Tour abbatiale de Saint-Amand-les-Eaux

Abbey tower, ancient entrance to the abbey church, 82 meters high, was built from 1626 to 1640 under Abbot Nicolas Dubois, who made a provocation to the Protestant austerity by its Baroque style. Surrounded by two small towers, its architecture is specific to Flanders and northern region. Abbey tower dazzled by the work of sculpture and meticulous carving of its facade. At the top, at the base of the towers, you can admire particular sculpture of a huge snake coiled. It is one of eight reptilian foothills surrounding the building. Legend has it that the young Amand 6th century monk, founder of the city, managed with the help of God to defeat a huge snake. Many statues have unfortunately been decapitated during the Revolution. And the entire façade is nothing but a gigantic stone sculpture of Avesnes-le-Sec (white chalk, easy to carve) was sharply deteriorated over the years and weather. Listed building, the abbey tower and made the subject of a major restoration project. Started in 2004, the influence of this project goes beyond regional boundaries. The clock is now brand new and has regained its colors at the time, blue, red and bright gold needles and dial. Inside is the Museum of the Abbey Tower which displays the permanent collections of pottery AMANDINOISES, including beautiful local productions of the 18th century like the pieces of Desmoutiers and Fauquez. While at the top of the Tower, the melodies of 48 bells of the carillon dating from 1640 resound in the city of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux through small squares carved in stone. This well established in the northern department tradition originated in the 18th century, when the monks were playing the carillon for religious ceremonies. Nowadays, a carillon school is in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux.