Namur

Namur lies in the French-speaking Wallonia, southeast of Brussels. Namur is a city and capital of the Namur province and the political capital of Wallonia. Because of its strategic location straddling the rivers of Meuse and Sambre, it is an integral part of the industrial valley of Wallonia.

Namur has been an area of settlement since time immemorial with archaeological discoveries that prove that the Homo Neanderthalis and the first Homo Sapiens have inhabited the region’s caves. Pre-Roman occupation, the region was also the fortified settlement of the Aduatuci tribe and in the 7th century it was an occasional home to Merovingian kings. As it gained prominence as a merchant area, it became a county in the 10th century and by the 12th century it was given the name Namur.

Much like the other fortified settlements in the region, it became a target of aggressive sieges from French and Dutch forces from the 17th to the 19th centuries. It suffered more damages in the two World Wars but was able to rebuild itself in the 20th century. Namur is now regarded as an important commercial and cultural center and is gaining grounds in the tourism scene in Belgium. It has a population of about 109,000 and residents are mostly French-speaking. It is easily accessible via train, bus or car from Brussels and Liege and is a good stop for those heading to Ardennes.

This “bourgeois” town may look like a place for a sedate respite, but it also has a lively entertainment facet. It has an impressive array of restaurants for gourmets and gourmands alike, as well as shopping areas where visitors can find local specialties such as jams, compotes, chocolates, linen and ceramic pottery. The city has two big theaters, a casino and several parks. Its lineup of yearly festivals attracts thousands of visitors. Every September on the third weekend it hosts Belgium’s answer to Germany’s Oktoberfest: the Fetes de Wallonie. For four days, the streets of Namur come to life with drinking, partying and local fairs. Peket, the juniper-flavored liquor that is native to the area reigns during this festival which ends with big fireworks above the citadel. The Fetes de Wallonie attracts about 250,000 visitors to the city annually, making it one of the most popular festivals in Belgium.

Another popular event is the Folknam held every April. This is the day when the people of Namur get to showcase the city’s folklore and traditions on the streets and town squares. And there’s the unusual Namur custom called the Combat de l’Echasse, or the “Fight for the Golden Stilt” held every September on the third Sunday. Done in the town square, two teams (the Melans and the Avresses) dressed in medieval costumes battle each other while standing on stilts and the people watch. Aside from local entertainment, there are market stalls selling traditional Belgian food and crafts.

Some of the main tourist attractions in the city are as follow:

The Citadel: Overlooking the city and the Meuse river, it is an extensive stone fortress which was the site of a fortified settlement as far back as the 2nd century. It has a long history of being a military stronghold. Leading up to the citadel is a long walkway with tunnels as well as an extensive underground network. It houses a number of shops, cafes, a children’s amusement park and a unique garden which only has plants and flowers selected for their smells.
Felicien Rops Museum: This museum is dedicated to the macabre and anti-authoritarian works of famous Flemish artist Felicien Rops who was a native of Namur. The three floors of this 19th century residence contains a vast collection of his work including lithography and engravings.

Tresor d’Oignies: Guarded by the Sisters of Our Lady, this treasury in Rue Julie Billiart holds a vast collection of Gothic religious treasure created by Brother Hugo d’Oignies. Chalices, crosses and reliquaries made in gold and silver are on display in this private museum.

Parfumerie Guy Laforge: Visitors can take a guided tour of the perfumery workshop where they will see, hear and smell the process of producing a perfume.

Museum of Groesbeeck de Croix: A former sanctuary converted into a town house in the Louis XV style in the 18th century and now a museum. It holds a collection of memorabilia from a long-forgotten era – from trinkets, crockery, silverware and even the furnishings of the old residence has been preserved.

Namur also has a big private university run by Jesuit priests known as the Facultes Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, or the University of Namur.