The tower Grosse Cloche (or a Large Bell) is part of the medieval city fortifications. In the XIII century the town wall was cut through a separate entrance to the city for the smooth passage of pilgrims who went on the Way of St. James in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. This gate was called Saint-Eloi, and in the XV century on their ruins was built the town hall of Bordeaux, now called "old".

Medieval "skyscraper" of the town hall consisted of two round towers with a height of 40 meters, between which was a belfry, in which hung a massive bell. In the XVII century the belfry was decorated with wrought-iron decorative grille, and in 1759 on the belfry clock appeared, made mathematician and astronomer named Paul of Murder. Until hours the bell in the tower Grosse Cloche notify residents of Bordeaux about events and incidents. So, the bells rang out to celebrate the start of harvest in the vineyards, during the fires here sounded the alarm.

However, the bell, which now hangs in the tower – not the one that was raised initially. The first bell was thrown from the town hall in 1548, by order of Henry II as a punishment to the inhabitants of Bordeaux for a peasant uprising. To live long without the bells and they could already in 1561 cast new and hung it back in place. Current Grosse Cloche was cast in 1775, his weight was just less than eight tons. In the same city tower for a long time housed a weapons Arsenal.

The tower Grosse Cloche is considered one of the symbols of Bordeaux and one of the favorite places of its inhabitants. The silhouette of the bell tower can be seen on the arms of the city. The tower is located at the intersection of Victor Hugo and St. James and is one of the few remaining in the city of medieval buildings. Near the tower street bridge paved with cobble-stones. At the Central building of the Grosse Cloche adorned with a weather vane in the form of a Golden leopard.