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Dunkerque

The Saint-Éloi belfry of Dunkirk

Fifty-eight metres of brick, fifty bells, and the best view of the city

The Saint-Éloi belfry and the church, separated by the street, in Dunkirk

The essentials

Where
Dunkerque
How long
One hour
Price
Charged to climb; the exterior is free
  • Circa 1440
  • UNESCO since 2005
  • 58 metres
  • 50-bell carillon
What to do in Dunkirk?

The Saint-Éloi belfry was built around 1440 on the site of a watchtower. Fifty-eight metres of Gothic brick, its silhouette a landmark visible from the sea and from the motorway alike.

It's been a listed historic monument since 1840 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005, as one of the belfries of Belgium and France. It's Dunkirk's most-visited monument, and the only place from which the whole town makes sense at a glance: the port, the beach, the dunes, and Belgium in the distance.

Why it stands apart from its church

Around 1450, the church of Saint-Éloi was built alongside the tower, which became its bell tower. In 1558, French troops under Marshal de Thermes took the town and burned the church down. Only the tower survived.

The church was later rebuilt, but not on the same spot: that's why the belfry now stands alone, facing it across the street. What looks like a quirk of town planning is actually the trace of an 1558 fire.

The carillon

The tower carries fifty bells, renovated in 2009. They ring every quarter hour — not clock chimes, but popular tunes, including the *Cantate à Jean Bart*. It's the soundscape of the town centre, and you end up setting your watch by it.

The climb

A lift takes you up to the platform, which makes the view accessible to everyone — rare for a belfry. The tourist office is at the foot of the tower and issues the tickets.

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    3 activities to book

    What activities to do in Dunkirk?

    Our favourite

    For Operation Dynamo

    Le musée Dunkerque 1940

    The museum devoted to the May–June 1940 evacuation, a stone's throw from Malo beach.

    1 h 30 · museum

    For the town seen from above

    Le beffroi Saint-Éloi

    The 1440 belfry, a UNESCO listed site, can be climbed for the view over the harbour and the town.

    45 min · climb

    For the beach

    Le longe-côte et le char à voile à Malo-les-Bains

    Malo beach hosts Dunkirk's 'longe-côte' and sand-yachting clubs.

    Supervised session · booking required

    Our 3 restaurants

    Where to eat in Dunkirk?

    Our favourite

    To eat on the Malo sea wall

    La Cocotte

    A traditional restaurant on digue de Mer, facing Malo-les-Bains beach.

    Restaurant · 55 digue de Mer

    For a bistro-style table

    Wood & Bro

    A restaurant on digue des Alliés, in Malo-les-Bains.

    Restaurant · 3 digue des Alliés

    For fish

    L'Iode

    A fish and seafood restaurant on the Malo-les-Bains seafront.

    Fish and seafood · Malo-les-Bains

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