Standing on the market square of Bruges there is one building that immediately attracts your attention, the market halls, and its Belfry. The halls were built very early in the Middle Ages and were mainly used as an indoor marketplace. First, only cloths were traded, but later when the halls attracted more and more foreign traders, other goods were added as well.
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| Picture by Pixabay |
In the early 13th century the first wooden Belfry tower was built on top of the halls. Shortly after, in 1300 the wooden tower was replaced with the current Belfry tower. The brick tower was later extended to 83 meters. At that time the balcony of the tower was used by the bailiff to proclaim new laws and regulations.
The Belfry was the symbol of the cities wealth. Like in other cities the Belfry was built, near or on top of its market halls because that's where most of the cities got their wealth from in the first place, trading.
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| Picture by Pixabay |
When you climb the 366 steps of the Belfry you can get a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings. The roof terrace is a must-visit when you explore Bruges.