Belfry of Bruges
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The belfry of Bruges, sometimes called the Halletoren, is one of the most prominent symbols of Bruges, Belgium. This 83-meter-high medieval bell tower formerly housed a treasury and the town archives, and also served as a watchtower. It leans slightly, about a meter to the southeast. To reach the top requires climbing 366 steps.
Building history
A number of halls, which were used mainly as markets and warehouses, initially occupied the site where the belfry now stands. The belfry was added to this complex around 1240, when Bruges was prospering as one of the main centers of the Flemish cloth industry. In 1280, a fire gutted much of the tower, causing the loss of the town archives.The octagonal upper stage of the belfry was added between 1482 to 1486, and was capped with a wooden spire bearing a representation of Saint Michael, banner in hand and dragon underfoot. The spire did not last long: a lightning strike in 1493 reduced it to ashes, and destroyed the bells as well. Another wooden construction, this time decorated with a rampant lion, crowned the building for some two-and-a-half centuries, before it, too, fell victim to flames in 1741. The spire was never replaced again, but an openwork stone parapet in Gothic style was added to the rooftop in 1822.
A poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, titled "The Belfry of Bruges," refers to the building's checkered history:
- In the market-place of Bruges stands the belfry old and brown;
- Thrice consumed and thrice rebuilded, still it watches o'er the town.
Bells
The tower for most of its history has contained bells, which were important in signaling the time, alarms, and other various announcements. Eventually a mechanism ensured the regular sounding of certain bells, for example indicating the hour.In the 16th century the tower acquired a carillon, allowing the bells to be played by means of a hand keyboard. Starting from 1604, the annual accounts record the employment of a carilloneur to play songs during Sundays, holidays and market days.
In 1675 the carillon comprised 35 bells, designed by Melchior de Haze of Antwerp. After the fire of 1741 this was replaced by a set of 47 bells cast by Joris Dumery, together weighing about 27.5 tonnes. These are still in use.
External links
- [Picture gallery and description] from Belgiumview.com
- [Bruges: The Belfry and the Cloth Hall] from trabel.com
- () [History of the belfry and carillon] from the Flemish Carillon Association
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