City Square of Bruges
Belfry of Bruges Grote Markt

One of THE iconic towers of Bruges. One of the symbols of the city, this 83m tower stands proud in the Grote Markt. Climb the 300+ steps to get a great birds eye view!

The Belfry of Bruges is a stunning, medieval tower well-known as one of the symbols of Bruges. Start off your exploration by climbing up the 366 steps. You’ll be rewarded with a great view of the whole city. As you go up the tower, you get to pay a visit to the old city treasury. Back in the Middle Ages, Bruges stored all kinds of things up here like stamps, stacks of cash, and fancy seals.

A Quick History: the Belfry is more than a pretty place to visit for tourists. The bell tower has been through a lot over the years. The tower (and the city archives that were held in it) burnt down in a fire in 1280. It was rebuilt in the 1400s. Then it got hit by a lightning bolt. Yup. Just when Bruges thought the worst was over, the tower had another fire in the 1700s. Since then, the tower has been a-okay.

• The Bells of Bruges: The Belfry isn’t just a regular tower, though. It’s a bell tower. Drop by on a Wednesday or the weekend around midday to hear the 47 bells playing. On your way up the tower, you’ll see a music drum and keyboard; these are the tools the bell tower player uses to get all the bells together in concert
• Triumph: You’ll get that feeling once you make it up to the very top. But, on your journey, don’t miss the Triumph Bell. It’s the most famous bell of Bruges and for good reason. This thing took 4 men to ring it as it weighs 6,000 kg. These days they’ve figured out operating it electronically is a lot easier!
• Bruges Winter Glow: From late November into early January, you can find the Bruges city square transformed into a winter wonderland with a charming Christmas market, ice skating rink, and winter bar! The perfect place to cozy up around the holidays.