Cornille Havard - Fondeur de Cloches
Cornille Havard - Fondeur de Cloches
Cornille Havard - Fondeur de Cloches
4.5
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In an authentic 19th Century workshop, discover nine centuries of tradition, from ageless methods to modern technology.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
439 reviews
Excellent
214
Very good
169
Average
33
Poor
14
Terrible
9
Mike A
Otley, UK6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Doesn't look like much from the outside which is deceiving. Mixture of bells you can ring is fun with plenty of info in courtyard . The tour we had was in excellent English (only 3 of us at the time ) .
Would highly recommend even to someone with no knowledge or interest previously in bells or foundries .
Would reckon about 1 1/2 hours .
Would highly recommend even to someone with no knowledge or interest previously in bells or foundries .
Would reckon about 1 1/2 hours .
Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TennaRotor
Birmingham, MI485 contributions
Jun 2022
Our gite host recommend we visit and I'm so glad we did. Charming entrance with small garden, we were greeted by an english speaker receptionist - I inquired about a tour in english and she said they could accommodate us, please wait about 10 minutes in the outside display area. After about 10 minutes she came out and we had a private tour! Fascinating tour of the foundry that makes all sizes of church bells (including the ones in Notre Dame). Fortunately the day we toured the foundry was not in full operation so we didn't get the heat from the molten copper/iron. Also fortunately it was market day (Tuesday) and we were able to get one of the grilled sausages in a baguette that we discovered on this trip.
Written July 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fred E
West Sussex, UK136 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
Our guided tour of this 150 year old foundry was an experience not to be forgotten. Friendly, educational and fun.
At present they are in the process of starting manufacture on a huge commemorative bell to mark their 150th anniversary.
All visitors to the foundry are invited to have their names inscribed on it at no cost.
At present they are in the process of starting manufacture on a huge commemorative bell to mark their 150th anniversary.
All visitors to the foundry are invited to have their names inscribed on it at no cost.
Written April 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RanneyP
Winchester, UK69 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
To be frank this is not a place I would have thought to visit - but I went there as part of a group - and was so glad that I did. Visitors are taken round the foundry in groups led by a guide. Work goes on round you as you watch and learn - and believe me bell making us NOT a simple task! All of us found the visit very interesting and our English speaking guide was first class. The foundry was quite small but the visit took over 30 minutes as there was so much to see and learn. A very enjoyable experience!
Written June 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allison
38 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We visited the bell foundry while walking around the village and would highly recommend to any visitors.
The foundry operates much as it always has and it was refreshing to be in a work environment without everything being screened off.
We had an English speaking guide and learned a lot about the casting process.
The foundry operates much as it always has and it was refreshing to be in a work environment without everything being screened off.
We had an English speaking guide and learned a lot about the casting process.
Written June 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizaveta S
Moscow, Russia48 contributions
Sept 2015 • Family
Unsusual and rare place where you can follow the process of making bells. We didn't understand if there were guided tours in English or not, so we took information booklet in English. It was some kind of rare fun for our daughter to ring the bells on the yard and listen to clear and powerful sounds. We touched warm moulds where the bells were coolind down, saw various technical devices, engraving and forge tools and real furnace.
We entered the foundry when working day was done, so it was quiet and calm in the premices and our daugther didn't scare.
We entered the foundry when working day was done, so it was quiet and calm in the premices and our daugther didn't scare.
Written October 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Horologist
Aylsham, UK212 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
We went on a tour (in English) of the foundry and it was really very interesting. The tour guide was able to answer all questions. The gift shop has some lovely items.
Written August 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
annebags2
Leiria District, Portugal12 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
No fuss or frills, you walk into a working traditional bell foundry. A guide, ask for the very theatrical and knowledgeable Simon, shows and tells you everything. Amazing where the bells go to, how long it takes to make one, and that they follow the same process used for hundreds of years. Wood fired kilns, earthen pits, metal chains to lift the huge bells. Just a wonderful experience. No computers, no interpretation centre, it is what it is. Fascinating!
Written March 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clive B
Flintshire, UK78 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
The bell foundry is a fascinating time-warp. Old traditions still working well to create bells for churches and anything else that you could use a bell for. Still using goat manure as one of the principle ingredients of the molding mix - you just can't beat it with any of today's modern materials! Watching molten bronze get poured into a mold is quite a sight and later on, watching the mold get broken off to reveal a new bell. In another area, the men can be seen with modern technology carefully grinding a bit here, a bit there to tune the bell to exact frequency and harmonics with a microphone recording the sound and showing on a graph whether perfect harmony has been found. They do get it nearly right first by simply listening to the sound when the bell is struck and usually the master bellmaker's ear is almost as good as the modern technology!
Written September 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seetheworld002
Burnley, UK13 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
We spent a very interesting hour or two at this traditional bell foundry, one of only two working foundries in France. Their work is impressive and includes commissions for Notre Dame in Paris and Bayeux Cathedral. What was most fascinating was the sense of history in the factory itself; apart from using one gas-fired furnace and some quite recent tech light for tuning bells, the design and production of the bells has changed little throughout the centuries. Our guide was superb - enthusiastic, impressively multilingual and very knowledgeable. We resisted the temptations of the beautiful, house-sized bells in the shop but enjoyed looking at and playing with the specimens in the courtyard. A lovely afternoon out.
Written September 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I would like to know if I can order a personalized bell from this foundry and have it shipped to the USA?
If so, how?
Written November 23, 2019
Bonjour
oui vous pouvez commander une cloche personnalisée et vous la faire envoyée.
Contacter directement la fonderie
Written July 21, 2020
For those who reviewed in the past week, i.e., the first week of July, 2019: Did you notice any postings regarding closing for any days in the next 2 months? We are planning a trip to see the Bell Foundary and the local coppersmith during the first week in September after a Viking cruise in the Bordeaux area. Thank you in advance for any response!
Written July 9, 2019
Hi. It's closed on monday in september.
Written July 30, 2019
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