Toreken (The Tower), Ghent
The Tower (Toreken), also known as the House of the Corporation of Tanners, Huidevettershuis (Skinners' House), or Meerminne (Mermaid), is a notable Gothic-style building located at the corner of Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market Square) in Ghent, Belgium. This historic structure, the oldest in the area, has served various roles since its origins in the 14th century.
Originally a wooden structure where fur and sheepskin workers traded their goods, the building was purchased in 1422 and upgraded to a stone house in 1450, using Balegem stone. In 1483, a distinctive watchtower was added, crowned with a weather vane in the form of a mermaid named Melusine, holding a mirror. The tower also houses the Maria bell, cast by Joris Waghenens at the Mechelen bell foundry and installed in 1511.
The Tower's architecture is characterized by its three-bay fa莽ade along Kammerstraat, which features a stepped gable with small square windows and stone mullions. The fa莽ade facing Vrijdagmarkt has four bays with large stone cross-windows, topped by a slate roof adorned with three levels of small triangular skylights. A cylindrical staircase turret prominently marks the corner of the building, adding to its unique appearance.
Following the decline of guild power under Emperor Charles V, the property was sold to private individuals in 1542. It was classified as a historical monument in 1943 and has been listed in the inventory of the real estate heritage of the Flemish Region. After extensive restoration in 1982, the Maria Bell was returned to its original place in the Tower by the local museum.
Today, the Tower is owned by the City of Ghent and serves as the home of the Poetry Center, continuing its legacy as a significant historical and cultural landmark in the city.
Originally a wooden structure where fur and sheepskin workers traded their goods, the building was purchased in 1422 and upgraded to a stone house in 1450, using Balegem stone. In 1483, a distinctive watchtower was added, crowned with a weather vane in the form of a mermaid named Melusine, holding a mirror. The tower also houses the Maria bell, cast by Joris Waghenens at the Mechelen bell foundry and installed in 1511.
The Tower's architecture is characterized by its three-bay fa莽ade along Kammerstraat, which features a stepped gable with small square windows and stone mullions. The fa莽ade facing Vrijdagmarkt has four bays with large stone cross-windows, topped by a slate roof adorned with three levels of small triangular skylights. A cylindrical staircase turret prominently marks the corner of the building, adding to its unique appearance.
Following the decline of guild power under Emperor Charles V, the property was sold to private individuals in 1542. It was classified as a historical monument in 1943 and has been listed in the inventory of the real estate heritage of the Flemish Region. After extensive restoration in 1982, the Maria Bell was returned to its original place in the Tower by the local museum.
Today, the Tower is owned by the City of Ghent and serves as the home of the Poetry Center, continuing its legacy as a significant historical and cultural landmark in the city.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ghent. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Toreken (The Tower) on Map
Sight Name: Toreken (The Tower)
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ghent, Belgium
Create Your Own Walk in Ghent
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ghent is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ghent's Historical Buildings
The medieval city of Ghent is full of wonderful old buildings, some dating back as far as the 12th-13th centuries. Medieval buildings are indeed everywhere here, and if you're interested in the heritage fit to capture you imagination, you will find plenty of it in Ghent鈥檚 historic downtown.
And you won鈥檛 have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
And you won鈥檛 have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Ghent Introduction Walking Tour
Some historians believe "Ghent" comes from the Celtic word, "ganda." "Ganda" meant a confluence, as with two rivers. There are traces of human settlements as far back as the stone age at the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Leie in Belgium.
With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles