List of carillons in Germany

Germany's heaviest carillon is in Halle (Saale) with bells weighing more than 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) in total

Carillons, musical instruments of bells in the percussion family, are found throughout Germany. Several institutions maintain registries on the location and statistics of carillons. Some registries specialize in counting specific types of carillons. For example, the War Memorial and Peace Carillons registry counts instruments which serve as war memorials or were built in the name of promoting world peace (and tracks one in Germany);[1] the World Carillon Federation counts carillons throughout the country, along with the rest of the world. In 2025, the casting of bells and playing music on bells was added to Germany's list of intangible cultural heritage.[2]

The German Carillon Association counts carillons throughout Germany, and according to the organization, there are 49 in total.[3] They are distributed across 41 cities; in four of them – Berlin, Bonn, Cologne, and Hamburg – there are more than one. The population has a wide range in total weights, with bourdons spanning from 20 kilograms (44 lb) in Altenburg[4] and Schwerin[5] to 8,056 kilograms (17,760 lb) in Halle (Saale).[6] They also span a wide range of notes, from 23 in Bonn[7] and Lößnitz[8] up to 76 in Halle (Saale).[6] The carillons were all exclusively constructed after 1900 by a mix of bellfounders, many of them German. The majority of carillons are transposing instruments, and often transpose such that the lowest note on the keyboard is B♭ or C. There are also two mobile carillons, which were constructed and are owned by two German bellfounders: Perner and Sandkuhl.[3]

According to the World Carillon Federation, the carillons of Germany account for seven percent of the world's total.[9]

Criteria for inclusion

The World Carillon Federation defines a carillon as an instrument of at least 23 cast bronze bells hung in fixed suspension, played with a traditional keyboard of batons, and tuned in chromatic order so that they can be sounded harmoniously together. It may designate instruments of 15 to 22 bells built before 1940 as "historical carillons".[10] Its member organizations – including for example the German Carillon Association – also define a carillon with those restrictions.[11] This list contains only those carillons that meet the definition outlined by these organizations.

List of carillons

List of carillons in Germany
Location City Bells Bourdon weight Total weight Range and
transposition		 Bellfounder(s) Ref.
kg lb kg lb
Aachen Town Hall Aachen 49 400880 2,5005,500 N/a Royal Eijsbouts 1978[a] [13]
Epiphany of the Lord Church Altenburg 24 2044 311686 N/a Schilling 1981 [4]
Schloss Johannisburg Aschaffenburg 48 270600 2,1004,600
Up 12 semitones		 Royal Eijsbouts 1969 [14]
French Cathedral Berlin 60 5,70012,600 29,50065,000
Up 1 semitone		 Schilling / Pößneck 1987 [15]
St. Nicholas Church 41 200440 1,4003,100 N/a Schilling 1987 [16]
Parochialkirche 52 1,4903,280 8,60019,000 Up 4 semitones Petit & Fritsen / Royal Eijsbouts 2016 [17][18]
Carillon in Berlin-Tiergarten 68 7,80017,200 48,000106,000 N/a Royal Eijsbouts 1987 [19]
Bad Godesberg City Park Bonn 23 37.683 291.1642 Up 24 semitones Royal Eijsbouts 1979 [7][20]
St. Joseph's Church 62 2,3005,100 10,20022,500 Up 8 semitones Schilling 1962 [21][22]
Buchen City Tower Buchen 24 139306 N/a Up 24 semitones Royal Eijsbouts 2015 [23][24]
New Town Hall Chemnitz 48 9572,110 5,20011,500
Up 5 semitones		 Schilling 1978 [25]
Cologne City Hall Cologne 48 2,5005,500 12,50027,600
None (concert pitch)		 Royal Eijsbouts 1958 [26][27]
St. Maria in der Kupfergasse 38 N/a N/a N/a Royal Eijsbouts 2010 [28]
Church of Saint Anne Düren 37 6401,410 3,5087,734 Up 7 semitones Petit & Fritsen 1964 [29][30]
St. Aldegundis Emmerich am Rhein 43 9051,995 7,00015,000 Up 5 semitones Petit & Fritsen 2000 [31][32]
Church of Our Lady Eppingen 49 6001,300 3,9838,781 Up 5 semitones Karlsruher 1987 [33][34]
St Bartholomew's Church Erfurt 60 2,3935,276 13,62630,040 None (concert pitch) Schilling 1979 [35]
Old St. Nicholas Church Frankfurt 47 5601,230 3,5007,700 N/a
[36]
Saints Philip and Jacob Church Geisa 49 358789 2,0034,416 Up 10 semitones Royal Eijsbouts 2003 [37][38]
Gera City Hall Gera 37 4599 1,0242,258 Up 24 semitones Schilling / Pößneck 1988 [39][40]
Gustav Adolf Stave Church Goslar 49 300660 2,0004,400 (Range not available)
Up 14 semitones		 Schilling / Perner / Buer 2002–05 [41][42]
Red Tower Halle (Saale) 76 8,05617,760 45,980101,370 N/a Schilling / Metz 1993 [6]
Christian's Church Hamburg 42 1,1002,400 5,40011,900 Up 4 semitones Schilling 1938 [43]
St. Nicholas Church 51 2,0024,414 13,00029,000 None (concert pitch) Royal Eijsbouts 1992 [44][45][46]
N/a Henrietten Foundation Hanover 49 408899 2,9006,400
Up 13 semitones		 Schilling 1960 [47]
Heidelberg City Hall Heidelberg 26 60130 8001,800 Up 24 semitones Schilling 1961 [48]
Herrenberg collegiate church Herrenberg 50 392864 2,5105,530
Up 12 semitones		 Royal Eijsbouts 2012 [49][50]
St. Martin's Church Illertissen 51 400880 2,6005,700 Up 12 semitones Royal Eijsbouts 2006 [51][52]
Kaiserslautern collegiate church Kaiserslautern 47 2,0004,400 10,00022,000 N/a Bachert 2009 [53]
Karlskirche Kassel 47 397875 2,7506,060
Up 10 semitones
  • Schilling 1957
  • Karlsruher 1989
  • Buer 1995
 [54][55]
Kiel Monastery Kiel 50 6201,370 4,0859,006
  • Bachert / Karlsruher 1999
  • Buer 2005
 [56]
St. John's Church Lößnitz 23 350770 2,4005,300
Up 10 semitones		 Schilling 1939 [8]
St. Mary's Church Lübeck 37 2,5005,500 N/a
None (concert pitch)
  • Schilling 1906
  • Rincker 2019
 [57]
Magdeburg City Hall Magdeburg 47 9752,150 6,00013,000
Up 5 semitones		 Schilling / Apolda 1974 [58]
Melle Town Hall Melle 37 293646 1,7673,896 N/a Royal Eijsbouts 2010 [59]
Mariahilfkirche Munich 65 6,20013,700 25,00055,000 None (concert pitch) Royal Eijsbouts / Czudnochowsky / Gloria 2012 [60]
Old Town Hall Offenburg 25 2555 425937 N/a Schilling / Apolda / Pößneck 1989 [61]
Alter Friedhof Potsdam 24 3066 400880 Up 36 semitones Schilling 1985 [62]
Turmhurenmuseum Rockenhausen 37 47104 N/a N/a Royal Eijsbouts 2014 [63]
Fünfgiebelhaus Rostock 32 50110 5331,175 N/a Schilling / Apolda 1986 [64]
Park Bergfried Saalfeld 25 1,4503,200 9,06019,970
Up 3 semitones		 Apolda 1924/1986 [65]
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Schirgiswalde 29 N/a N/a N/a Schilling / Apolda 1991 [66]
Schwerin Town Hall Schwerin 26 2044 330730 N/a Apolda 1988 [5]
St. Otto Church Wechselburg 36 46101 9802,160 N/a Schilling / Apolda / Pößneck 1988 [67]
N/a Old Schoolyard Weilbach 39 240530 2,0324,480 Metz 2006 [68]
Marktkirche Wiesbaden 49 2,2004,900 11,07124,407
????????
[69]
Neubaukirche Würzburg 51 6351,400 3,6007,900
Up 9 semitones		 Petit & Fritsen 2005 [70]

List of mobile carillons

List of mobile carillons in Germany
Name City Bells Bourdon weight Total weight Range and
transposition		 Bellfounder(s) Ref.
kg lb kg lb
Perner Carillon Passau 49 450990 4,0008,800 Up 12 semitones Perner 2012 [71][72]
N/a Sandkuhl Carillon Rostock 37 265584 1,7983,964
Up 12 semitones		 Sandkuhl 2004 [73][74]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Installed 1979[12]

References

  1. ↑ "World map of peace carillons". War Memorial and Peace Carillons. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  2. ↑ German Carillon Association. "Intangible Cultural Heritage Recognition" (PDF). WCF Newsletter. World Carillon Federation. p. 5. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Carillons in Deutschland" [Carillons in Germany]. Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Altenburg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Schwerin". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Halle/Saale". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Bonn-Bad Godesberg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Lößnitz". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "Carillons". World Carillon Federation. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  10. ↑ "Organization". World Carillon Federation. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021. The definition of a carillon is fixed as follows: 'A carillon is a musical instrument composed of tuned bronze bells which are played from a baton keyboard'. Only those carillons having at least 23 bells will be taken into consideration.
  11. ↑ "Was ist ein Carillon?" [What Is a Carillon?]. Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung [German Carillon Association]. Retrieved 27 September 2024. Ein Carillon (im deutschen Sprachgebrauch manchmal auch als Turmglockenspiel oder Konzertglockenspiel bezeichnet), hat gegenüber einem Kirchengeläut mindestens 23 Bronzeglocken (zwei Oktaven in chromatischer Reihenfolge), die mit einer Handspieleinrichtung verbunden sind. Diese Handspieleinrichtung, auch Stockspieltisch genannt, ist mit dem Spieltisch einer Orgel vergleichbar, jedoch in anderen Dimensionen. Die Tasten für die Hände sind als gerundete Holzstäbe gefertigt und werden auch Stocktasten genannt. [A carillon (sometimes also referred to as a tower glockenspiel or concert glockenspiel in German) has at least 23 bronze bells (two octaves in chromatic order) compared to a church bell, which are connected to a hand-held device. This hand-held device, also known as a stick console, is comparable to the console of an organ, but in different dimensions. The keys for the hands are made as rounded wooden sticks and are also called stick keys.]
  12. ↑ "DEACHNRH". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "Aachen". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "Aschaffenburg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "Französischer Dom" [French Cathedral]. Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  16. ↑ "Nikolaikirche" [St. Nicholas Church]. Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  17. ↑ "Parochialkirche". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  18. ↑ "DEBRLNRP". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  19. ↑ "Tiergarten". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  20. ↑ "DEBONNBG". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  21. ↑ "Bonn-Beuel". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  22. ↑ "DEBONNSJ". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  23. ↑ "Buchen". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  24. ↑ "DEBCHNMT". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  25. ↑ "Chemnitz". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  26. ↑ "Altes Rathaus". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  27. ↑ "DEKLNARH". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  28. ↑ "Kirche St. Maria". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  29. ↑ "Düren". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  30. ↑ "DEDRNSTA". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  31. ↑ "Emmerich". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  32. ↑ "DEEMRCSA". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  33. ↑ "Eppingen". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  34. ↑ "DEEPNGKS". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  35. ↑ "Erfurt". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  36. ↑ "Frankfurt am Main". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  37. ↑ "Geisa". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  38. ↑ "DEGSASPJ". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  39. ↑ "Gera". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  40. ↑ "DEGERARH". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  41. ↑ "Hahnenklee". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  42. ↑ "DEHNKLSK". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  43. ↑ "Carillon der Christianskirche". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  44. ↑ "Carillon im Mahnmal St. Nikolai". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  45. ↑ "Hamburg, Carillon of St. Nikolai Memorial (Germany)". War Memorial and Peace Carillons. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  46. ↑ "DEHMBGSN". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  47. ↑ "Hannover". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  48. ↑ "Heidelberg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  49. ↑ "Herrenberg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  50. ↑ "DEHRNBSK". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  51. ↑ "Illertissen". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  52. ↑ "DEILRTSM". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  53. ↑ "Kaiserslautern". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  54. ↑ "Kassel". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  55. ↑ "DEKSSLKK". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  56. ↑ "Kiel". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  57. ↑ "Lübeck". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  58. ↑ "Magdeburg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  59. ↑ "Melle". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  60. ↑ "München". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  61. ↑ "Offenburg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  62. ↑ "Potsdam". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  63. ↑ "Rockenhausen". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  64. ↑ "Fünfgiebelhaus". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  65. ↑ "Saalfeld". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  66. ↑ "Schirgiswalde". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  67. ↑ "Wechselburg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  68. ↑ "Weilbach". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  69. ↑ "Wiesbaden". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  70. ↑ "Würzburg". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  71. ↑ "Passau". Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  72. ↑ "DEPSSGGP". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  73. ↑ "Rostock – mobiles Carillon" [Rostock – mobile carillon]. Deutsche Glockenspielvereinigung e.V. [German Carillon Association] (in German). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  74. ↑ "DERSTKMS". TowerBells.org. Retrieved 27 September 2024.

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