Belfry of Douai

  • French: Beffroi de Douai
  • Also Known As: Belfry of the City Hall of Douai

  • Address: 83 Hotel de Ville
  • Vicinity: E of Rue des Minimes
  • Type: Belfry, Campanile
  • Travel Genus: Sight , Sight
  • Sight Category: Structure

There is the prettiest belfry there that I have yet seen. Imagine a Gothic tower topped with a slate roof, which is made up of a multitude of small superimposed conical windows; on each window a weather vane, at the four corners, a turret; on the point of the belfry, a lion which turns with a flag between the paws; and from all this ensemble, so amusing, so mad, so alive, comes a chime. In each small skylight, we see a little bell struggling like a tongue in a mouth. I drew this tower, and when I look at my drawing, I still seem to hear this joyous chime which escaped from it like the natural vapor of this cluster of pinnacles. Victor Hugo

The Beffroi de Douai is a Gothic style bell tower in the Commune of Douai, Hauts-de-France, France. Completed in 1974 on the occasion of the world congress of carillonneur, the carillon has 62 bells spanning five octaves which can be heard on the quarter hour and during regular concerts. - AsNotedIn


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1379/08/01 The knight Jacques de Halluyn and his son Jean sell the stones of their castle of Cantin, built in 1149 by the count of Flanders Thierry d'Alsace, to supply the construction materials for the tour de Douai.
1380/00/00 La ville de Douai begins construction on a Flanders sandstone watchtower on the site of a previous wooden tower. A Gothic style building is built on the west side of the tower and a chapel on the south side.
1391/00/00 A carillon is installed in the Beffroi de Douai.
1475/00/00 Beffroi de Douai is completed.
1730/00/00 In 1730, Nicolas Levache cast bells for the Douai belfry.
1837/00/00 Victor Hugo Artist Victor Hugo visits Douai and makes a sketch of "the prettiest belfry there that I have yet seen". Victor Hugo's drawing is preserved in his museum in the Place des Vosges in Paris.
1875/00/00 In the 19C, Beffroi de Douai is reinforced on the inside in brick and the 15th century buildings are restored according to 19th century fashion. A new matching building is erected that includes a hall in the Second Empire style.
1917/00/00 Levache's bells are melted down by the German occupiers in 1917. The two largest bells, dating from 1471 (Moer foundry), are damaged. The bells will be replaced in 1924 by the Wauthy company of Douai.
1917/00/00 Levache's bells are melted down by the German occupiers in 1917. They will be replaced in 1924 by the Wauthy company of Douai.
1954/00/00 Paccard Fonderie de Cloches Foundry The city begins a program to replace bells with bells from the Paccard foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux. The carillon will be completed with 62 bells in 1974 for the world congress of carillonneur.

Data »

Particulars for Belfry of Douai:
Area of Significance Architecture
Structure Belfry, Campanile
Sight Category Building
Musical Instrument Carillon
Area of Significance Engineering
Architectural Style Gothic
Category for Historic Use Government
Historic Use Government Office
Era Medieval Europe
Architectural Style Second Empire
Sight Category Structure
Structure Type Tower




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