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This building has a long story. For the townspeople of Amiens it is a symbol of their autonomy. In 1113 Amiens gained autonomy approved by the king Louis VI of France (1081-1137). But the Earl of Amiens, Enguerrand I de Coucy (1042 – 1116), didn't like that and his son Thomas de Marle, Lord of Coucy (1073-1130), didn't like that either, after he succeeded his father. So they made war on Amiens in 1115. The city fought against them and the Earls had to barricade themselves into an old Roman fortress in the middle of the city. Louis VI got angry and paid them a visit with his troops but he couldn't capture the fortress and thus the troops sieged the Earls for 2 years. Then the king's troops were victorious and they had the fortress razed to the ground. The townspeople built this belfry from 1406 to 1410 as a symbol of their autonomy. They used the bell tower to warn of fire or enemies (earls), as armoury and prison.
The belfry burned down in 1562 and in 1742. After the fire in 1742 it was rebuilt in 1749 and this time it looked like it looks today. So our version is like the 18th century version. They cast a bell called Marie-Firmine. It weighed 11 tonnes. Marie Firmine rang every hour.
In 1940 the evil Germans dropped bombs on the belfry and the roof burned down. The bell fell down and broke into pieces. The building was left in this pitiful state until 1989.
In 1989 the belfry was restored just the way it was in 1749. It is listed in the additional list of French historical monuments. And there were important changes from the original. The two mayors Amiens had in 1988 and 1989 had a sculptor include their portraits as mediaeval sculptures at the entrance of the belfry (not much has changed since the times of feudal systems) and the mayor of 1989 insisted they put in a carillon instead of an 11 tonnes bell. I have to admit, the latter was a good idea.
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