Beffroi

The Belfry, in Amiens

The Belfry of Amiens, 52 metres high, is an emblematic monument listed as world heritage, symbol of the communal liberties. The Amiens audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this characteristic tower of the towns of the North, witness of the history and the pride of the town.

The tower of the communal liberties

With its fifty-two metres of height, the Belfry of Amiens is inscribed in the history of the town and the region. The belfries are particularly present in the towns of the north of France and in Belgium, and contain a rich symbolism. In the Middle Ages, when the towns obtained privileges and the right to administer themselves, forming communes, they raised these towers to affirm proudly their liberties facing the power of the lords and the Church. The belfry was much more than a tower: it sheltered the communal bell, that punctuated the life of the inhabitants, rang the alarm, the assemblies and the hours, as well as the charters and the precious seals of the town, sometimes kept in a chest. It was the heart and the symbol of the municipal power and of the autonomy of the town. That of Amiens, whose base dates back to the Middle Ages and the summit to later eras, has crossed the centuries and testifies to this rich past. With the other belfries of France and Belgium, it is listed as UNESCO world heritage. A symbol of the liberties and a witness of history, the Belfry of Amiens is a fine stop of the discovery of the town.

What to see

You admire the belfry of fifty-two metres, a characteristic tower of the towns of the North of France and of Belgium, symbol of the communal liberties obtained in the Middle Ages; it formerly sheltered the communal bell that punctuated the life of the inhabitants and the precious charters of the town, and its medieval base testifies to this rich past, listed by UNESCO with the other belfries. The Belfry is a symbol of Amiens. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Belfry lies in the heart of Amiens, reachable on foot. You admire its exterior from the street; the possible visits of the tower follow their own hours and conditions, which vary. You discover it during a walk in the centre.

What does the Belfry of Amiens symbolise?

The communal liberties: in the Middle Ages, when the towns obtained the right to administer themselves, they raised these towers, particularly present in the North of France and in Belgium, to affirm their autonomy; the belfry sheltered the communal bell and the charters of the town, and that of Amiens, fifty-two metres high, is listed by UNESCO.

Where is the Belfry in Amiens?

In the heart of Amiens, in France.