Our Geo Quiz today focused on the city that hosts the European parliament. The answer is Strasbourg, in France. And now... about those bells...

Strasbourg is known for the seemingly random way that the many churches in town ring their bells. Local residents don't seem to mind, though.

Strasbourg

"One of the beautiful things about Strasbourg and the most striking things are the church bells..."

Father Brad Walcott is an American monk who's been living in Strasbourg for the past seven years.

“You can hear one in the background there now - ringing all the time. Sometimes on the hour, sometimes a little before the hour, sometimes at the half hour, every church has a slightly different time. Maybe it's a sign that we're already living in eternity! “

There are many explanations for the staggered bell-tolls of Strasbourg. According to one theory, some churches like to ring their bells before the hour to call worshippers to upcoming services.

But one woman in the book shop at St. Thomas Protestant church says that's not it. She says the church's bell used to function as an alarm clock for the local mint.

"Y a tout apres la Rue de Monet..."

She says the church is located right next door to where the city of Strasbourg used to coin its own money long ago.

So -- she says -- the church started ringing its bell five minutes before the hour so the mint workers could close up shop on time.

But Father Brad Walcott says there's another theory as to why the bell at St. Thomas rings five minutes before the hour:

"So they won't ring at the same time as the Catholic Churches"

Whatever the reason -- the bells of Strasbourg continue to be rung at all times of the day.