Belfry of Tournai

The belfry of Tournai, Belgium, is a freestanding bell tower of medieval origin, seventy two metres in height with a 256-step stairway. This landmark building is one of a hard and fast of belfries of Belgium and France registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Construction of the belfry began round 1188 while King Philip Augustus of France granted Tournai its city charter, conferring among different privileges the proper to mount a communal bell to ring out indicators to the townsfolk.

The tower in its unique form became evocative of the feudal preserve, with a rectangular pass phase and crenelated parapet. It served in element as a watchtower for spotting fires and enemies. The growing town saw suit to increase the belfry in 1294, raising it via an extra degree, and buttressing its corners with 4 polygonal towerlets. A soldier statue become located atop every towerlet, and a dragon icon surmounted the entire shape. The dragon, symbol of energy and vigilance, also ornaments other vintage tower tops in Belgium, including those of the Cloth Hall of Ypres and the belfry of Ghent.