Philippe Paccard, CEO of the bell and chimes foundry Paccard, is seen controlling the note of the world’s largest swinging bell with a tuning fork on March 23, 2024, at the port of Nantes. This bell, manufactured by the Fonderie de l’Atlantique and Paccard, weighs 42 tons with the yoke and clapper, and measures 4 meters in diameter. Originally intended to commemorate the year 2000 in Newport, Kentucky, this massive bell is a testament to the craftsmanship of its makers. The scene is accompanied by majestic swans flying over Lake Annecy, with the backdrop of the Bauges Regional Natural Park.
In Sevrier, a village near the French Alps, employees of the Paccard bell foundry have been hard at work since dawn. Clad in aluminum-lined cotton overalls to protect against splashes, the workers are busy casting molten bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, to fill molds for future bells. Flames escape from the furnace, creating stifling heat. David Ughetto, a 50-year-old master founder with thirty years of experience, carefully pours the molten metal at 1,200 degrees from a high perch. His job is deeply ingrained in his identity, as evidenced by the bell and Rouen Cathedral tattoos on his left arm.
The constant hum of machinery fills the foundry as molten bronze is poured into molds of various sizes, lined up like nesting dolls on massive steel shelves. After waiting several hours, the bells are taken out of the molds, molded with wax decorations depicting celestial beings, saints, or mountain landscapes. Some of these bells can weigh several tons – the World Peace Bell, crafted by the Paccard foundry for the Millennium Monument Company in Newport, Kentucky, weighs over 33 tons. This family-run business has been crafting bells for over seven generations, using unique expertise passed down through the years.
The Paccard family’s legacy in bell-making dates back to 1796, during the French Revolution. In a time when bells were being requisitioned and melted down by republicans to make weapons, the Paccard family, who were royalists and counter-revolutionaries, saw bell-making as a form of resistance. Nearly a century later, in 1891, the family made the largest bell in France, the Savoyarde, which is still located in the heart of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris. Weighing over 19 tons, with a diameter of 3 meters and a circumference of 9 meters, this bell was commissioned by Archbishop Chambéry, Mgr. Leuillieux, for the Paris monument. The Paccard family’s commitment to their craft has earned them recognition as makers of the oldest bells in France.
The Paccard foundry’s commitment to preserving the art of bell-making is evident in each bell they produce, embodying centuries of tradition and craftsmanship. From the unique casting process to the intricate wax decorations, every step is carefully executed to ensure the highest quality bells are created. As the workers toil in the foundry, the legacy of the Paccard family lives on, continuing a tradition that has spanned over two centuries. Through their dedication and passion for their craft, the Paccard family has solidified their place as one of the most renowned bell-makers in France and around the world.
