Ghent - Belfry 
Ghent Hotels
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Description
On the west side of Sint-Baafsplein stands the 91m/298ft-high belfry, symbol of the city's independence, where the charters of the privileges of Ghent were kept. The tower was begun about 1300 and by 1338 was mainly completed. The present-day spire was restored to its original 14th C. form at the beginning of this century and replaced the wooden bell tower of 1380. It is crowned by a gilded copper dragon, which was first installed in 1377. Today it is a replica as are the four armed figures at the corners of the platform. Only one of the originals of these survives and can be seen on the ground floor.
The tower is a UNESCO site.
The tower is a UNESCO site.
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| St Baafs Kathedraal and Belfort in Ghent. | |||
Hours
January 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
March 31 to November 14
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
November 15 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 |
| Close | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Belfry Interior
At the entrance to the tower platform, from where there are good views of Ghent, on the ground floor is the room, called "Secreet", where the privileges of the city were kept in an iron chest. On the fourth floor the workings of the clock (1670), the oldest in Belgium, and the 52-bell carillon can be seen.
Roeland Bell
The Roeland bell was cast in 1315 and installed ten years later in the tower. It has often called the population of Ghent to arms; in 1659 it was melted down and from the metal Peter Hemony cast a carillon of 37 bells. At the same time three large bells, the Triomfanten were made, the largest of which, again being called Roeland, cracked in 1914 and was removed in 1950. It now stands west of the belfry on the Burgermeester Braunplein. Next to the bell is a fountain with kneeling figures, "Bron der Geknielden" (Youth Fountain) by George Minne (1892).
The new Roeland weighing 5,000kg was put in place in 1948.
The new Roeland weighing 5,000kg was put in place in 1948.
