Belfort

Si vous avez la forme alors go pour les 330 marches dans des escaliers de plus en plus étroit voir limite assez large pour ceux qui comme moi on abuser des gauffres depuis longtemps. La vie est belle et vous trouverez sur les bas de fenêtres les distances et directions des villes avoisinantes de quoi faire un petit cours de géo avec vos proches.

Nice tower, loads of steps.
Stairs etiquette needs a bit of refining.
Great view of the city and points us in the directions we all need to know.

This was a blast. It was a climb up 366 stairs to the top. The view is beautiful. The line was short and went fast. This is a must do when you are in beautiful Brugge!

First off, let me just say that I became Unilocal’s King of Brugge the other day, and that honor has made me reflect on one of the crowning moments of my weekend stay in Brugge and that is the climbing of the Belfort. Brugge, I just love saying the name, for it just sends chills down my spine. Brugge! ooo, see? Now, you try. Go ahead, no one is watching. You know that you want to… See told you so ;)
Yes, I love Brugge, and the tower really is a must see and do, for it affords some of the best views of the city. However, I wouldn’t just race up all 366 steps, because you will miss some really enlightening information on the tower’s levels/​floors. It was cool reading about the tower’s construction and city’s history, but my favorite part was an interactive bell display which allows you to press buttons that play the towers various bell themes. Looking back, I now see that these were simply sounding my ascent to the Unilocal’s Brugge throne, but more on that later.
Another thing I love about this tower is that it is perfect for watching the activity of the town square and day dreaming about what is really going on down there. I was fortunate enough to come to Brugge during its Sinterklaass (a 2 week festival celebrating Saint Nicholas and the giving of gifts), so my views of the square, with its ice skating rink and food stalls, was particularly spectacular. It really did make the climb worth it all.
So climbing the tower really does mark the start of my reign as Unilocal’s King of Brugge in more ways than one. Of course,“heavy is the head that wears the crown,” and my thoughts are of my loyal subjects back in Brugge and how the crown may one day slip through my fingers, because I am now back in USA and unable to check-​in in order to maintain my kingdom. Yes, I realize that it is only a matter of time before some greedy usurper steals my throne, and all that I will be left with will be my memories of my tower climb and Brugge… But for now, this is enough. Just knowing that others are able to bask in the glow of my achievement and can say, «Now there was a man who was a king, a king that i would have followed into Unilocaldom.» swells my heart with Unilocalie pride.
Still, like Richard III, I wonder:
But shall we wear these honours for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them? (Act IV scene 2)
«Heavy is the head that wears the crown,» my friends, Heavy indeed…
And as a follow up, A few days later, I was dethroned, Gentle reader.
«For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings:
How some have been depos’d, some slain in war,
Some haunted by the ghosts they have depos’d,
Some poison’d by their wives, some sleeping kill’d;
All murder’d: for within the hollow crown.» Richard II, Act 3, Sc 2

You trek up 366 stairs for a view of Bruges.
What no one tells you is that the stairs are narrow. And steep. And spiraling. And crowded. And at times you’re sure you’re going to take a violent tumble down the slippery worn stones, so you cling onto the wobbly rope handrail and curse your deep rooted fear of heights for all you’re worth.
No one tells you about that part because when you get to the top and you hear the bells, you forget the stairs completely and everything was completely worth it.

A beautiful building that really marks the centre of Bruges. You can go to the top and the view is pretty spectacular but it is quite a climb and not great on a rainy/​cloudy day. It costs a couple of euro to climb. Eve just marvelling at the building from the ground is quite amazing, and seeing it sitting amongst the incredibly beautiful buildings that surround it is quite a feast for the eyes

Vue magnifique sur Bruges ! Pour 8 € et après voir gravit les 366 marches du beffroi (hauteur de 83 mètres), vous aurez la plus belle vue de Bruges. Ce splendide beffroi construit au XIIe siècle, vous épatera par sa beauté architecturale. Attendez vous à patienter au moins 45 minutes /​1 heure en ligne avant son accession, c’est l’activité touristique #1 de Bruges.

Good exercise for good view… European norm.

A small price to pay to climb the belfry and get a great view of all of Bruges! The stairs are pretty steep, so watch your step. It’s also a tight squeeze. Hold onto the ropes if you need to.
It’s well worth the view.

C’est un incontournable à Bruges !
Grace à ce monument, on peut avoir une très belle vue de la place de Bruges et même au de là ! Bön ça à un prix évidemment.
Il y a aussi parfois des petites expositions à l’intérieur si ma mémoiré est bonne.

Ce beffroi fait partie des 32 beffrois de Flandre et Wallonie, classés par l’UNESCO en 1999 au Patrimoine mondial de l’humanité (ceux du Nord de la France ont été ajoutés en 2005).
Une visite qui vaut vraiment le détour, même si on attend pas mal avant d’accéder aux escaliers pour démarrer la visite, et si le prix n’est pas donné (8 € à partir de 25 ans).
Avec les halles toutes proches, ce beffroi dont la construction a démarré au XIIIème siècle est un des plus importants monuments de la ville, emblématique de la richesse de la commune et de ses échevins.
Sa visite est intéressante, non seulement parce qu’elle permet de découvrir la ville d’en haut, mais aussi parce qu’on accède à la salle du trésor et que l’on bénéficie d’explications intéressantes sur le rôle du beffroi et sur l’importance des cloches dans le quotidien des habitants.
Donc pas d’hésitation, on prend son soufflé et on attaque les 366 marches avec plaisir !

Here I am! «In Bruges»!! Fantastic belfry, huge climb upstairs! But wow! What a view! Menacing looking building, but awesome and old!

How can you not love such a gorgeous structure in an even more gorgeous city? The Belfry of Bruges, or Belfort, is a breathtaking structure that has been standing in Bruges since the 1200s. For a small fee, you can walk 366 steps to the top of the belfry and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views you’ll see in your life. The climb up is truly awsome since most of it is in very narrow, steep, spiral staircases. The truly fun part is that it’s the same staircases for going up and going down and you have to negotiate with everyone to keep the traffic flowing (it sounds bad, but it’s fun!). I would climb this again in a heartbeat and I absolutely love this structure!

In the central market of Brugge, the Belfort probably stands out the most to the eyeline. I was parked in an underground garage opposite the square and as I came out it was definitely the first thing to catch my eye. Even crossing through the see of people it stood out. As you walk into the courtyard, you can head up a set of stairs overlooking said courtyard. For a small fee you can take all the steps to the top and look over the flatness of Brugge. Down below is also a museum carrying some art and artifacts for free. So if you’re feeling good the day you visit, trek all the way to the top!

Esta debería ser la primera parada obligatoria en cuanto llegas a la Plaza en Brujas; comer ya vendrá luego, y el resto de atracciones también. Esto es lo más parecido a un museo sobre la historia real de la ciudad que vais a encontrar, y las explicaciones vendrán dadas de la mano de la evolución de su torre.
Pueden verse las campanas, subirse hasta tan arriba como se quiera para disfrutar de unas vistas gloriosas… El único problema es que es algo incómodo porque hablamos de un edificio de hace más de 7 siglos y que sólo se ha actualizado en el mínimo imprescindible, así que se hace peliagudo andar cómodamente por su interior. Y, por supuesto, si tienes vértigo, mejor no pases de cierto punto porque esto llega muy alto.

Nice tower to climb, but the highlight is the tricked out bells at the top. Like a giant player piano with bells. Gotta see it.

This is the sort of thing to do ONCE. That said, it’s a kick ass view.
They’re not shitting in «In Bruges» when they say it’s a steep climb! So word to the wise – go first thing in the AM before it gets busy. Navigating around other people at the tip top is what makes it so hard. If it were busy I think I might get a little claustrophobic in such a tiny staircase with people all around. :/​
So just go first thing in the AM and reward yourself with the fries stand at the bottom (either of the stands are good!!)

8 Euro (früher mal 6, siehe u.a. Film Brügge sehen und sterben) für knapp 400 Stufen ist schon happig, aber es lohnt sich. Toller Blick über die Stadt, am besten Zeit einplanen. Sollte man gesehen haben!

We waited only briefly before making the 366 step trek up to the 47 bell carillon. There are welcomed landings along the way for pause and for reading some of the history. The view is outstanding, and it provides a nice orientation to this somewhat disorienting medieval town. The eight euro cost of admission is a little steep, but that’s because they can count on you not skipping this iconic destination.

When I was three, I was allegedly carried up all 366 steps on my father’s shoulders. It’s not that I remember it, it’s that he bitterly complained about it almost literally until the day he died.
So I suppose I was fortunate that my 8-​year-​old was ambulatory and able to climb a leap-year’s worth of stairs on his own power. We got up on a ring — luckily, 10:15, not high noon — and got just enough bell ringing in our ears for one day.
Get there early to avoid waiting in line, they only allow something like 77 people past the turnstile at any given time.

Pour 8 EUR, belle vue sur la ville, plus de 300 marches à grimper, une observation des détails du mécanisme de l’horloge.

Der Belfried steht direkt am Marktplatz und kann von vielen Stellen der Stadt
gesehen werden und dient als Anlerpunkt bei einem Rundgang.
Die mächtige mittelalterliche Architektur ist beeindruckt. Man sieht direkt die drei Bauetappen am Turm. Die Aussicht von oben ist die 8.00 Euro Eintritt locker Wert.

8EUR Eintritt find ich zwar schon etwas happig, aber es hat sich gelohnt, die 366 Stufen rauf– und wieder runterzusteigen. Zum Glück gibt es immer wieder Zwischenetagen, wo man sich kurz ausruhen kann. Der Ausblick ist bei gutem Wetter richtig schön.
Achtung: Da die Treppen WIRKLICH eng sind (da kann es auch zu Stau führen) und der Aufstieg daher anstrengend sein kann, würde ich den Aufstieg nicht für kleine Kinder, Kranke, Gebrechliche, Herzschwache oder Hochschwangere empfehlen. Der Abstieg war irgendwie leichter und schneller.

This was the highlight of our trip to Brugge. It was a very steep climb in a very narrow stairwell but there were breaks about every 3^rd of the way. Nice museum and wonderful views of the city. The 366 steps each way up and down are not that difficult for people in good shape, but I can see how in the movie «In Brugge» that a large, out of shape person may not make it up. This is a must do if in the area.

Ce monument fait parti des incontournables de Brugge, situé en plein centre de la ville il offre un point de vue sur toute celle ci.
C’était un batiment officiel et important de la ville, il y a notamment la salle des coffres et toute la partie concernant le carillon.
C’est un peu cher mais c’est très interessant. Il paut y avoir de l’attente (J’ai attendu 45mn)
Attention, il y a 366 marches dans des escaliers étroits il faut avoir une condition physique suffisante pour cette visite!

Shockingly, it’s not that difficult a climb. Seriously! Now, climbing up York Minster? That’s fucking hard. Even though the Belfort has more steps, there are tons of breaks as you climb, and the width of the staircase is usually wide enough for people to pass without incident.
The view at the top is of course stunning, as is getting to see the inner-​workings of the bells. They say you should time your visit so the bells are ringing when you’re at the top, but I think that’s the exact opposite advice to follow. It’s really loud up there. Like, this-​was-​a-​huge-​mistake loud.
If you’re on a day trip from Brussels and need to manage your time, know that you’ll probably wait about 20 – 30 minutes in line, and then take another 30 minutes climbing the stairs and admiring the views.

366 Stufen Mit Zwischenstationen. Schöné Aussicht. Leider durch Absturzgitter. Beeindruckende Glocken. Am besten morgens als erstes hin. Sonst gibt es eine endlos lange Warteschlange

Absolutes Muss bei einem Besuch in Brügge! Der Turm markiert das Zentrum der Stadt und ist von weitem immer gut zu sehen. So ein markantes Gebäude muss man dann auch mal von innen gesehen und natürlich bestiegen haben. 366 Stufen in kleinen Abschnitten sind gar nicht so viele. Da aber der Rest der Stadt eher niedrig gebaut ist, kommt man sich ziemlich hoch vor. Ja, es ist eng, aber das hab ich auch gar nicht anders erwartet. Durch die Zwischenetagen verteilen sich die Leute auch immer etwas. Mich hat da schon eher das Anstehen gestört, aber das ist man als erfahrener Tourist ja gewohnt ;)

I still can not believe I made it to the top! I like that on every level you stop, they give you the next step count so you won’t give up. Half way up my asthma was rearing its ugly head, but my hubby kept cheering me on and I made it. If you are claustrophobic or have vertigo, do not attempt — those steps are narrow and small and you often have to step aside to let people move up or down. It was worth it — beautiful views!

If you, like the boy, are a fan of climbing atop very large things, you won’t want to miss out on a visit to Brugge’s Belfry. Located right on the Markt square, it’s impossible to miss. And for a reasonable € 8, it’ll afford you an incomparably sprawling view of the Belgium landscape.
If you suffer from any infirmities, think twice (or thrice, or more… until you think yourself out of the idea) about making the trip up the treacherously tight spiral stairs to the top. In fact, just standing and waiting in line to get into the museum is a feat of physical endurance in itself. Bringing along a deck of UNO cards (or a game of Risk) wouldn’t be such a horrible idea.
Once you’re actually inside the belfry, you’ll be able to read about some fascinating history of the building, learn where they used to store some serious bling, and make the arduous climb to the bell tower at the pinnacle. The machinery up there is quite awe-​inspiring, and I especially loved the engravings on the ledges pointing toward distant cities and how far away they were — nice touch.
In total, I’d book about an hour from entering the queue to exiting the building for a proper tourist experience at this branch of the Bruggemuseum. If you’re a slow climber or expect you’ll need some more time to take silly photos from the upper chamber, block out an addition fifteen or thirty minutes. It’s definitely worth the time, money, and physical exertion.

Der mittelalterliche Belfried ist nun wirklich nicht zu übersehen. Eine Besteigung lohnt sich, da man mit einem herrlichen Ausblick über Brügge und Umgebung belohnt wird. Problematisch wird es, wenn sich die Menschmassen aus aller Herren Länder durch die engen Wendeltreppen nach oben und unten quetschen. Wir hatten das Glück als Letzte um 16:15 Uhr den Turm zu besteigen, so dass wir beim Abstieg keinen Gegenverkehr hatten.

Endroit sympathique
Prix correct, ascension amusante car étroite (il faut être patient car on doit souvent se coincer dans un coin d’escalier pour laisser passer les gens qui vont dans l’autre sens), mais d’en haut, la vue sur la ville est jolie.
Incontournable si on à vu le film «Bön baisers de Bruges» en tout cas :)

Un monument très haut, duquel on peut voir toute la ville de bruges, il est vraiment beau à regarder, alternance de pierres blanches et de briques. Au pied il y a de nombreux restaurants de moules-​frites. Au pied il y a aussi de fausses mémés qui font semblant de broder, et qui vendent de la dentelle.
Les prix né sont pas toujours intéressants: on paie un peu le côté touristique de la ville. Vaut mieux peut être aller jusqu’à Bruxelles pour prendre une assiette et une bière et voir le Manneken-​piss.
Aussi les gens parlent flamand et font semblant de né pas comprendre le français, c’est le côté pas très agréable de la visite.

You have to climb 366 narrow steps to get to the top of this 13^th Century Beltower situated in Bruges market square, but its worth it for the aerial view of Bruges from the top.