BELGIUM / FRANCE - Belfries of Belgium and France

"Twenty-three belfries in the north of France and the belfry of Gembloux in Belgium were inscribed as a group, an extension to the 32 Belgian belfries inscribed in 1999 as Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia. Built between the 11th and 17th centuries, they showcase the Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of architecture. They are highly significant tokens of the winning of civil liberties. While Italian, German and English towns mainly opted to build town halls, in part of north-western Europe, greater emphasis was placed on building belfries. Compared with the keep (symbol of the seigneurs) and the bell-tower (symbol of the Church), the belfry, the third tower in the urban landscape, symbolizes the power of the aldermen. Over the centuries, they came to represent the influence and wealth of the towns." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: BELGIUM : Antwerpen-Cathedral of Our Lady

Another great postcrossing meet-up card... 
Thanks Raquel for sharing this with me!

Postcard 2: BELGIUM : Brugge


Again, thank you so much for this wonderful postcard , Amina!

My son likes the stamp! =)

Postcard 3: BELGIUM : Gent


Thank you so much Lara for increasing my collection of these Belfries!


Postcard 4: BELGIUM : Tournai

Thank you so much Fred for remembering me during your trip to Belgium!

Postcard 5: FRANCE : Armentieres

Thank you so much for this postcard, Fred! ^-^


Postcard 6: FRANCE : Bailleul

Thank you so much for this postcard, Fred! ^-^
I just love the colorful flowers!


Postcard 7: FRANCE : Bergues


A surprise postcard from Fred residing in Lille...
He's lucky to have friends who live next to this belfry and I am one lucky lady to have this!
Merci beaucoup, Fred!


Postcard 8: FRANCE : Cambrai


A postcard from Fred who was born in Cambrai...
Thank you so much, Fred!

Postcard 9: FRANCE : Dunkerque, City Hall

From Fred who never fails to surprise me on sending UNESCO postcards!
Thank you so much, Fred for making me happy! ^-^

Postcard 10: FRANCE : Dunkerque, St. Eligius Church

Thank you so much Veronique for adding this card to my collection!

Special thanks for the Europa stamp! =)

Postcard 11: FRANCE : Douai


Thank you so much Fred for this Douai card!
It really is beautiful! =)


Postcard 12: FRANCE : Lille


"Here is the highest belfry... It's very near to my work...", shares Fred.
Thank you so much Fred for this awesome card!
Will send you postcards soon!

56 Belfries of Belgium and France:

BELGIUM : Flanders

1. Aalst

2. Antwerpen, Cathedral

3. Antwerpen, City Hall

4. Brugge

5. Dendermonde

6. Diksmuide

7. Eeklo

8. Gent

9. Herentals

10. Leper

11. Kortrijk

12. Leuven

13. Lier

14. Lo

15. Mechelen 1

16. Mechelen 2

17. Menen

18. Nieuwpoort

19. Oudenaarde

20. Roeselare

21. Sint-Truiden

22. Tielt

23. Tienen

24. Tongeren

25. Veurne

26. Zoutleeuw

BELGIUM : Wallonia

27. Binche

28. Charleroi

29. Gembloux

30. Mons

31. Namur

32. Thuin

33. Tournai

FRANCE

34. Abbeville

35. Aire-sur-la-Lys

36. Amiens

37. Armentieres

38. Arras

39. Bailleul

40. Bergues

41. Bethune

42. Boulogne-sur-Mer

43. Calais

44. Cambrai

45. Comines

46. Douai

47. Doullens

48. Dunkerque, City Hall

49. Dunkerque, St. Eligius Church

50. Gravelines

51. Hesdin

52. Lille

53. Loos

54. Lucheux

55. Rue

56. Saint-Riquier