0120 BRUGGE THE BELFRY…
Tour of Europe 04 2016
Day 12
After a nice meal, night fell we stroll onto the market where all the s are showing off the beauty of all the buildings.
The belfry of Bruges is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre of Bruges, Belgium
It served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger.
A narrow, steep staircase of 366 steps, accessible by the public leads to the top of the 83 m (272 feet) high building, which leans about a metre (3 ft) to the east.
The belfry was added to the market square around 1240, when Bruges was prospering as an important centre of the Flemish cloth industry.
After a devastating fire in 1280, the tower was largely rebuilt.
The octagonal upper stage of the belfry was added between 1483 and 1487, and capped with a wooden spire bearing an image of Saint Michael, banner in hand and dragon underfoot. The spire did not last long: a lightning strike in 1493 reduced it to ashes, and destroyed the bells as well. A wooden spire crowned the summit again for some two-and-a-half centuries, before it, too, fell victim to flames in 1741.
The spire was never replaced again, thus making the current height of the building somewhat lower than in the past; but an openwork stone parapet in Gothic style was added to the rooftop in 1822.
The bells in the tower regulated the lives of the city dwellers, announcing the time, fire alarms, work hours, and a variety of social, political, and religious events. Eventually a mechanism ensured the regular sounding of certain bells, for example indicating the hour. Which is still the case!
In the 16th century the tower received a carillon, allowing the bells to be played by means of a hand keyboard. Starting from 1604, the annual accounts record the employment of a carilloneur to play songs during Sundays, holidays and market days.
In 1675 the carillon comprised 35 bells, designed by Melchior de Haze of Antwerp. After the fire of 1741 this was replaced by a set of bells cast by Joris Dumery, 26 of which are still in use.
There were 48 bells at the end of the 19th century, but today the bells number 47, together weighing about 27.5 tonnes. The bells range from weighing two pounds to 11,000 pounds.
(info Wikipedia)
I wish you a day full of beauty and thank you for your visit, Magda, (*_*)
For more of my other work visit here: www.indigo2photography.com
Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
0120 BRUGGE THE BELFRY…
Tour of Europe 04 2016
Day 12
After a nice meal, night fell we stroll onto the market where all the s are showing off the beauty of all the buildings.
The belfry of Bruges is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre of Bruges, Belgium
It served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger.
A narrow, steep staircase of 366 steps, accessible by the public leads to the top of the 83 m (272 feet) high building, which leans about a metre (3 ft) to the east.
The belfry was added to the market square around 1240, when Bruges was prospering as an important centre of the Flemish cloth industry.
After a devastating fire in 1280, the tower was largely rebuilt.
The octagonal upper stage of the belfry was added between 1483 and 1487, and capped with a wooden spire bearing an image of Saint Michael, banner in hand and dragon underfoot. The spire did not last long: a lightning strike in 1493 reduced it to ashes, and destroyed the bells as well. A wooden spire crowned the summit again for some two-and-a-half centuries, before it, too, fell victim to flames in 1741.
The spire was never replaced again, thus making the current height of the building somewhat lower than in the past; but an openwork stone parapet in Gothic style was added to the rooftop in 1822.
The bells in the tower regulated the lives of the city dwellers, announcing the time, fire alarms, work hours, and a variety of social, political, and religious events. Eventually a mechanism ensured the regular sounding of certain bells, for example indicating the hour. Which is still the case!
In the 16th century the tower received a carillon, allowing the bells to be played by means of a hand keyboard. Starting from 1604, the annual accounts record the employment of a carilloneur to play songs during Sundays, holidays and market days.
In 1675 the carillon comprised 35 bells, designed by Melchior de Haze of Antwerp. After the fire of 1741 this was replaced by a set of bells cast by Joris Dumery, 26 of which are still in use.
There were 48 bells at the end of the 19th century, but today the bells number 47, together weighing about 27.5 tonnes. The bells range from weighing two pounds to 11,000 pounds.
(info Wikipedia)
I wish you a day full of beauty and thank you for your visit, Magda, (*_*)
For more of my other work visit here: www.indigo2photography.com
Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved