Belfries of Belgium and France
In 2005, 23 belfries in northern France and the Belfry of Gembloux in Belgium were inscribed on the World Heritage List, as an extension of the 32 Belfry of Belgium that were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999. These belfries were built between the 11th and 17th centuries, combining Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles. They are an important symbol of civil liberties won. While towns in Italy, Germany and the UK mainly chose to build town halls, parts of northwestern Europe focused more on building belfries. Compared to the donjon (a symbol of the lord) and the belfry (a symbol of the church), the belfry was the third tower in the urban landscape, symbolizing the power of the municipal officials. Over the centuries, they gradually became a symbol of the influence and wealth of the town.