The Belfry of Tournai (french: Beffroi de Tournai) is a freestanding
bell tower of
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
origin in
Tournai, Belgium, in height with a 256-step stairway. This landmark building is one of a set of
Belfries of Belgium and France
The Belfries of Belgium and France are a group of 56 historical buildings designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, in recognition of the civic (rather than church) belfries serving as an architectural manifestation of emerging civic indep ...
registered on the
UNESCO World Heritage List
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
in recognition of their civic architecture and importance in the rise of municipal power in Europe.
History
Construction of the belfry began around 1188 when
King Philip Augustus
Philip II (21 August 1165 – 14 July 1223), byname Philip Augustus (french: Philippe Auguste), was King of France from 1180 to 1223. His predecessors had been known as kings of the Franks, but from 1190 onward, Philip became the first French m ...
of
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
granted Tournai its town charter, conferring among other privileges the right to mount a communal bell to ring out signals to the townsfolk.
The tower in its original form was evocative of the feudal
keep, with a square cross section and crenelated
parapet
A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). ...
. It served in part as a watchtower for spotting fires and enemies. The growing city saw fit to expand the belfry in 1294, raising it by an additional stage, and buttressing its corners with four polygonal towerlets. A soldier statue was placed atop each towerlet, and a dragon icon surmounted the entire structure. The dragon, symbol of power and vigilance, also adorns other old tower tops in Belgium, including those of the
Cloth Hall of Ypres and the
Belfry of Ghent
The Belfry of Ghent ( nl, Belfort van Gent) is one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city centre of Ghent, Belgium; the other two belonging to Saint Bavo Cathedral and Saint Nicholas' Church. Its height of makes it the tallest ...
.
A fire damaged the building in 1391. In the following years, the city obtained new bells to replace the ruined ones, and affixed gilded decorations to the newly restored top part of the tower:
mermen, banners, and a new dragon. The largest bell of this period, called ''Bancloque'', and the fire bell or ''Timbre'', have been preserved to this day. A
carillon was added in 1535.
In addition to its other roles, the belfry also served as a jail; some of its chambers housed prisoners until 1827.
The building underwent a major restoration in the mid-19th century. Another renovation campaign began in 1992, and lasted roughly a decade.
See also
*
List of carillons in Belgium
References
* Mireille Dujacquier and Alain Mauchard (2002). ''Le plus ancien beffroi de Belgique''. Tournai, Belgium: L'asbl Tourisme et Culture.
External links
*
The Belfry, symbol of communal freedoms- from the City of Tournai
* {{in lang, fr}
Bell towers in Belgium
Carillons
Towers completed in the 13th century
World Heritage Sites in Belgium
Wallonia's Major Heritage
Buildings and structures in Hainaut (province)
Protected heritage sites in Hainaut (province)
Tourist attractions in Hainaut (province)
Tournai