Belfry of Ghent

The extraordinary city of Ghent is known for the fact that it houses a huge number of beautiful and majestic buildings, which are beautiful because they have preserved the atmosphere of the old medieval time, as well as their original appearance. One of these buildings is the bell tower in Ghent.

The history of the bell tower in Ghent

This landmark is a real "highlight" of this area of the city, as the bell tower rises high above the city. In the tower itself there is a clock that was brought here from Holland. At the top of the bell tower there is a spire and a weather vane, on which stands a dragon, which itself is surrounded by small turrets. The peculiarity of such bell towers is that they have nothing to do with religion and are not a chapel. As a rule, such bells were used to warn local residents about approaching dangers or important events. The locals also used the Ghent bell tower as a symbol of the city's autonomy, since in those years, the 14th and 15th centuries, Belgium saw various internecine wars that hit cities in Belgium such as Brussels and Ghent. At the beginning of the 21st century, it was decided to include the Ghent Bell Tower in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Today, the Ghent bell tower is used in two components – it emits different melodies during holidays and festivals, and a museum is open inside it, which shows the history of the development of the city of Ghent. The status of the bells in the city of Ghent acquired such a strong status that the Museum still has a room where documents granting privileges to the city of Ghent are kept.

The Ghent Bell Tower is one of the most significant structures that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over Europe. Such buildings can be found all over Belgium, but it is in Ghent that the bell tower is located, which is definitely worth a visit for those who are interested in the history and architecture of the city.