Our dress rehearsal
Visit in February 2018
A beautiful encounter
However, an unexpected encounter befalls us when we enter the attic of City Hall. It turns out to be Noël Reynders, the former city carillonneur of Sint-Truiden….
Belfry of Bruges
Concise history:
Construction of Bruges’ belfry began in 1240. She was immediately set in stone. The tower was crowned with a wooden structure in which the municipal clock was suspended. This wooden structure was lost to a fire in 1280. Between 1291 and 1296 the belfry was repaired the two square lower building parts came into being with a wooden spire on top. Then, between 1483and 1487, the octagonal upper section was built in the Gothic style. Before the current neo-Gothic crown finish was installed in 1822, two wooden spires adorned the belfry. In 1487, a wooden spire with the statue of St. Michael. It stood there for only six years and burned down in 1493 after a lightning strike. After restoration, there was an ascending lion on the wooden spire. In 1741, the tower was struck by fire for the third time, causing the wooden spire to disappear forever.
Characteristics:
Origins:
Built:
Building Material:
Style period:
Height:
Number of steps:
Accessible:
1240
1240
brick
gothic/neo-gothic
83 meters
366 steps
Yes, see information
Opening Hours
Monday through Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission up to one hour before closing time.
For safety reasons, the number of people who can visit the tower at the same time is limited.
No visits can be reserved. Every visitor must line up. Please allow for a possible waiting period.
Accommodation options in Bruges
Hotel Butterhouse
Hotel Boterhuis is located in the historic center of Bruges, just a 3-minute walk from the Grote Markt and the belfry. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, an on-site bar and…
Hotel Salvators
Hotel Salvators is located in the center of Bruges, in the shadow of St. Salvators Cathedral and 50 meters from the shopping area. The hotel has…
Hotel Bourgoensch Hof
The Bourgoensch Hof offers rooms in the historic center of Bruges, just 200 meters from the Grand Place. This 3-star hotel has a terrace overlooking…
Food and drink
During our visit to Bruges, we visited several premises to take care of the inner man as well. If you have any additions or an absolute tip where a visit to Bruges culinary should be graced please send a message to: info@belforten.com.
1. Brewery De Halve Maan
A visit to Bruges is hardly complete if brewery De Halve Maan is not visited. Apart from the fun tour, you can eat very well and not least of all grab a good pint.
2. The Vision
When you want insanely delicious food in Bruges go to Het Visioen. Belgian-French cuisine combines the flavors of Asia. The menu changes monthly. In addition to fine three-course menus, they also serve delicious tapas.
3. The Seventh Heaven
Here in seventh heaven, what more could we want? The lyrics of The Dike could have been written here. Lunch of Flemish rondstoverij, salad and fries with a good pint: like an Angel cycling across your tongue! The value for money was more than excellent!
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.
