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Ghent Belfry and Cloth Hall

Ghent Belfry and Cloth Hall

Highlight • Historical Site

Ghent Belfry and Cloth Hall

Recommended by 236 hikers out of 252

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Location: Ghent, Gent, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Ghent Belfry and Cloth Hall

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2. Gravensteen Castle, Ghent – St. Michael's Bridge loop from Ghent

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3. Graffiti Alley – City hall loop from Tolhuis

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Tips

Katrien

February 9, 2021

If you take a look at the magical skyline of the city center during your city break in Ghent, you can't miss it.

The belfry is the middle tower of the famous tower row, between the Saint Bavo Cathedral and the Saint Nicholas Church.
A fiery dragon, the proud symbol and mascot of Ghent, guards the historic heart of Ghent.
The Belfry of Ghent symbolizes the urban prosperity and independence of the city.
The Lakenhalle, built against the belfry, was completed in 1907.
The elegant Brabantine Gothic style of the Cloth Hall glorifies the industry to which Ghent owes so much.
On the corner of the Cloth Hall you will discover an old warden's house.

Every Sunday morning, from 11am to 12pm, you can hear the city carillonneur at work. Every first Friday evening of the month you can enjoy a carillon concert from 8 pm to 9 pm. In the summer months this is every Saturday evening!

The Ghent Belfry, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is worth a visit. In 1402 city privileges were kept in a suitcase in the secret of the belfry. The dragon, which has stood on the tower since 1377, not only kept an eye on the city, but was also the symbolic treasurer of the belfry.
The belfry also proudly bore the storm bell, the "Great Triumphant". Today you will find "Klokke Roeland", the pet name of the Gentenaars, sisterly on the side of the Ghent Belfry on the Emile Braunplein.

St Nicholas' Church served as the first watchtower until 1442. After 1442 the keepers took up residence in the finished belfry. Together with the whistleblowers, these guards, the corps of 'city watchmen', served until 1869. Fire in particular was the greatest danger in Ghent.

To do! Climb the stairs. Listen to the brilliant sound of the carillon and enjoy the view of lively Ghent. There is a lift from the first floor. The charm of the overview of Ghent will certainly not leave you indifferent.
However, the belfry is not accessible to less mobile visitors.

Source: Visit Gent

Translated by Google •

Dirk V 🚲 🚶📷

July 27, 2022

Construction on the belfry probably started before 1313, the year from which the first accounts date. The design drawing is by Jan van Haelst, master mason. In 1323, four storeys of the six planned were already finished. Between 1377 and 1380 a temporary wooden tower crown was erected. Then the legendary Dragon of Ghent was hoisted. Over the following centuries, the spire was repeatedly modified. After several wooden spires, the belfry was given a neo-Gothic cast iron spire in 1851. Half a century later, however, the state of the striker had become too bad, and with the 1913 World Fair on the horizon a competition was launched for a new striker. A proposal by Valentin Vaerwyck, based on the medieval spire, was approved. Because the works had to be done quickly, it turned out that there were many defects, including in the connection between the stone hull and the new stone bell house. Restoration works were therefore carried out in 1967 and 1980. It has been protected as a monument since 1936. The belfry of Ghent, together with the Cloth Hall and the Mammelokker, has also been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1999.

Translated by Google •

Willem VS

January 31, 2021

The construction of the proud Ghent Belfry started in 1314, according to the plans of master builder Van Haelst, but it took until 1338 before the masonry was finished. The townspeople had to wait until 1377 for the finishing with a wooden tower crown and the hoisting of the legendary Ghent dragon. In the belfry, among other things, the city privileges were preserved.
The bells in the tower signaled the beginning and end of the working day and also tolled during parties, storms, fires, the arrival of the enemy or other danger. This beautiful Belfry is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

About half a century later the Cloth Hall was built in the style of the Brabant Gothic. Above an entrance gate, in the corner formed by the cloth hall and belfry on the side of the town hall, the story of the "Mammelokker" is depicted.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 10 m

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Wednesday 10 December

10°C

6°C

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See hikes here

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Location: Ghent, Gent, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Ghent Belfry and Cloth Hall

1. Ghent Goeste hiking trail

2. Gravensteen Castle, Ghent – St. Michael's Bridge loop from Ghent

3. Graffiti Alley – City hall loop from Tolhuis

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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