Saint Michel's Spire

UNESCO world heritage, Registered monuments and sites

An iconic landmark

Visible from afar, the spire has shaped the skyline of Bordeaux since the Middle Ages. A symbol of the ambition of the parish of Saint-Michel, it towers over the Flamboyant Gothic basilica, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. Beyond its religious role, it embodies the heritage and identity of Bordeaux.

The basilica shares a rare feature with Bordeaux’s Saint-André Cathedral: its bell tower is separate from the main building, forming an independent campanile. This arrangement served to minimise the risks posed by the vibrations of the bells to the structure of the sanctuary. At its base lies a crypt that served for many years as an ossuary. In the 19th century, during the development of Place Meynard – then a former parish cemetery – several naturally preserved bodies were discovered there and exhibited under the name of ‘mummies’. The complex comprising the basilica and its isolated bell tower has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1846.

The Spire Through the Centuries

Weakened by time and the elements, the spire has undergone several major restoration projects. Completed in 1492, it survived an earthquake (1759), a lightning strike and a hurricane (1768) which truncated it – before serving as a relay station for the Chappe telegraph in the 19th century. The architect Paul Abadie restored it between 1860 and 1869. In particular, he rebuilt the upper part of the bell tower, which had been truncated after the hurricane of 1768, and restored the spire’s slender neo-Gothic silhouette.

The carillon of La Flèche resonates throughout Bordeaux

La Flèche Saint-Michel houses a carillon of 22 19th-century bells, perfectly tuned to play religious and secular melodies. In days gone by, they set the rhythm of life in the neighbourhood: church services, festivals, fires or public ceremonies. Restored on several occasions – recast or replaced to maintain harmony – these bells still chime the hours and quarter-hours (9am–8pm), plus short tunes at 12.30pm and 6.45pm. A living musical heritage that brings Bordeaux to life!

A major restoration project

After five years of work, its reopening marks a major milestone for Bordeaux. Since 2022, the Flèche Saint-Michel has undergone extensive restoration aimed at strengthening its structure and repairing the stones weakened by time. An impressive 700-tonne scaffolding structure was erected to allow work to be carried out right up to the top of the monument. This high-precision project required specialist expertise to preserve the building’s authenticity whilst ensuring its safety.

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