen's Cathedral)
• Third-largest swinging bell in the world when cast; diameter 314 cm.
  Its predecessor, cast in 1558, weighed 10400 kg.
  Rung on Easter Sunday, Whitsuntide, Corpus Christi, the evening of 2 Nov for fallen soldiers, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve.
  Also in this tower is an 11-bell motor-swung peal, of which the bass bell is #60 below.
• Links:
  >
  > Bill Hibbert's recording of this bell
  > John Ketteringham's recording of this bell (possibly adapted from Bill Hibbert's)
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

12.   Salzburg, Austria - 31429 lbs

• "Salvator Mundi" (Saviour of the World) or "Dreifaltigkeitsglocke" (Trinity Bell), E-flat, 14256 kg, Oberascher (Salzburg), 1961
• Cathedral
• Diameter 279 cm
• Links:
  >
  > Bill Hibbert's recording of this bell
  > John Ketteringham's recording of this bell (possibly adapted from Bill Hibbert's)
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

28.   Mösern, Tirol, Austria - 22443 lbs

• "Friedensglocke" (Peace Bell), D#, 10180 kg, Grassmayr (Innsbruck), 1997
• The ARGE-ALP, a cooperation of the Alpine countries:
  Olympiaregion Seefeld - Informationsbüro Mösern/Buchen
  Möserer Dorfstraße 11
  Ortszentrum
  A-6100 Mösern, Austria
  Tel: +43 (0)5 0880 20 Fax: +43 (0)5 0880 21
  E: info.moesern@seefeld.com
• Largest bell in the Tirol, 254 cm in diameter
  Rung daily (by dual electric motors) at 5pm.
• Links:
  > The foundry page (in English) about this bell
  > Photo from The Martins' page on Bells of Peace and Freedom.
  > A tourism page on Mösern has a tiny photo which nevertheless shows the bell's setting well.
  > The bell's own Website has two interesting photos; scroll down for text in English and French.
  > A more recent photo of the bell - stairs have been added on each side for viewing.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Grassmayr bellfoundry.

36.   Innsbruck, Austria - 19950 lbs

• "Schützenglocke", E, 9050 kg, Grassmayr (Innsbruck), 1959
• Jesuitenkirche (Jesuit Church)
• Diameter 248 cm; was the largest bell in the Tirol until 1997.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Grassmayr bellfoundry.

51.   Innsbruck, Austria - 15803 lbs

• G, 7168 kg, Grassmayr (Innsbruck), year?
• Dom Sct.Jacob (St.Jacob Cathedral)
• Bass bell of a peal of 8, separate from the 47-bell carillon in the same place.
• Links:
  > The Foundry page about these bells has a photo of the Cathedral and a sound sample of each bell.
  > Where this bell (and the whole peal) lies in the total sequence of output of the Grassmayr bellfoundry.

68.   Wien (Vienna), Austria - 12566 lbs

• "Stephanus", G#-, 5700 kg, Pfundner, 1960
• Stephansdom (St.Stephen's Cathedral)
• Bass bell of an 11-bell motor-swung peal.
  Also in this tower is "Die Pummerin" (see #4 above).
• Links:
  > Bill Hibbert's recording of this bell
  > John Ketteringham's recording of this bell (possibly adapted from Bill Hibbert's)
  > (See the page linked above.)
  

Portugal

• "name", D, ~20000 kg, maker?, 1556
• Cathedral
• Remarks?
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

25.   Mafra, Portugal - ~23100 lbs

• Hour, pitch?, ~10.5 tonnes, maker?, year?
• South tower, upper belfry
  Palace
• Largest of three clock bells in this belfry
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

33.   Mafra, Portugal - ~21253 lbs

• Bourdon, F, ~9640 kg, Willem Witlockx (Antwerp), 1730
• South tower, lower belfry
  Palace
• Bass bell of a carillon by the same maker (later enlarged by another).
  The G bell (and possibly the G#) of this carillon, by the same maker in the same year, also qualify as great bells, but are not yet separately listed.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

37.   Mafra, Portugal - ~19900 lbs

• Bourdon, F#, ~9025 kg, Nicolas Levache (Antwerp), 1730
• North tower, lower belfry
  Palace
• Bass bell of an unrestored 45-bell carillon by the same maker
  The G# bell of this carillon, by the same maker in the same year, may also qualify as a great bell.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

France

6.   Rouen, France - ~44000 lbs

• "Jeanne d'Arc" (#1), pitch?, 20000 kg, Paccard, 1914
• Cathedral
• Dedicated April 1920.
  Destroyed by bombing on 31 May 1944 (ironically, the anniversary of the death of St.Joan of Arc); later replaced by a smaller bell (see #32 below)
• Links:
  > A miniature version of this bell survives at a Boy Scout camp in New York state; how it got there is not yet known.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Paccard bellfoundry.

7.   Paris, France - 41524 lbs

• "la Savoyarde", C#, 18835 kg, Georg Paccard (Annecy), 1891
• Basilique Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre
• Diameter 303 cm, height 306 cm, thickness 32 cm (or 22 cm), clapper 1200 kg (or 800 kg), total swinging weight about 25000 kg.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Paccard bellfoundry.

8.   Sens, France - 35780 lbs

• "la Savinienne", D (or D#), 16230 kg, Gaspard Mongin-Viard (Auxerre), 1563
• Cathedrale St.Étienne (St.Stephen)
• Largest of 7 bells in this tower; others are "la Potentienne" (listed below), 3 clock bells, and 2 other smaller bells.
  Diameter 269 cm
  Also reported as 18000kg, 260 cm, cast in 1560 at same time as "la Potentienne".
  (Also reported as largest of 9 bells, but that may be confused with an ancient record of 9 bells in the north tower, which no longer exists.)
• Links:
  > The Wikipedia article about this building mentions the bells.
  > French historical monument inventory page describing this bell
  > Photo of bell tower
  > Photo of the building facade and belfry
  > Photo of bell tower from along the side of the cathedral
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

14.   Sens, France - 30115 lbs

• "la Potentienne", F, 13660 kg, Gaspard Mongin-Viard (Auxerre), 1560
• Cathedrale St.Étienne (St.Stephen)
• Second of 7 bells in this tower
  Diameter 233 cm
  Also reported as 13500 kg
• Links:
  > French historical monument inventory page describing this bell
  > (See also links for largest bell, above.)
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

17.   Paris, France - ~28200 lbs

• "Emmanuel", G, 12800 kg, Nicholas Chappelle & I.Gillot & E.Moreau, 1685
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Rung by "eight strong men" until electrified in 1952.
  Accompanied by 4 other bells.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

26.   Metz, France - ~23100 lbs

• "la Mutte", pitch?, ~10.5 tonnes, joint effort of several makers, 1605
• Municipal belfry
  Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Metz
• Diameter 232 cm
  Largest of three bells here
• Links:
  > The Wikipedia article about this building indicates that "la Mutte" is hung in the tower called "la tour de Mutte"; photos of the building apparently show this tower.
  > An architecural page about the cathedral has numerous photos linked.
  > A peculiar story of ducks and a flying bell, with photos (and some history of the bell and the municipal belfry)
  > An 1887 article (in French) about the bellfounders of Lorraine lists the several makers of this bell.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

27.   Reims, France - ~22950 lbs

• "Charlotte", E, 10435 kg, maker?, 1570
• Cathedrale Notre Dame
• Diameter 2.44 m
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

30.   Auch, Pays d'Oc, France - ~22000 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, 10 tonnes, maker?, 19th c.
• Cathédrale
• Largest bell in the mid-Pyrénées region
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

31.   Rouen, France - ~22000 lbs

• "Jeanne d'Arc" (#2), pitch?, 10000 kg, Paccard, 1951 or 1959?
• Cathedral
• Replaced bell of 1914 (see #6 above)
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Paccard bellfoundry.

38.   Strasbourg, France - ~22950 lbs

• "Grande Cloche", G#, 8900 kg, maker?, 1427
• Cathedrale Notre Dame
• Diameter 2.22 m
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

53.   Dunkerque (Dunkirk), France - ~15500 lbs

• "Jean Bart", pitch?, 7 tonnes, maker?, year?
• St-Eloi
• Sub-bourdon of a modern carillon [site data page not posted yet]
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

71.   Chambéry, Savoie, France - ~12000 lbs

• G, 5.5 tons, Paccard, 1992
• Château des Ducs de Savoie
• Bourdon of a 72-bell carillon.
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

Estonia

• pitch?, 15665 kg, Vassily Orlov (St.Petersburg), 1898
• Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral
  Toompaa Street (in Old Town)
• Bass bell of the zvon at this site
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Poland

• "Maryja Bogurodzica", pitch?, 15 ton, maker?, ~1995?
• "Matki Bozej Lichenskiej Basilica"
  (Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen´)
  Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows
  Lichen Stary
  ul. Klasztorna 4
  tel. +(48-63) 270 81 00, fax 270 77 10
  
• The largest church in Poland, seventh largest in Europe and eleventh largest in the world.
• Links:
  > English history of The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen´
  > Photo of the bell
  > A tour page (in English) pictures and briefly describes the building.
  > The Wikipedia article has photos.
  > Photos of the building
  > Photo of building with towers
  > Photo of facade with towers and dome
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unknown bellfoundries.

20.   Cracow, Poland - ~24200 lbs

• "Zygmunt" (Sigismund), pitch?, 11000 kg, Hans Beham (Nuremberg), 1520
• Cathedral
• Largest of five bells in the cathedral bellfry Also reported as 12.7 metric tons (12700 kg).
  Diameter 2.5m, height 1.95m
  Rung by a crew of ten men on significant state occasions.
  The tower can be climbed by visitors.
• Links:
  > A travel page on Lesser Poland (southeastern), in the section about Cracow, has a photo of the Royal Castle on Wawel Hill, where the Sigismundian Chapel has a tower housing what was for centuries the biggest bell in Poland - cast in 1520 from cannon barrels.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Spain

• "San Eugenio" or "Campana Gorda", D, ~14564 kg*, Alejandro Gargollo, 1753
• Cathedral
• Hung dead in the center of the belfry; severely cracked, and not now rung.
  * The reported weight is calculated according to the formula used on www.campaners.com (see first two Links below), based on the measured diameter of 293 cm.
  Also reported as 17515 kg.
• Links:
  > Inventory of bells of the cathedral (in Spanish), with photos.
  > Inspection report for this bell (in Spanish), with photos.
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

29.   Pamplona, Spain - ~22200 lbs

• "María, La Mayor", pitch?, ~10060 kg*, Pedro de Villanueva, 1584
• Catedral de Santa María la Real
• The largest bell of an 11-bell chime distributed between the north and south towers.
  * The reported weight is calculated according to the formula used on www.campaners.com (see first Link below), based on the measured diameter of 259 cm.
  
• Links:
  > Inventory of bells of the cathedral (in Spanish), with photos.
  > Inspection report for this bell (in Spanish), with photos.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

34.   Santiago de Compostela, Spain - 21167 lbs

• "Berenguela", pitch?, ~9601 kg*, Pedro Güemes, 1729
• Catedral del Apóstal Santiago
• Diameter 255 cm; third largest ancient bell in Spain.
  * The reported weight is calculated according to the formula used on www.campaners.com (see first Link below), based on the measured diameter of 210 cm.
  (Has also been estimated to be about 15000 kg.)
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the unidentified bellfoundries.

49.   Valencia, Valenciana, Spain - ~16570 lbs

• "La Micalet", pitch?, ~7514 kg*, Lluís Trilles, 1539
• Catedral de Santa Maria
• Hour bell (single stroke, not a count); accompanied by a quarter bell and a chime of 12 bells.
  * The reported weight is calculated according to the formula used on www.campaners.com (see first Link below), based on the measured diameter of 210 cm.
  Also reported as 11000 kg.
• Links:
  > Inspection report with photos (in Spanish and Valencian).
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

56.   Santiago de Compostela, Spain - 14683 lbs

• "name"?, G0, 6660 kg, Eijsbouts, 1989
• Cathedral
• Cast to an 18th century profile.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Eijsbouts bellfoundry.

76.   Seville, Spain - ~11800 lbs

• "Santa Maria", C#, ~5362 kg*, Balavarca, 1588
• Cathedral
• The bass bell of a collection of 24, some hung dead (as this is) and some rung flywheel-style.
  * The reported weight is calculated according to the formula used on www.campaners.com (see first Link below), based on the measured diameter of 210 cm.
  Also reported as 17 English tons (about 17000 kg).
• Links:
  > Inventory of bells of the cathedral (in Spanish), with photos.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Czech Republic
(formerly part of Czechoslovakia)

• "Sigismund" (Zigmund), F#, 13500 kg, Thomas Jarusch, 1543 or 1548
• St.Vitus Cathedral
• Rung by 4 ropes and levers
  Accompanied by 3 other swinging bells, one almost as ancient.
  Diameter 256 cm
  Weight also estimated as 10.9 or 13.5 tonnes
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Vaticano

• "name"?, E, ~11000 kg, Guiseppe Valadrier (Roma), 1786
• Basilica di San Pietro (St.Peter's Basilica)
• Diameter 231 cm
  Five other bells hang with it: B, D, F, B, C
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Malta

• "Memorial Siege Bell", E-flat, 10-14-2-3 (tuned), Taylor, 1992
• Siege Bell Memorial
  Mediterranean Street
  George Cross Island Association
  c/o Valleta Local Council
  E: valletta.lc@magnet.mt
• Rung daily at mid-day in memory of the dead of World War II.
  Rung annually (by dual motors) on the Feast of the Assumption, which is the anniversary of the World War II arrival in Valleta of the relief convoy.
  Cast weight was 12.00 tonnes; final weight also reported as 23530 lbs.
  Diameter over 264 cm, height over 213 cm; hung on straight headstock.
  Pitch is slightly deeper than "Maria Gloriosa" of Erfurt.
• Links:
  > Commercial photo of the Siege Bell Monument and St.Christopher bastion
  > Commercial photo of the Siege Bell Monument
  > A tourism page has a small photo of the bell from below, and will eventualy have a locator map.
  > A photographer's view from above, with the harbour in the background.
  > A photographer's view from the seaward side, with the city in the background.
  > View of the Memorial from the land side
  > A visitor's view of the memorial
  > A panoramic view of Malta's Grand Harbour also shows the base of the monument and part of the bell. (Flash plug-in required.)
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry.

58.   Valletta, Malta - ~14330 lbs

• "name"?, pitch?, estimated at 6.5 tonnes, maker?, between 1660 and 1759?
• St.John's Co-Cathedral (RC)
• Made by a local bellfounder
  Bass bell of an 8-bell zvon
• Links:
  > (See the page linked above.)
  

78.   Victoria, Gozo, Malta - 10010 lbs

• G, 89-1-14, Taylor, 2004
• Cathedral of the Assumption / St.Mary's Cathedral
  The Citadel
  Tel: 21 554101
• Bass bell of a 5-note chime sounding the G major chord
• Links:
  > Local travel page about the Cathedral
  > Commercial photo of the belfry tower
  > Commercial photo of the belfry tower and façade
  > Another local travel page about the Cathedral has a small photo of what is presumably the exterior, but its twin towers don't match the single tower shown in photos of the Citadel.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry.

79.   Xewkija, Gozo, Malta - 9954 lbs

• F#, 88-3-14, Taylor, 2006
• Parish Church of St.John the Baptist
  Xewkija
  Tel: 21 556793
• Bass bell of a 5-note chime.
  This and two smaller bells were cast to a thinner than normal profile to match two existing bells from other foundries.
• Links:
  > A local travel page describes this church, built in 1971.  (The silhouettte of a bellcote is misproportioned, as you can tell by opening the image separately.)
  > Commercial photo of the tower and church
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry.

Switzerland

• "name"?, E, 10550 kg, A.Zehnder (Bern) & P.Füssli (Zurich), 1611
• Münster
• Heaviest of a peal of seven bells; diameter 2473 mm.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

50.   Fribourg (Freiburg), Switzerland - ~16100 lbs

• "Marienglocke", G, 7300 kg, Petrus Monturiolis (Besançon), 1505
• Saint Nicholas Cathedral (RC)
• Bass bell of a peal or chime of 8 bells.
  Diameter 220 cm, height 165 cm.
• Links:
  > A news article covers the plans to rehang this bell (and its 12 companions) between 2005 and 2009, the work to be done by Rüetschi.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

60.   Flanthey, Valais, Switzerland - ~14110 lbs

• "name", F#, ~6400 kg, maker?, year?
• Eglise Notre-Dame-des-sept-douleurs
• Sub-bourdon of a 9-bell chime; weight estimated from reported pitch.
• Links:
  > (See the page linked above.)
  

65.   Geneva, Switzerland - ~13200 lbs

• "La Clémence", G, 6 tonnes, maker?, 1902 (recast)
• Cathédrale St.Pierre
• Bass bell of an 8-bell peal
• Links:
  > The official city Web page about the cathedral (in French) has a clickable photo of this bell.
  > (See also the page linked above.)
  

85.   Saint-Maurice, Lower-Valais, Switzerland - ~8820 lbs

• G#, 4 tonnes, Paccard, 1998
• Abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune
• Originally a single swinging bell; now also the sub-bass bell of the carillon at this site.
  Cast at the shipyard of Nantes as a half-scale trial for the Millennium Peace Bell which was cast there later in the same year.  (Thus the reported date of 2000 for this bell must be incorrect.)
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Paccard bellfoundry.

Belgium

• F#, 8884 kg, maker?, year?
• Lower belfry
  Sint-Romboutstoren
• Sub-bass bell of the 49-bell historic carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

42.   Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium - 17990 lbs

• F, 8160 kg, Eijsbouts, 1981
• Upper belfry
  Sint-Romboutstoren
• Bass bell of the 49-bell modern carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

45.   Maredsous, Namur, Belgium - ~17600 lbs

• "Elizabeth", G, 8000 kg, Causard or Slegers-Causard (Tellin), 1952
• Benedictine abbey church
• Bourdon of a peal of 6 bells
• Links:
  > ACW article on the bells, with photo and sound clip of each
  > The abbey Website (in French, Dutch, German or English, though not all pages are in all languages) has an aerial photo of the church and grounds on the first page of each language section.
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of miscellaneous bellfoundries.

52.   Leuven, Brabant, Belgium - 15644 lbs

• F#, 7096 kg, Gillett & Johnston, 1928
• University Library
• Bass bell of the 63-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

57.   Brussels, Belgium - ~14550 lbs

• "Salvator", pitch?, ~6600 kg, P. de Clerck & P. vanden Ghein, 1638
• North tower
  Sint-Michielskathedraal
• Remarks
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the vanden Gheyn bellfoundry.

62.   Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium - ~13670 lbs

• "Roeland" (Roland, #1), G, ~6200 kg, P.Hemony, 1660
• Belfort plaza
• Cracked in use in 1914; replaced in use with a similarly-named bell by Michiels (see #62 below); now on display at ground level.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Hemony bellfoundry.

63.   Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium - ~13670 lbs

• "Roeland" (Roland, #2), G, 6200 kg, Michiels, 1948
• Belfort
• Replacement for the similarly-named bell by Hemony (see #61 above), and bass bell of the 54-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

66.   Bruges, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium - ~13200 lbs

• "Zegeklok" or "Triomfklok" or "Maria", G?, ~6000 kg, Melchior de Haze (Antwerpen), 1680
• Belfort
  (but originally made for the O.L.V.Kerk; moved here in 1800)
• Hangs below the carillon in the same tower.
  This bell swings.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

67.   Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium - ~13200 lbs

• G, ~6000 kg, Eijsbouts, 1981
• Upper belfry
  Sint-Romboutstoren
• #2 bell of the 49-bell modern carillon (weight estimated)
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

72.   Leuven, Brabant, Belgium - ~12000 lbs

• G#, ~5500 kg, Gillett & Johnston, 1928
• University Library
• #2 bell of the 63-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

73.   Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium - ~12000 lbs

• "Bavo", pitch?, ~5500 kg, maker?, 1636
• Sint-Baafskathedraal
• Largest bell of a peal of 7; may also have been the bass bell of a former carillon.
• Links:
  >
  > (See the text for the former carillon, linked above.)

75.   Bruges, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium - 11863 lbs

• G, 5381 kg, J. du Mery, 1742-48
• Belfort
• Bass bell of the 47-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

77.   Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium - 11684 lbs

• "Gabriel", G, 5300 kg, J.W.Hoerken, 1459
• O.L.V.Kathedraal
• Bass bell of the 49-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

81.   Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium - 9830 lbs

• "Philips", G, 4459 kg, P.Hemony, 1659-61
• Belfort
• #2 bell of the 54-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

82.   Ath, Hainaut, Belgium - ~8800 lbs

• A, 4070 kg, Michiels, 1952
• Eglise St.Julien
• Sub-bourdon of the 49-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

83.   Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium - ~8800 lbs

• A, ~4000 kg, Eijsbouts, 1981
• Upper belfry
  Sint-Romboutstoren
• #3 bell of the 49-bell modern carillon (weight estimated)
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

84.   Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium - ~8800 lbs

• "Maria", pitch?, ~4000 kg, maker?, 1636
• Sint-Baafskathedraal
• Second bell of a peal of 7; may also have been part of a former carillon.
• Links:
  >
  > (See the text for the former carillon, linked above.)

Netherlands

• name?, pitch?, ~8750 kg, Henrich (I) van Trier, 1570
• Oude Kerk
• For more than four centuries, this was the largest bell in the Netherlands.
• Links:
  >
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Finland

• A-flat, ~8000 kg, Schilling & Lattermann (Apolda-Morgenrothe, Germany), 1928
• Vaskikello Bell Museum
• The largest of a set of 5 cast steel bells originally made for a church in Tutzing, Germany; now the largest bell in Finland.
  The largest cast steel bell currently known.
• Links:
  > The restaurant/museum Website has a photo of these bells (and others) on the "You can ring" page.  They are hung on the upper level of the largest bell shed.
  > Photo of largest bell shed; this bell is the center of the group of five (all from the same foundry) on the upper level.
  > Another photo
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the miscellaneous bellfoundries.

Ukraine

• pitch?, ~8 tonnes, unknown (Ukrainian), 1997
• St.Michael's Cathedral
• Bass bell of a 50-bell carillon
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the carillon, linked above.)

Luxembourg

• "Willibrord", F, 6985 kg, Mark (Brocksheid), 2000
• Northwest tower
  Basilica of St.Willibrord
• Bass bell of a 9-bell peal; second attempt - the first one was did not harmonize with the rest of the bells (see #60, in Herrenburg, Germany).
  Replaces a 1953 Eijsbouts bell which cracked in use (see #54 below).
  Diameter 2215 mm
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the peal, linked above.)

55.   Echternach, Luxembourg - 15036 lbs

• "name"?, F#, 6820 kg, Eijsbouts, 1953
• Basilica of St.Willibrord
• Cracked in use; broken up by the Mark bellfoundry, which cast a heavier replacement (see #53 above).
• Links:
  > Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the Eijsbouts bellfoundry.

70.   Echternach, Luxembourg - 12192 lbs

• "Benedikt", G#, 5530 kg, Mark (Brocksheid), 1999
• Northwest tower
  Basilica of St.Willibrord
• Second bell of a 9-bell peal.
  Diameter 2000 mm
• Links:
  > (See the site data page for the peal, linked above.)

References:

John Ketteringham's collection of recordings of notable bells

Return to the Great Bells index page.

Return to Indexes to tower bell sites in Europe.

[GCNA Home Page] [Site data top page] [Credits and Disclaimers] [Feedback]

This page was created 2006/04/19, and last revised 2008/04/03.

Please send comments or questions to csz_stl@swbell.net