Belfries of Belgium and France
Cultural
943
1999
Cultural
Belfries of Belgium and France is a UNESCO World Heritage cultural, inscribed in 1999 (WHS 943).
Criteria & Perimeter
Inscription criteria
(ii)(iv)
Category
Cultural
Summary
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.
Monuments in the Zone
Selection of protected monuments
- Menhir dit Pierre Longue de Lèverie — Saint-Thomas-de-Courceriers
- Immeuble de Nantes — Nantes
- Maison de Orléans — Orléans
- Moulin à vent dit Moulin-vieux-de-la-Frandière (ancien) — Barbâtre
- Château de la Morinière (ruines de l'ancien) — Soulaines-sur-Aubance
- Eglise de Beauvau — Beauvau
- Manoir de La Châtière — Abilly
- Ancien grand séminaire Saint-Serge, aujourd'hui lycée Joachim-du-Bellay — Angers
- Monument funéraire de Pierre-François Chappotin et de sa mère situé dans le cimetière de Pontlevoy — Pontlevoy
- Château de Montecler (également sur commune de Châtres-la-Forêt) — Saint-Christophe-du-Luat
- Chapelle troglodyte de l'Echeneau — Vouvray
- Eglise de Pont-Chrétien — Le Pont-Chrétien-Chabenet
- Immeuble de Nantes — Nantes
- Pont George V de Orléans — Orléans
- Logis des Landes de Brain-sur-l'Authion — Brain-sur-l'Authion
Appellations of the Landscape
Most-reviewed 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 |
Data source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (data.culture.gouv.fr). Last updated: April 14, 2026.