Belfry of Namur

Namur, Belgium

The belfry of Namur, also called Saint-Jacob's Tower was constructed in 1388 as part of the city wall. It was remodeled as a belfry in 1746. It is one of the 56 belfries of Belgium and France classified as the World Heritage Site of the UNESCO.

In the beginning, one of the clocks of the Saint-Pierre-au-Château church served as belfry for the citizens of Namur, which is to indicate the time and to announce events in the city. After the destruction of the church, burned down during the siege of Namur in 1745, the Tour Saint-Jacques, the oldest of the three towers of the medieval city walls, became the city belfry. The Tour Saint-Jacques protected one of the city gates. Its bancloque (belfry clock) gave the signal for the opening and closure of the external city gates (from 1570 on).

At the beginning of the 18th century, the city wall was demolished but the Tour Saint-Jacques was preserved, restored and its clock was covered by an octagonal structure. This entire part was lifted upon a clock bulb. The Tour Saint-Jacques became Namur's city belfry in 1746.

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Address

Rue du Beffroi 30, Namur, Belgium
See all sites in Namur

Details

Founded: 1388
Category:

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.belgium-tourism.be

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


St Aubin's Cathedral (0,5 km)
Citadel of Namur (0,6 km)


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User Reviews

nicole g (9 months ago)
Très beau Beffroi de la ville.
Ysaline Baldino (10 months ago)
Très sympa,mais beaucoup de monde
Philippe Wautelet (11 months ago)
Il est inscrit au patrimoine de l'UNESCO avec 55 autres beffrois du nord de la France, de Flandres et de Wallonie (dont Mons, Thuin, Tournai). L'intérieur ne se visite qu'exceptionnellement (Journées du Patrimoine, ...). Anciennement tour Saint-Jacques, édifiée en 1388, elle faisait partie de la 3ème enceinte de la ville. Au 16e s., sa hauteur a été réduite de moitié et en 1733 (cette date figure sur les ancres du sommet), elle a été restaurée et la forme de sa toiture a été modifiée. Elle est devenue officiellement beffroi en 1746 après l'incendie du beffroi de Saint-Pierre-du-Château. Le beffroi contenait la cloche municipale annonçant l'ouverture et la fermeture des remparts ou rameutant les pompiers en cas d'incendie.
My Consulting Namur (11 months ago)
Endroit très souvent complet. Je trouve les prix assez excessifs..
josep serra colomar (17 months ago)
Edifici històric ben conservat, tot i que ha quedat encaixonat entre edificacions que en dificulten una bona visió de conjunt.
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