Discover some of the unusual belfries of northern France
A total of 56 belfries across France and Belgium have been listed as a combined World Heritage Site because of their importance and unusual architectural style. 23 of these belfries are in northern France, in the Picardy and North Calais regions of northern France.
Belfries were usually built as either independent towers or as part of a town hall.
The majority were built betwen the 11th and 17th centuries, and are in a variety of architectural styles - gothic, roman, baroque or renaissance.
They were constructed as a demonstration of the wealth of a town.
Occasionally belfries also served as a watchtower, or a tower containing alarm bells, occasionally attached to a church. Belfries are not usually freestanding.
The best way to get a feel for the different styles of belfry is with photographs, below. (See below the pictures for a complete list of the belfries and photo copyright information).
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| Abbeville | Arras | Bailleul |
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| Bergues | Bethune | Boulogne |
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| Calais | Comines | Dunkirk |
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| Gravelines | Lille |
Listed Belfries
NORD PAS DE CALAIS
Nord
Armentières (Belfry of the City Hall)
Bailleul (Belfry of the City Hall)
Bergues (Belfry)
Cambrai (Belfry of St Martin's Church)
Comines (Belfry of the City Hall)
Douai (Belfry of the City Hall)
Dunkirk (Belfry of the City Hall)
Dunkirk (St Eligius Church)
Gravelines (Belfry)
Lille (Belfry of the City Hall)
Loos (Belfry of the City Hall)
Pas de calais
Aire-sur-la-Lys (Belfry of the City Hall)
Arras (Belfry of the City Hall)
Béthune (Belfry)
Boulogne-sur-Mer (Belfry of the City Hall)
Calais (Belfry of the City Hall)
Hesdin (Belfry of the City Hall)
PICARDY
Somme
Abbeville (Belfry)
Amiens (Belfry)
Doullens (Belfry now on tourist information centre, ex town hall)
Lucheux (Belfry on City Gate)
Rue (Belfry)
Saint-Riquier (Belfry)
All photos are copyright.
Comines: file is licensed under CCA 2.5 License; Bethune: file is licensed under CCA 2.5 License; Boulogne: file is licensed under CCA 1.0 License; Abbeville: file is licensed under CCA 1.0 License. All other photos are copyright GNU Free Doc License.