The Belfries

Across the Low Countries, medieval towns built tall bell towers that were neither cathedrals nor castles, and that distinction is the point: a belfry was a civic building, raised by a town that had bought or won the right to govern itself, holding the charter that proved it and the bell that summoned citizens or warned of fire. A group of them across Belgium and northern France carries a joint UNESCO listing. Bruges has the most famous, leaning slightly, with 366 steps up to a carillon of dozens of bells that still plays. Ghent's holds a gilded dragon on top and a lift for part of the climb. Tournai's is the oldest in the country, and Mons, Leuven and Dendermonde each have their own.

What you actually see

• Bruges belfry - 366 steps to the carillon and a view over the whole medieval town.
• Ghent belfry - the gilded dragon weathervane and a partial lift up the tower.
• Tournai belfry - the oldest in Belgium, beside the cathedral.
• Carillon concerts - regular played performances on the bell keyboards in several towns.

When to go

April to October for the clearest views. Carillon concert schedules vary by town and are worth checking, since hearing the bells played live from inside the tower is a different experience from hearing them chime.

Honest expectations

The Bruges climb is genuinely hard: 366 narrow winding steps, no lift, and a queue system that caps numbers so you may wait to go up. The bells are extremely loud if you are in the tower when they strike, which catches people out. Each belfry charges separately, so treat them as individual visits rather than a set.

Nearby

Bruges, Ghent and Tournai are all easy train connections from Brussels.