Belfry of Tournai
The Belfry of Tournai (Beffroi de Tournai) is the oldest preserved belfry in Belgium and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list together with 32 other belfries of Belgium and France. The core of the building dates from 1188 and was repeatedly raised and embellished over the following centuries. The tower is a symbol of the urban power and wealth of Tournai in the Middle Ages.
Accessibility is limited due to the historic character of the monument. Climbing the tower is via a narrow stone spiral staircase of 257 steps, which is not possible for wheelchair users. The street-level entrance is flat and the immediate surroundings of the belfry and the Grand Place of Tournai are accessible and largely paved. Around the monument there is plenty of open space to admire the silhouette up close without climbing the tower itself.
Adapted toilets are available in the nearby Halle aux Draps or in public hospitality venues on the Grand Place. Disabled parking is possible on the edge of the car-free centre, with reserved spaces on the Rue Perdue and the Esplanade. A visit to the belfry combines excellently with the neighbouring Cathedral of Our Lady of Tournai, also UNESCO World Heritage and wheelchair accessible on the ground floor.
Good to know
- Reservation
- No reservation is needed to admire the belfry from the outside; for the climb, buy a ticket at Visit Tournai, but only if you can manage the 257 steps.
- Busy and quiet times
- During the summer and on market days on the Grand Place the square is busy; early mornings give the calmest views of the monument.
- Things to note
- The tower itself is not wheelchair accessible because of the narrow stone spiral staircase without a lift; the immediate surroundings are paved, but a few old cobbled strips are uneven.
- Visit tip
- Combine an outside visit to the belfry with the adjoining Cathedral of Our Lady, which is wheelchair accessible on the ground floor.
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Similar locations
UNESCO World Heritage site: the only Baroque belfry in Belgium, offering panoramic views over the city of Mons....
Central Grand Place of Mons with Gothic city hall and the Monkey of the Grand Garde, largely accessible.
Triangular Grand Place of Tournai with belfry and cathedral within walking distance, largely accessible.