Belfries of Belgium and France
Cultural
943
1999
Cultural
Description
Twenty-three belfries in the north of France and the belfry of Gembloux in Belgium were inscribed in 2005, as an extension to the 32 Belgian belfries inscribed in 1999 as Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia. Built between the 11th and 17th centuries, they showcase the Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of architecture. They are highly significant tokens of the winning of civil liberties. While Italian, German and English towns mainly opted to build town halls, in part of north-western Europe, greater emphasis was placed on building belfries. Compared with the keep (symbol of the seigneurs) and the bell-tower (symbol of the Church), the belfry, the third tower in the urban landscape, symbolizes the power of the aldermen. Over the centuries, they came to represent the influence and wealth of the towns.
Inscription details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| WHS ID | 943 |
| Inscribed | 1999 |
| Category | Cultural |
| Criteria | (ii)(iv) |
| State party | France,Belgium |
| Transboundary | Yes |
| French name | Beffrois de Belgique et de France |
Protected monuments
| Monument | Commune | Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Dolmen de Montchevrier | Montchevrier | 1862 |
| Eglise Notre-Dame de Avon-les-Roches | Avon-les-Roches | 1908 |
| Maison dite La Minotière | Montreuil-Bellay | 1976 |
| Eglise Saint-Benoît de Aizenay | Aizenay | 2007 |
| Château de la Touche-Savary | Saint-Germain-des-Prés | 1972 |
| Fanum des Châteliers de Amboise | Amboise | 1987 |
| Immeuble de Châteaudun | Châteaudun | 1953 |
| Eglise paroissiale Saint-Pierre | Perrusson | 1926 |
| Château des Gringuenières | La Chapelle-d'Aligné | 1994 |
| Eglise Saint-Laurent de Bossée | Bossée | 1921 |
| Eglise Notre-Dame de Charly | Charly | 1862 |
| Eglise Notre-Dame de Le Subdray | Le Subdray | 1926 |
| Domaine de la Bénaudière | Saint-Georges-sur-Loire | 1996 |
| Croix dite Croix Bourdon | Saumur | 1974 |
| Usine à chaux de Saint-Pierre | Angrie | 2006 |
Loire appellations
| Appellation | Avg score | Reviews | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sancerre | 89.3 | 554 | White |
| Muscadet Sèvre et Maine | 88.6 | 237 | White |
| Pouilly-Fumé | 89.6 | 153 | White |
| Vouvray | 88.4 | 153 | White |
| Touraine | 86.3 | 85 | White |
| Chinon | 88.7 | 72 | Red |
| Menetou-Salon | 87.3 | 69 | White |
| Crémant de Loire | 87.5 | 54 | Sparkling |
| Val de Loire | 85.6 | 41 | White |
| Saumur | 88.4 | 40 | White |
| Anjou | 87.6 | 36 | White |
| Rosé d'Anjou | 84 | 35 | Rosé |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Updated: April 14, 2026.