I visited … the Bergues belfry

From the very first steps, I realised that this visit was going to be much more than a simple climb. At each landing, the exhibition rooms immersed me in the history of the belfry and the town, carnival and the carillon… such a living Flemish heritage.

Then I reached the carillonneur’s cabin. It’s a fascinating place, where you can see behind the scenes: the keyboards, the hammers, the mechanisms. I was lucky enough to be able to listen to and watch the carillonneur play and hear the notes echoing around the city. It was a rare opportunity to immerse myself in an age-old art!

And at the top, the highlight of the show! An incredible panorama over the whole of the Flemish plain and the pretty town of Bergues. The wind, the view, the silence between two bells… (yes, I was right underneath). A real moment of grace, suspended between heaven and earth.

🎶 An intense, authentic experience that I won’t soon forget.