Belfry of Kortrijk

The Belfry of Kortrijk, located in the middle of the Grote Markt, is originally a tower of the former cloth hall. The earliest mention of that hall dates back to 1248, and it was demolished at the end of the 19th century.
The belfry itself is an impressive square tower, slightly sunk because the market has been raised over the centuries. Its current appearance is mainly determined from 1520.
At the top of the tower stands a gilded statue from 1712 of Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, and on the front side, you can see Manten and Kalle, two figures that strike the hour. They date back to the Middle Ages, but the current figures are from 1961.
The tower has been protected as a monument since 1937 and was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.

Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden