Belfort Bell Tower
Description:
Belfort bell tower is one of the symbols of the city of Bruges.
The bell tower was built in 1240. It was built tier by tier until the XV century. However, it is worth noting that in 1280 it was damaged by fire. Fires never hit the tower. The last major fire took place in 1741, after which it received the appearance that has survived to the present day.
The tower reaches a height of eighty-three meters. The octagonal Gothic bell tower still dominates the main square of Bruges Grote-Marct. At the top level of the tower are forty-seven bells. In the past, the sound of each bell signified different events – some warned of danger, others announced news, others watched the time. Currently, only the last feature is preserved, but every hour its own tune is played.
In the past, the bell tower served as a repository of important documents. It also served as a watchtower.