Belfort (Belfry of Bruges)

The Belfort, or Belfry of Bruges, rises about 83 metres above the Markt at Markt 7 and is the defining silhouette of Brugge in Belgium's Flemish Region. Construction began in the 13th century as part of the medieval Halle (cloth hall) complex, and the octagonal upper lantern was added in the 15th century. Visitors climb 366 narrow stone steps along a tight spiral staircase to reach the top, with several landings along the way. On the first landings the old treasury room, where the city charters and seals were once locked away, can be seen, and further up the carillon mechanism is on view: a giant drum with thousands of pins that triggers the 47 bells, a working instrument still played by the city carillonneur. The climb ends at an open parapet with views over the red-tiled roofs of the old town, the Burg, the canals and, on clear days, the polders toward the North Sea. Below the tower, the inner courtyard of the Halle offers a quiet place to look up at the structure. The best photo angles of the tower itself are from the Markt, beside the statues of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, and from the narrow Sint-Amandsstraat to the north. A visit takes roughly one hour including the climb and queueing. Entry is limited to a small number of people at a time because the staircase is a two-way passage with few passing places, so a queue forms at midday and in summer, and it is longest between about 11:00 and 16:00. Timed tickets bought online in advance avoid the worst of the wait, and the first slot of the day or the last hour before closing is calmer and gives softer light. Admission is about EUR 16 from April to early November and about EUR 15 in winter, and the Musea Brugge Card covers entry. Fitness matters: the stairs are steep and uneven, the landings are cramped, and the climb is not suitable for people with heart conditions, vertigo or claustrophobia. Bells ring every quarter hour, and the carillon concerts on selected days add to the experience at the top.