The Vallier de Plampinet brothers: famous itinerant bell founders

Name: The Vallier de Plampinet brothers: famous itinerant bell founders
Address: Plampinet, Névache, 05100, FRANCE

Historic site and monument
Industrial site
Engineering structure
Religious heritage
Bell tower
19th C
18th C

Plampinet, 05100 Névache

Hamlet of Plampinet seen from above — ©Ducroux Michel

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For nearly 6 generations, the Vallier family of itinerant bell founders cast over a thousand bells throughout the Alps, from Hérémence (Switzerland) to Aubignosc, from Autrans to Susa (Italy).

The small hamlet of Plampinet is home to many treasures, including the skills handed down from generation to generation since 1630 by Michel Vallier de Plampinet, the first of a long line of founders. The bell tower-wall of the Notre Dame-des-Grâces chapel houses a beautiful, richly decorated bell from 1761, probably cast by Jacques Vallier (4th generation). Victor Vallier (6th generation), for his part, made two of the four Vallier bells for Névache's Saint-Marcellin church in 1851. Close to the torrent des Acles, the Valliers cast bells for Plampinet and the surrounding area: In this way, they were close to the buildings to be equipped (Saint-Sébastien church or other chapels), but far enough away from dwellings to avoid the risk of fire. Bell bronze (an alloy of 78% copper and 22% tin) had to be melted in a furnace at over 1000°C, obtained by burning wood and coal. Prior to this, the foundryman prepared his mold using "trussing boards" in the shape of the core, false bell and cope. Then cast and unmold. The one and only house on the right bank of the Clarée was that of Claude Vallier (4th generation). His 3 brothers, Jean, François and Jacques, were also foundrymen. They also teamed up with other foundrymen from Briançon: the Gautiers and the Barbes. Some 200 Vallier, Vallier-Gautier and Vallier-Barbe bells have been found in archives or in bell towers. The time of the itinerant founders came to an end with the opening of the railway line in 1884: the Burdin company in Lyon, with its greater resources, was able to ship its bells as far as Briançon. For further information, please consult the book "Les fondeurs de cloches Briançonnais", Editions du Fournel, written by Jean Vallier in tribute to his bellfounding ancestors. Sources: Lycée d'Altitude 05100 Briançon & Partenaires - Guide " Au pays des fondeurs Vallier ". If you'd like to find out more about the history of the hamlet of Plampinet, there are a number of guided tours on offer: - guided tours from the Atelier d'Histoire - guided tours by the Briançon Heritage Department - guided tours by the Association de Sauvegarde du hameau de Plampinet