Of course, these are not the belfry and town hall of Tourcoing, as the name of the highlight initially indicated, but those of Menen.
The belfry, incorporated into the town hall, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Grote Markt.
The historical function of this city tower was to warn of dangers such as fire with bells and to safely store important city documents. The foundation stone was laid in 1574 during the Wars of Religion. The building only acquired its current form in 1828.
In the centuries before, the belfry was damaged several times. For example, during the siege of Menen in 1706, the spire was blown off.
As a witness to a turbulent past, the 33-meter belfry still towers above the surrounding area today. It offers a magnificent view of Menen's city center and the border region. Beneath the belfry lies a bomb shelter from the Second World War.
Source: information board on site