Constructed in: 1307
Typology: belfry / clock tower
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The Belfry of Kortrijk, located on the Grote Markt in #Kortrijk (West-Vlaanderen), Belgium, is a medieval bell tower originally part of the old Cloth Hall dating back to 1411. The earliest records of the belfry date to 1307, with only the lower section remaining from that period. Due to structural concerns, the tower was shortened in the Middle Ages, replacing the upper part with a central spire and four smaller corner spires. In 1896, surrounding houses were demolished to improve traffic flow, and there were plans to demolish the belfry itself. However, public protest and intervention by the Royal Commission for Monuments and Sites saved it. The belfry was restored in 1899 by architect Joseph Viérin, regaining its 16th-century appearance. Atop the tower stands a gilded statue of the Roman god Mercury, serving as a weather vane since 1712.
