Belfry of Namur

The belfry of Namur, additionally referred to as the Tour Saint-Jacques is an historical constructing of the town of Namur, Belgium. The tower, built in 1388 as a part of the metropolis wall, became a belfry in 1746. It is one of the fifty six belfries of Belgium and France categorised in the world patrimony of the UNESCO. Originally, one of the clocks of the Saint-Pierre-au-Château church served as belfry for the residents of Namur, indicating the time and announcing occasions within the town. After the destruction of the church, burned down throughout the siege of Namur in 1745, the Tour Saint-Jacques, the oldest of the 3 towers of the medieval metropolis partitions, have become the city belfry. The Tour Saint-Jacques included one of the metropolis gates.

Its bancloque gave the sign for the opening and closure of the outside town gates. At the start of the 18th century, the town wall was demolished however the Tour Saint-Jacques was preserved and restored, and its clock became blanketed by an octagonal shape. This complete component became lifted upon a clock bulb. The Tour Saint-Jacques became Namur's city belfry in 1746. Thus the belfry of Namur is a military defence tower reallocated to civil use.