The Belfry Tower

The Belfry Tower is a medieval bell tower located in the heart of the Belgian city of Bruges. The Belfry Tower, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks, once held a treasury and municipal archives, as well as serving as an observation tower for spotting fires and other threats. Around 1240, when Bruges was a major center of the Flemish textile industry, the belfry was built on the market square. The tower was mainly rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1280. The city archives, on the other hand, were completely destroyed by the fire.

The time, fire alarms, work hours, and a variety of social, political, and religious events were all announced by the bells on the tower, which regulated the lives of city people. Eventually, a system was devised to ensure that particular bells, such as those used to indicate the hour, rang on a regular basis.