The bell tower of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, located in Bordeaux, is one of the tallest religious structures in the world. Its height is 115 meters. The temple itself, for the most part, was built with funds donated by parishioners. One of the mysteries of the Cathedral is found at the site of the former cemetery of mummies buried here.

The Basilica is located on the square Menard, one kilometer from the Cathedral Saint-andré, near the Pont du Pierre. The construction of this temple was carried out from the XIV to the XVI century, and, as often happened in the Middle ages, as the place for its construction was selected existing Church here. For the construction of the Basilica architect was appointed by Royal decree – Jean Loeb. First, there are the new choirs, and in 1466 in the unfinished building began to hold services with the participation of parishioners. In the XVI century, when the work was completed, the Cathedral looked like a real specimen of flamboyant Gothic and had a free-standing bell tower.

In the mid-eighteenth century, part of the spire of the bell tower was destroyed by an earthquake, recover dealt with the architect Paul Abadie, but in the second half of the nineteenth century. During the Second world war led to the loss of the stained glass images of the Cathedral. Their place was taken by the work of max Ingrina – glass artist and decorator, was awarded the Legion of Honor. Stained glass Ingrina also adorn the cathedrals in other cities in France – Rouen, Toulouse and Strasbourg.

The story of the mummified remains occurred in the eighteenth century, when, during the work on landscaping the area was accidentally dug up a few graves around the Cathedral was once the cemetery. Preservation of bodies tried to explain the peculiarities of the local soil, but rumor has given this story a mystical hue. Until 1979 these remains were exposed in the underground crypt of the Cathedral, but then they were reburied in another cemetery.

Since the end of XX century Basilica, one of the cathedrals on the Santiago pilgrimage Route of St. James, a UNESCO world heritage site.