Belfry of Kortrijk

Belfry of Kortrijk

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Belfort (or) Halletoren
Location	Kortrijk, West Flanders, Belgium
Part of	Belfries of Belgium and France
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iv)
Reference	943bis-011
Inscription	1999 (23rd Session)
Extensions	2005
Area	0.004 ha (0.0099 acres)
Buffer zone	28.07 ha (69.4 acres)
Coordinates	50°49′40.2″N 3°15′53.7″E / 50.827833°N 3.264917°E / 50.827833; 3.264917
Location of Belfry of Kortrijk in Belgium

The Belfry of Kortrijk (Dutch: Belfort van Kortrijk) is a medieval bell tower in the historical centre of Kortrijk, Belgium. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger. A narrow, steep staircase, accessible by the public without any entry fee, leads to the top of the building, which nowadays leans about a bit to the west. In 1999, the belfry was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France site, in recognition of the civil, not religious, importance and architecture of the belfries in the region.^[1]