The Belfry

The Belfry

The Ghent audio-guided tour presents you with the Belfry, a Gothic tower of more than ninety metres, one of the most imposing buildings of the historic centre.

Symbol of communal freedoms

Built in two stages in the fourteenth century, the Belfry of Ghent was at once the symbol of freedom, prosperity and communal independence. This status was reinforced when the privileges of the city were secretly kept in a chest, inside the tower, from 1402 to 1539. The Belfry forms, with the Saint Bavo Cathedral and the Church of Saint Nicholas, the famous alignment of the three towers of the historic centre. Dominated since 1377 by a dragon of some four hundred kilos, supposed to watch over the city, it also served as a watchtower from 1442: its guards rang the bells in case of danger, notably of fire, until 1869. It is listed on the UNESCO world heritage.

What there is to see

The Belfry dominates the centre of Ghent with its Gothic silhouette crowned with a golden dragon. From its top, accessible to visitors, the view embraces the roofs, the canals and the towers of the city. A symbol of communal freedoms and a witness of the history of Ghent, it forms with the cathedral and the Church of Saint Nicholas one of the finest ensembles of the Flemish heritage.

Practical information

The Belfry is between the Saint Bavo Cathedral and the Church of Saint Nicholas, in the historic centre of Ghent. It can be visited according to hours to be checked on site; access to the top is generally subject to a charge and a lift facilitates the climb.

What did the Belfry of Ghent symbolise?

Freedom, prosperity and communal independence; the privileges of the city were kept there from 1402 to 1539.

What are the three towers of the centre of Ghent?

The Belfry, the Saint Bavo Cathedral and the Church of Saint Nicholas, aligned in the heart of the historic centre.