Belfry of Mechelen Belgium – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Belfry, the word defines the part of a bell tower or steeple in which bells are housed. In the medieval times Belfry of a town had huge significance. They were used as watch tower for protection against enemies. The watchmen manning these towers were also alert to notice fire outbreaks.
Depending on the time they were built, time span between 11th and 17th centuries, the architectural style that existed then greatly influenced their construction. One can see Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles in these bell towers.
In 1999 UNESCO inscribed 32 belfries of Flanders and Wallonia to the list of World Heritage sites. Later, in 2005, 23 belfries of France and one more from Belgium too were added to this list. They are inscribed as Belfries of Belgium and France.
Belfry of Mechelen visible from parking space.
Belfry of Mechelen – Top Attraction
I included Mechelen in my itinerary of tour of Belgium because the belfry of Mechelen, Belgium is listed in UNESCO World Heritage sites. There are 56 belfries, important medieval buildings, in Belgium and France, yet they all are included and counted as one single site.
This is the 4th Belfry of Belgium I visited. The other 3 are: Belfry of Tournai, Belfry of Bruges and Belfry of Ghent.
Late arrival to the city of Mechelen meant we couldn’t see any the interiors of the 8 churches or the town halls. Needless to say I missed the spectacular views of the old town, surrounding countryside, as well as the skylines of Brussels and Antwerp from top of Belfry.
History of Mechelen Belfry
Foundation for this belfry was laid on 22nd May 1452. Upper part of this bell tower was built after 1482 and has distinct gothic design contrasting the simpler lower parts.
A tragic incident of fire breakout in 1498 destroyed the wooden bell frames in the tower. It is said that the heat was so intense that some of the bells melted.
Work on the tower halted around 1520. Had the planned slender 60 m spire been built this 167.5 m Mechelen tower would have been the tallest in Europe – even taller than the neo-Gothic tower in Ulm. It is assumed the fear of collapse, as has happened elsewhere, brought an end to the building work abruptly.
Mechelen built a modern glass and steel skywalk on top of the tower in 2009.
Doors of Mechelen Belfry
Mechelen Moon Extinguishers
I read up this humorous incident about the second fire that broke out didn’t break out in Mechelen Belfry and had to share it.
Worse was the fire of 1687. Late night, en route home from a pub, a citizen noticed the belfry on fire. He raised the alarm and the locals stormed up the tower to form a water bucket chain just to discover that the fire was in fact the moon shining through the stained glass.
Despite a pertinent call by the mayor to not let this embarrassment spread across the city border, the inhabitants of Mechelen soon found themselves called the Maneblussers (Moon Extinguishers) – a name still used today.
In local event posters and flags, the tower is thus usually drawn with a full moon in the background.
St. Rumbold’s Cathedral Mechelen Belgium
St. Rumbold’s Cathedral, Mechelen
St. Rumbold’s Cathedral stands tall in spite of not being built to its original intended height 60 m taller than the present height.
The tower measures 97 m. Here is one view as I looked straight up.
Belfry of Mechelen Belgium
Open Timings and Tickets for Belfry
Admission to Mechelen Cathedral is free.
Tickets to climb the towers costs: €7 for adults and €2.50 for visitors 3 to 16 years old. Family tickets cost €16.
The tower is open from 1 to 6 pm (last admission at 4:30 pm). The tower is closed on Wednesday.
Important tip: if you are planning a trip there, take care to note that only 20 people are admitted every 20 minutes.
Other Sights around Belfry
There are around 300 heritage buildings in Mechelen. Prominent among them are the following:
- 3 Town Halls, the present day town hall of Mechelen has a grand facade.
- 2 Beguinages of Mechelen
- Grote Markt
- 8 Historic Mechelen Churches
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Beautiful pictures! I hope to make it back to Belgium in the near future!
These buildings are stunning! Would love to visit there someday!
Gorgeous! My dad visits all the time for work. Wish I could go with him!
You got some great photos of the cathedral and of the Belfry of Mechelen. Beautiful architecture, shame could not complete the building.
These photos are absolutely stunning. And I wonder what it would have looked like when it was finished!!! Beautiful!
The facade of this monuments are really grand.
Gorgeous last photo of it standing tall!
I wish I could see this place for myself one day… very soon! 🙂
Beautiful captures Indrani.
Happy weekend.
Regina
a pity that the rest of the façade can't be complete, regardless,
tis beautiful esp when you look from above.
that is a nice angle.
ps: i emailed you regarding some questions, tnx in advance. ^0^
Magnificent! Splendid! Great clicks and post!!
The facades are beautiful, what a lovely structure. It is a shame it was never completed. Great capture, Indrani! Have a lovely weekend!
wow! impressive! wonder what it would have looked like if completed!
Even without the right side completed it is still a massive and beautifully ornate architectural structure.
Thanks for sharing!
The architecture is beautiful and perfect skies to set it off.
Love the last pic the best!
stunning arch.
Oh, I do agree, the facades are magic indeed!! What an incredible place and your captures are superb, Indrani!! I love the different perspectives!! Have a lovely evening!
Great photos, I love your photographic angles. 🙂
Lovely shots from a nice place in Belgium.
Greetings, Joop
Those facades are pure magic!