Belfry of Amiens, Amiens, France

Constructed between 1406 and 1410, Amiens' massive square belfry has a mid-18th-century top reaching 52m, which was rebuilt after it was damaged in 1940 by German bombing. The tourist office runs two guided tours per month, one including a cathedral tour, plus night-time visits in July and August – check the website and reserve well ahead.

Today the belfry is part of the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site The Belfries of Belgium and France, a group of 56 historical buildings.

References:

Lonely Planet

User Reviews

stanzebla (3 years ago)
Looks nice. But I guess only the guided tours are useful. Sounds nice too. It has a carillon.

Jerry Jungleyes (4 years ago)
Great quality of goods! Everything you need to cook or drink you will find it around! Quality comes with high price though! Recommended for something above average!

Pharindra Pathak (4 years ago)
Lovely cliff beach

Explore with Nas (4 years ago)
Very quite old town in france good fir chilling with family we visited ones in 2020

Koen (5 years ago)
Perhaps not the most beautiful belfry, but one with history. The 52-meter high belfry of Amiens is one of the 56 belfries of Belgium and France that have been registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2005. Although the belfry was built between 1406 and 1410 as a symbol of the city's independence, its main function was that of a watchtower. After the tower burned down for the second time in 1742, it took seven years for the architect Beffara to start rebuilding. This gives the belfry its current appearance. Unfortunately Marie-Firmine, the 11-ton alarm clock, was "killed" in 1940 and eventually replaced by a carillon in 1989.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.

Belfry of Amiens

Address

Details

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix