The Belfry and the Market Square - Belgium

The Belfry, or 'le Beffroi' to give it its real name, was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 and is one of Bruges' most striking monuments, with 366 steps leading to its 270ft summit.

One can break up the ascent by stopping off to see the treasure room with its impressive clockwork mechanism and a set of 47 bells. Put in place in 1802, the 'Victoire' bell, at a hefty 9.7 tons, needs 8 men to set it in motion. Those brave enough to negotiate all the steps will be rewarded with an incredible panoramic view over the city and its surroundings. From this vantage point one can spot the impressive Grand Place and its old bourgeois houses which have been transformed into restaurants, as well as the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter De Koninck, heroes of the Battle of the Golden Spurs (la Bataille des éperons d'or). Once back on ground level, the sumptuous gothic interior of the hôtel de ville as well as its interesting etchings on the evolution of Bruges through the ages is well worth a visit.

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