To celebrate the Millennium of the “City of a Hundred Bell Towers,” and at the invitation of Mathias Courtet, artistic director of the event, Vincent Baranger and Anthony Lebossé — the Caen native of the team — created the “101st Bell Tower.”
A contemporary bell tower, a red signal, that pays tribute to the city’s history, but more importantly embodies its future — a strong symbol of the port and the peninsula, a neighborhood in the midst of transformation at the heart of Caen.

“In the city of a hundred bell towers!”...

This expression, often heard when describing the city — echoed in the chants of Stade Malherbe de Caen supporters and in Orelsan’s lyrics — may not be literally accurate, but what is certain is that these towers are powerful symbols of Caen. They shape the city’s skyline between abbeys and churches. Curiously, the peninsula and the port had none.
So, rather than a place of worship, what was designed is a gathering point, a landmark that plays on the fable of the hundred bell towers — inserting itself into this architectural heritage and extending the city’s story into the future.

A red “maritime bell tower”

Red, like a starboard marker or a lighthouse, it reinforces the canal as a bold maritime gateway into the city, transforming the port into a central plaza of Caen.
Located at the “prow” of the peninsula, visible from the outskirts of the harbor, it serves as a geographic and symbolic landmark — a point of connection between the historic center and the emerging city.
This microarchitecture will be embraced by the people of Caen as a setting for both small and large gatherings. A glowing red beacon at night, it will pulse like a heartbeat — channeling the energy of Caen and its inhabitants.

“Just like a church at the center of a village, the bell tower transforms the port into a true public square.”

Rooted in a shared history, the project symbolically reunites the industrial expertise of Terreal with the craftsmanship of the Poterie de Bavent.
Echoing the red bridge of the Fonderie, the colors of the city’s coat of arms, and its logo, the bell tower was conceived as a red monolith.
A tile color of unique intensity was specially developed for the project by the Terreal factory (Wienerberger Group), located in Bavent, just a few kilometers from the site — where the clay used for the bricks was also sourced. The signature finial was handcrafted by the Poterie du Mesnil de Bavent, a company recognized as part of France’s “Living Heritage.”

A collaborative project made for the people of Caen, and crafted by the people of Caen!

The bell tower is a project rooted in local companies and know-how.
Terreal as both manufacturer and sponsor, the training company Metal Academy, Poterie du Mesnil de Bavent, the Citeos company, the City’s departments… A whole local ecosystem — more than forty people — came together and united to bring this project to life!

The project was supported by Terreal – Wienerberger Group.
terreal.com