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Monument · Namur, Namur
Belfry of Namur
Round limestone tower built from 1388 on the medieval wall and transformed into the city's belfry in the 18th century. It is part of the belfries of Belgium and France inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Belfry of Namur
The Beffroi de Namur began as a defensive tower. Construction started in 1388 in limestone as part of the city's second wall, and the tower was called Tour Saint-Jacques. It was fully round, had four floors and guarded one of Namur's gates.
In the 16th century the walls were lowered, the battlements removed, and the top two floors were converted into a belfry above the roof. The inscription at the top, dated 1733, marks the completion of that transformation. Until then, the city's bell was in the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre-au-Château on the citadel.
In 1745 that church burned down, and the following year the tower took on the role of beffroi, the municipal belfry that signalled the opening and closing of the city's gates. In 1999 it was listed by UNESCO along with the other belfries of Belgium and northern France.
The visit is external: the tower does not usually open for climbing. It stands a few steps from Place d'Armes, behind the Palais des Congrès, and opposite it is the Galerie du Beffroi, the town-hall gallery with temporary art exhibitions.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Ten to twenty minutes to see the tower from the outside. Add half an hour if you enter the Galerie du Beffroi.
Best time
At any time of day, since the visit is external. At night the tower is illuminated, and the stop pairs well with a dinner in the centre.
How to get there
It is on Rue du Beffroi, beside Place d'Armes in the historic centre. From Namur train station it's about a ten-minute walk via Rue de Fer or Rue de l'Ange.
Tip
Notice the round base and the belfry perched on top, which show the tower's two lives. The Galerie du Beffroi opposite has free entry and a programme that changes through the year. Combine the stop with Place d'Armes and the descent to the Grognon.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Belfry of Namur
Is it possible to go up the Beffroi of Namur?
Generally no. Unlike other Belgian belfries, the Namur tower is viewed from the outside.
Why is the Beffroi of Namur a UNESCO World Heritage site?
It is part of the group of belfries of Belgium and France, inscribed in 1999. These belfries symbolize the power of towns and communes in the Middle Ages.
Why was the tower called Tour Saint-Jacques?
It was the name of the original defensive tower, from 1388, before it became the city's belfry in 1746.