Visit in December 2021
After almost two years, we are back on the road! We still have some start-up problems but the visit to Lier and Herentals was used to give the new cameras a good try.
Photos from the visit on Dec. 3 and 4, 2021. Click on the photo for a larger view.
Belfry of Lier
Concise history:
Construction Cloth Hall
As in other Flemish cities, the flourishing cloth trade at the end of the 14th century was the basis for a cloth hall in Lier. In 1212, Henry I, Duke of Brabant gave Lier city rights, and in 1367 the first mention of a cloth hall is made. The function of trading and stacking place for cloth moved to another building (The Meat House) in 1418 to also provide space as a prison and tribunal. From 1740 to 1745, the old cloth hall was converted into the town hall as it basically still stands today. The architect is Jan Pieter van Bauerscheidt de Jonge. In 1914, the city was bombed and the Grand Place was three-quarters in ruins but the Belfry and City Hall fortunately escaped.
Construction Belfry
The tower was built in 1369 by the Mechelen master builder Hendrik Mijs. In 1411, the tower was partially demolished and then rebuilt in its present form. A renovation took place in 1937, and recently (2003-2006) the Belfry and that of the Town Hall were restored. The body of the tower is built of sandstone and stands on a square plane. The upper part is also made of sandstone. The crowning consists of a slate needle spire with four arkel turrets. Inside, the tower has seven floors with wooden floors.
Quiet existence
History quietly passes by Lier. The belfry witnesses the marriage of Philip the Handsome and Joan of Castile, which was celebrated in 1496 in St. Gummarus Church. From 1524 – 1530 it sees King Christian II of Denmark spend his exile in Lier.
Bells and carillon
The tower contains two old bells, one cast by Alexis Jullien in 1704 and one by Van Aerschot-Vanden Gheyn in 1834. Since 1971, the Belfry has had a small automatic carillon with 23 bells that plays a tune every 15 minutes.
Sources: Wikipedia | ‘Flemish Belfries, World Heritage’ Michiel Heirman, Davidsfonds Leuven, 2003 | Blog: Les Beffrois, Les Perrons & Les Rolands
| Origins: | 1369 |
| Built: | 1411 (current tower) |
| Building material: | sandstone |
| Style period: | gothic |
| Height: | 42.5 meters |
| Accessibility: | not open to the public |
Opening hours Visit Lier
April 1 – Oct. 31
Monday-Friday continuous 9-4:30 a.m.
Saturday, Sunday and holidays 9-12:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
November 1 – March 31
Monday-Friday 9-12:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays
Information
Call: tel. +32 3 8000 555 Mail: info@visitlier.be
World heritage for 20 years
A nice video from RTV. It was placed a day before the celebration of its 20-year recognition as a World Heritage Site on December 1, 2019. Exceptionally, the recording crew was also allowed to enter and climb the tower.
Accommodation options in Lier
Part of our pre-fun consists of booking accommodation. Combining a visit to a Belfry with an overnight stay near it completes the experience for us and gives us more time to gather information.
Hotel Guzy
Hotel Guzy is located in the middle of historic Lier and has a delicious chocolate shop and a nice souvenir store on the first floor. Beautiful spacious rooms, a super breakfast and the Belfry is within walking distance…..
Hotel Florent
Located in the center of Lier, just 200 meters from the belfry, the Florent Hotel features boutique-style rooms with modern bathrooms. The hotel has a garden and…
Hotel Court of Aragon
The Hof van Aragon, where you stay picturesquely in the old Lierse city neighborhood, dine with tradition or feast in a stylish setting. Since 1963, experience unique moments in an extraordinary…
Food and drink
During our visit to Lier, we visited several classrooms. Have a bite to eat, a pint to drink and, above all, a taste of the atmosphere. After all, not only information hunger needs to be satisfied.
1. Cafe The Zimmer
Directly behind the Zimmer Tower is Café Zimmer. A beautiful room with a jukebox and a portrait of Tournee du Chat Noir on the wall, then we are soon converted. A charming Brusselsian presented us with a delicious board of nibbles in addition to the Triples. Totally awesome!
2. Koenie Koenie BBQ Bar
Two bartenders were unequivocal when we asked about a restaurant with a good cut of meat: Koenie Koenie! Needless to say, we put it to the test. They became spareribs and burgers and indeed they were not to be sneezed at. Highly recommended!
The three most recent posts
On this page we have collected all the relevant information for visiting this belfry. To keep this up to date, we are constantly on our way to one of the 56 belfries on the Unesco World Heritage List. Below are the latest additions.
The judge, the witch and the devil
Notice of an unexpected visit to theater Kalleke Step in Grembergen during a planned visit to Dendermonde.
Up in the belfry of Tielt!
Notice of an unexpected visit to theater Kalleke Step in Grembergen during a planned visit to Dendermonde.
Theater Kalleke Step
Notice of an unexpected visit to theater Kalleke Step in Grembergen during a planned visit to Dendermonde.
Singing towers
Want to read more about belfries with a carillon? If so, the book "Singing Towers" by Andreas Dill and Luc Rombouts is highly recommended. It is available at BOL.COM.
