Belfry of Mechelen, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mechelen_Laekenhall.jpg Author: Viktorhauk
The Belfries of Belgium and France is a transboundary World Heritage Site. It comprises 32 Belgian belfries initially inscribed in 1999 as Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia, with a further 23 belfries in the north of France and one more in Gembloux in Belgium, making a total of 56 belfries in two countries. Thereafter the list is closed to further extensions.
The original inscription was made during the 23rd session of the World Heritage Committee which met in Marrakesh, Morocco on 29 November to 4 December 1999, while the extension was made during the 29th session meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 10-17 July, 2005.
The belfries were inscribed on the basis of their being exceptional examples of a form of urban architecture according to the political and spiritual requirements of their era. These belfries also symbolize the new-found independence of the towns in the County of Flanders and in Wallonia.
Belfry of Aalst, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aalst_belfort.JPG Author: Vitaly Volkov
Belfry of Binche, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Binche_Beffroi.JPG Author: Jonathan Nélis
Belfry of Brugge Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belfort_Brugge.jpg Author: L. Ellis )
Belfry of Gent, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BelfortGent.jpg Author: Donarreiskoffer/SieBot
Belfry of Herentals, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herentals_belfort.jpg Author: Frank Wouters
Belfry of Hesdin town hall Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beffroi_d%27_Hesdin.jpg Author: Pir6mon
Belfry of Kortrijk, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KortrijkBelfort.JPG Author: Bernard bill5
Belfry of Lier, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stadhuis01.jpg Author: Welleschik
Belfry of Lo-Reninge, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lo_-_Stadhuis_en_belfort.jpg Author: LimoWreck
Belfry of Namur, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:01-Namur-300605_%281%29_JPG.jpg Author: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT
Belfry of Roeselare, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roeselare_-_City_Hall_-_Belfry_1.jpg Author: LimoWreck
Belfry of Sint-Truiden, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sint-Truiden_stadhuis.jpg Author: Charles01
Belfry of Tielt, Belgium Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belforttielt_28-10-2008_17-45-13.JPG Author: Paul Hermans
Some of the Belfries of France on the World Heritage List
Belfry of Aire-sur-la-Lys, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belfry_Aire-sur-la-Lys.jpg Author: Armont
Belfry of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne_belfry.JPG Author: Sjwells53
Belfry of Boulogne, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boulogne_beffroi.JPG Author: Arnaud Gaillard )
Belfry of Dunkerque, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dunkerque_Belfort.JPG Author: Welleschik
Belfry of Loos, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beffroi_de_Loos_%283%29.JPG Author: Chapheau Guillaume
Belfry of Lucheux, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucheux_beffroi.jpg Author: Matthieu Debailleul
Belfry of Saint-Riquier, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint-Riquier.jpg Author: Jclesire
What to See in the Belfries of Belgium and France
The belfries of Belgium are in the following towns (names in Dutch and French) in the County of Flanders inscribed in 1999: Aalst/Alost, Antwerpen/Anvers, Brugge/Bruges, Dendermonde/Termonde, Diksmuide/Dixmude, Eeklo, Gent/Gand, Herentals, Ieper/Ypres, Kortrijk/Courtrai, Lier/Lierre, Leuven/Louvain, Lo-Reninge, Mechelen/Malines, Menen/Menin, Nieuwpoort/Nieuport, Oudenaarde/Audenarde, Roeselare/Roulers, Sint-Truiden/Saint-Trond, Tielt, Tienen/Tirlemont, Tongeren/Tongres, Veurne/Furnes and Zoutleeuw/Léau.
The belfries of Belgium in the towns in Wallonia inscribed in 1999: Binche, Charleroi, Mons, Namur, Thuin and Tournai.
The belfries of France added to the list in 2005 are in the following towns: Armentières, Bailleul, Bergues, Cambrai, Comines, Douai, Dunkerque (Beffroi de l'église St-Eloi de Dunkerque and Beffroi de l'Hôtel de Ville Dunkerque), Gravelines, Lille, Loos, Aire-sur-la-Lys, Arras, Béthune, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais, Hesdin, Abbeville, Amiens, Doullens, Lucheux, Rue and Saint-Riquier.
The belfry of Gembloux in Wallonnia, Belgium, was also added in 2005.
World Heritage Site Inscription Details
Location: N 50 10 28 E 3 13 53 (This is an approximation as the belfries are located across Belgium and northern France)
Inscription Year: 1999, Extension: 2005
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: II, IV
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