City of namur belgium. Namur is the center of the Belgian province of Wallonia.

Initially, I wanted to devote more time to Namur, but after numerous adjustments to the trip plan, Namur turned into only a kind of transit point where we only had to spend the night. We arrived in this city before dark, but after a busy day we didn’t want to go anywhere. So the whole sightseeing of the city was reduced to a morning hour and a half walk the next day all alone, because. Zhenya preferred to sleep.

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Armed with a city plan, I set off to wander through the sparsely populated streets of the Walloon capital.

Namur is located at the confluence of the two rivers Meuse and Sambre, where the first human settlements appeared in the Mesolithic era. A piece of land at the very confluence of the rivers, resembling the shape of a pig's head, was called Grognon and became the beginning of urban development in the 4th-10th centuries. In the 10th century, a watchtower was built on top of the rock, and later a count's castle was formed around it. The count also received the title of "Count of Namur". In 1421, the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good, bought the county. And in 1506 Namur passes to the Spanish Netherlands. At this time, Namur was repeatedly attacked, therefore, despite its long history, there are not too many old buildings in the city.
In 1692, after a significant siege, the city passes to the French king Louis XIV. At this time, in addition to the existing fortress walls, a defensive rampart was erected according to the project of the outstanding military architect Vauban. Only from the end of the 17th century did active urban development begin, as evidenced by the rich architectural heritage of the 18th century in the Mosan style, characterized by a combination of brick with blue limestone (local Namur stone).

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Among the surrounding buildings, the majestic Cathedral of St. Albana, rebuilt by the Italian architect Gaetano Pizzoni in 1751-1767 on the site of a Romanesque church destroyed in 1740, as a result of a flood.

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The Provincial Palace (or Governor's Palace) in the style of classicism was built in 1728-1732 as an episcopal palace, but after the French Revolution it acquired administrative significance:

7. Mansion Grosbeck de Croix

8. Square of Arms and the Exchange building

In the old days, executions were carried out on the Square of Arms. Until 1914, the town hall dominated the square. However, during the First World War, the town hall and adjacent houses were destroyed, and a new square was rebuilt in 1923. Now on the square, the building of the old Stock Exchange, built in the Neo-Renaissance style in 1932, first of all attracts attention.

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In front of the Bourse, you can see a funny sculptural group illustrating a scene from the comics in the old Namur newspaper "Françwès et Djoseph":
At 6 am, Franschwe catches up with Dieuzef just behind the bridge between Namur and Jambes. There are about 200 meters left to Jambes.
- Hey, Diozef, where are you in such a hurry?
- I'm trying to keep up with my snail. She hurries to be home before midnight.
Since both are deaf and talk in the Walloon dialect, but cause laughter from the readers of the newspaper and from passers-by on the Place des Arms:

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The construction of the Saint-Jacques tower began in 1388, as part of the city wall, but the tower became a bell tower in 1746:

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The Royal Theater is one of the last theaters in Europe equipped in the Italian style (XIX century). After the fire, the theater was rebuilt in sandstone, a rare material for Namur:

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The hallmark of Namur is the citadel:

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The first fortress on this site was built by the Romans in the III-IV centuries to protect the Meuse valley from the Germanic tribes. Later, in the 10th century, the Count of Namur built a wooden watchtower on the site of the Roman ruins, which in subsequent years was overgrown with defensive structures. So in 1235-1245 a new stone fortress was built, which was expanded in the XIV century. Charles V of Habsburg in the years 1542-1555 improved the fortress so that in the following years it could function as a real city. In the 17th century, the walls of the citadel were doubled so that the fortress became one of the most fortified structures in Europe. Only at the beginning of the 19th century, most of the fortress walls were destroyed by order of Napoleon, since they lost their defensive significance, being in the depths of the empire.

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The Butchers' House was built of brick and blue limestone in 1588-1590. It is one of the rare and beautiful examples of 16th century civil architecture in Namur. Now one of the most important and significant archaeological museums of Wallonia is located here:

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On the opposite bank of the Sambre, under the walls of the citadel is the building of the Parliament of Wallonia and the Hospice Saint-Gilles. The hospital building, founded in the Middle Ages, changed its name several times until it housed the Hospice Saint-Gilles in the 18th century. This charitable institution was of paramount importance in the social life of Namur, taking in the poor, the sick, the orphans and the elderly, who did not have the means to support their lives. Two parts of the building, built in the XVI-XVII centuries, retain their significance today. The main building, built in 1668 of brick and limestone and recently restored, now houses the Parliament of Wallonia.

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19. River Meuse

21. Church of St. Joseph (1627-1655)

The Les River is a Belgian river with a length of 89 kilometers, which carries its waters to the Meuse River. The river flows mainly to the northwest, and also has a 1100 meters underground section in the caves of An, near the village of An-sur-Les. The water level in the river has significant differences at the source and mouth, its maximum depth does not exceed one and a half meters. Most of the Les flows in the highlands of the country.

The coast of a non-navigable river attracts tourists with its beautiful nature with forests, cliffs and rocks, on one of which stands Walsen Castle. On the last 20 kilometers of the river it is very convenient to go canoeing or kayaking.

Meuse river

The Meuse River is a 925 km long river flowing through three countries: France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It carries its waters to the North Sea, and its source is the Langre Plateau.

The area of ​​the Meuse river basin is 36 thousand square kilometers. The major Belgian cities of Namur, Liège and the Ardennes are located on the Meuse River. The river is fed by rain and snow. It is navigable up to the upper reaches of the Meuse and is connected by channels with several rivers - the Scheldt, the Seine and the Rhine. The largest island in Belgium, Dove Island, is located on the Meuse River, famous for its unique flora and fauna. In the shallow waters of the river, gray herons from the reserve love to fish.

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Arden forest

The Ardennes forest is considered to be national reserve and the pride of Belgium. Coniferous and deciduous trees of various kinds of incredible beauty are in natural harmony with ancient castles, ancient monasteries and mysterious grottoes. The maximum height of the Ardennes is 694 meters. Many rivers originate here: Amel, Urt and Semois.

The Great Ardennes Forest is located on the border with France. It was first mentioned by Julius Caesar in the book Notes on the Gallic War, then Shakespeare wrote about the Ardennes in his comedy As You Like It.

Among the majestic Ardennes are the unique grottoes "Thousand and One Nights" and the grotto of Neptune. It is worth noting that in the southeast of the country there are also caves and canyons. And it is here that silicon is mined for the whole country, as well as coal and iron ore.

Namur Castle (or Namur Citadel) is the most significant building in the city. It served as a strategic bastion that survived many attacks and rebuildings. The history of the city itself is very closely connected with the history of the castle. Back in the 3rd and 4th centuries, the Romans built a fortified observation post on top of a mountain to protect the Meuse valley from the invasions of the Germanic tribes.

Over the centuries, the castle has been repeatedly destroyed, restored and rebuilt. Therefore, now it looks completely different than centuries ago.

In 1860, the castle began to be used as a location for military units of the Belgian army. It again began to play the role of a military fortress in 1939-1940, when its underground part was equipped with air conditioning systems, an anti-gas system and reinforced doors.

An-sur-Les cave

An-sur-Les cave can be visited on an old tram that runs through the Belgian cave. Thus, from the village you will go straight to a cool grotto, where the average temperature is 13 ° C. It is also worth noting that the humidity in the cave is very high, so it is better for people prone to asthmatic attacks to refrain from such an excursion. But judging by the fact that about a million people visit this cave every year, the health of the tourists is all right.

And there is something to see, because this grotto is a common creation of nature and man. Man carefully preserved everything that was created by nature, adding artificial lighting so that you can appreciate the large stalagmite "Minaret" here, its height is 5 meters, and the history is approximately 12,000 years, another stalagmite, whose height reaches 7 meters, and the circumference is about 20 meters. The stalagmite is located in a hall 20 meters high and 100 meters underground. So, it is easy to imagine the scale of the cave.

But in addition to natural values, your eyes will also be presented with creations created by man, namely a light show in the underground hall, and at the end of the tours, according to tradition, there will be a cannon volley that will show all the acoustics of the cave.

Church of Saint Lupus

The Church of Saint Lupe, located in the center of the Belgian city of Namur, was built at the Jesuit College in the middle of the 17th century. The building in the style of the South Dutch Baroque was built over a period of 20 years, from 1620 to 1645, according to the project of the famous architect Pierre Eusens. The three-aisled church with six bays, choirs and apses was built from local sandstone. On the top of the facade, you can see the traditional Jesuit sign - the monogram of Jesus Christ IHS.

Everyone entering the church of St. Lupus is impressed by the luxurious interior: paintings made by one of the students of the famous Rubens, red and black marble decoration, richly decorated wooden confessionals. Currently, the church is active, concerts and exhibitions are often held here.

Floref Abbey

Floref Abbey is located 10 kilometers from Namur. It was built over the river Sambra, which served the city as a kind of defense against attacks. The abbey was founded in 1121, when Saint Norbert of Xanten received land as a gift from the wife of the Count of Namur. Norbert's followers were the people who were called Premonstrants, it was they who took care of the expansion and well-being of the abbey for two centuries. It was then that several monasteries were created, which have survived and are famous today.

For the abbey, the XIV-XV centuries were not the best, it fell into decay. It gained a second wind only in the XVI-XVII centuries. The discipline of the Premonstratensians was very strict, and the quality of the education of the ministers improved. At any time, the abbey did not lose its power, and despite a number of wars and attacks on these lands, reconstruction and construction of new buildings were constantly carried out.

During the revolution that took place, the abbey was devastated, and the monks were expelled from the territory. In the middle of the 19th century, the Premonstrants regained the abbey, which was soon transferred to the diocese of the city. In the 20th century, several buildings were built for the seminary, which made it possible for tourists to visit the historical part. Today, fairs and festivals are held on the territory of the abbey, and markets are organized. There is also a farm that produces cheese and beer.

Tourists can visit this place during the summer period from April to September. For them hourly excursions are specially organized.

Rochefort Abbey

Rochefort Abbey was founded in 1230 as a convent. The abbey was given as a gift of land and possessions, but in the 15th century it slowly fell into decay. In 1464, an audit was carried out, as a result of which it was decided that the nuns moved to the Felipre abbey, and the monks moved to Rochefort. Since that time, the abbey began to flourish again, as the monks skillfully used the wealth of the local lands - the river and the marble deposit.

Misfortunes also did not pass by the monastery - devastation, famine, epidemics. Often the inhabitants of the abbey were saved in the city of Marsh. The monks again took up the restoration of the monastery in 1664, it was updated by the XVIII century. However, after some time, the abbey again overtook a period of decline. Many valuables were looted. Soon the monastery was sold, the church and a number of buildings were demolished. The monastery changed hands until, in 1887, the monks of the Limbur Monastery arrived at the abbey.

The basis of the prosperity of the abbey from that time to the present day is the brewery, founded in 1899. Today, a very strict discipline reigns in the monastery; it is closed to visitors.

The most popular attractions in Namur with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose best places to visit the famous places of Namur on our website.

History

When the French captured Namur in 1692, the famous military engineer of Louis XIV, Sebastien de Vauban, began to build better fortifications here. Later, the fortress was destroyed, but in the years 1815-1830, when Belgium was part of the Netherlands, it was rebuilt, now by Dutch engineers. At the end of the 19th century, the citadel of Namur was expanded and strengthened under the leadership of the famous Belgian engineer Heinrich Brialmont (1821-1903). Despite this, during the First World War, German troops took Namur in three days. During World War II, the city was bombed and badly damaged.

Attractions

Namur is a small city, but it is here that the parliament of the region is located. The train station and the bus station are located at place de la Station (Pl. Stación). Next to it is Square Leopold (Leopold Square), from which comes rue de Fer (Fer Street). The town hall is located on this street. Rue de Fer passes into the main shopping street of Namur - rue de l "Ange (Ange St.), which leads to the city center-place D" Armes (Arm Square).

To the west of place D "Armes lie the old quarters of Namur, with many cafes and restaurants, and at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers there is a monument to the Belgian king Albert I. Not far from here, the mountaineer king died in 1934, climbing a rocky cliff.

To the southwest of the monument rises the fortress of Namur (La Citadelle de Namur). The collection of the Museum of Antiquities of Namur (Musee des Arts Anciens du Namurois; Rue de Fer, 24, Tue-Sun 10.00-18.00; €3 adults, €1.50 students and pence, www.museedesartsanciens.be) contains local archaeological finds and medieval metalwork made in the technique of the Mozanian school. The Museum of the Oigny Monastery (Musee du Prieure d "Oignies; Rue Julie Billiart, 17, Tue-Sat 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00, Sun from 14.00), located next to the place d" Armes, exhibited several masterpieces of the foundry master Hugo d "Wagny.

Exposition of the Felicien Rops Museum (Musee Felicien Rops; Rue Fumal, 12, Tue-Sun 10.00-18.00, July-Aug. daily; €3 adults, €1.50 students and pensioners, children free; www.museerops .be) is dedicated to the work of a native of Namur (1833-1898), a graphic artist and caricaturist, known among other things for his frivolous drawings. His illustrations for "Flowers of Evil" by Charles Baudelaire were banned in France by the censors. Every third Sunday in September, Namur hosts Les Fetes de Wallonie - Days of Wallonia. One of the brightest events of this holiday is the "Battle for the Golden Stilt". This annual entertainment is attended by two teams of athletes in medieval clothes on stilts: the melans (on black and yellow stilts) and the aresses (on red and white). They arrange a duel at the place St.Aubain (Saint-Aubin square).

14 km south of Namur are the Annevoie Gardens (les Jardins d "Annevoie; Rue des Jardins d" Annevoie, 37a; Apr.-Oct. daily 09.30-17.30, July-Aug. until 18.30; www.annevoie.be) created in 1758. The owner of the estate, Charles-Alexis de Montpellier, combined French, Italian and English garden styles, making fountains, mini-waterfalls and channels a key element of the design.

tourist office

Avenue Cadoux, 8 Tel. 08 222 28 70, [email protected]; daily 09.00-17.30, Sun 10.00-16.00

TOURIST ANSWERS:

The history of this Belgian town has more than 15 centuries. At first, it was a fortress built at the confluence of two rivers. Due to its strategic location, the city was constantly involved in various battles and battles, after which the inhabitants invariably restored it. Namur, unlike many cities in the Benelux countries, is not bright. Gray tones prevail here, but this does not make the town dull at all.

Ancient cities have always been protected by powerful walls. Namur is no exception. The local Citadel survived and withstood a huge number of attacks and attacks. The fortress was constantly expanded and completed, and by the end of the 17th century it became the best fortification in Europe. Now located here Museum of Military History. Visitors can wander through the underground passages, of which there are a great many. Inspect loopholes and various ancient types of weapons and ammunition. Inside the courtyard there is a real castle, which was reconstructed in the 17th century. Within the walls of the castle, you can admire a magnificent collection of tapestries. You can visit the Citadel from 10 to 17.

Due to constant destruction, there are not many old buildings left in the city, but thanks to them you can see the former Namur. One of the oldest and most majestic buildings are Cathedral of St. Aubin; Jesuit Church Saint-Loup; Church of St. John the Baptist; Church Saint-Jacques. These are impressive buildings. But the dense building of the city hides their beauty. Only, perhaps, the building of the Cathedral can be admired and appreciated its charm and power.

The rest of the Churches are so squeezed into the narrow streets, so squeezed that there is no way to see the whole building, only fragmentary - from the bottom up:

The only way to admire at least the towers and spiers of churches is the view from above and a powerful lens.

On the Place des Armes is located Exchange building. In ancient, not very humane times, executions were carried out on this square. A noisy crowd of residents gathered to watch this event, which in those days was a kind of entertainment. In 1932, the Stock Exchange building was restored after being destroyed during the war.

One of the decorations and the focus of the cultural life of Namur is Royal Theater. Despite its small size, the building is very pretty. The last restoration was made several years ago. The facade of the building is decorated with statues, and the interior is decorated with frescoes.

House of Butchers- it's modern Archaeological Museum. That's just the past, as the name implies, ominous. There is a legend that the place of construction was not chosen by chance, but with an eye to the blood from the ink immediately flowing into the river along the pavement. But now it is quite a peaceful museum with a large number of exhibits ranging from the Roman period to the Middle Ages. The museum is open every day except Monday. Entrance 3 euros.

More than a thousand works by the famous Belgian artist Felicien Rops are collected in the museum of the same name. Here you can look "for a minute", and spend the whole day. The pictures are literally mesmerizing. The museum is open every day except Monday. Entrance 2.5 euros.

Perfume lovers will be interested in visiting perfume laboratory. Here you can observe the creation of perfumes from the very beginning, as well as admire the collection of bottles, the shapes of which are quite unusual and unusual. And of course, you will not leave without shopping, because in the showroom you can buy Guy Delforge products.

The personal possession of the King of Belgium, and after the Belgian colony until 1960 was the Republic of the Congo. You can get acquainted with the history of this country in African Museum. Here are collected tools, weapons (arrows, bows, knives, sabers), national costumes, various utensils and jewelry. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. Entrance 3 euros.

Well, it's just impossible to ignore Monument to the Snail Drivers. Judging by the rubbed shiny horns of one of the snails, this place brings good luck. Like it or not, you can check for yourself by arriving in this harsh gray, but at the same time wonderfully bright city of Namur.

Helpful answer?

When dividing Belgium into regions, the French-speaking inhabitants of the country chose town of Namur the capital of Wallonia. Such a choice may seem strange for tourists, because Liege, Charleroi and Tournai are more famous. But the Welsh chose this resort town. Tragic events, which are many in the history of Namur, left noticeable scars on the body of the town. When you get to know Belgium, you should not deprive your attention of the "second" capital of the country, a town located at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers.

Visiting card of Namur, towering over the city Citadel, which is 2000 years old. The story tells that the citadel did not so much protect the inhabitants of the city as it attracted invaders. On a steep hill to the citadel you will be led by two picturesque streets - Merveilyu and Panorama. At the very top of the hill, ruins and remains of defensive structures are scattered.

The citadel at different times was either a Celtic fortress or belonged to the Romans as a fortification. Now, having long lost its military purpose, the oldest building has turned into a peaceful tourist center. In the former barracks and warehouses of the 15th-19th centuries, cafes and restaurants are located. An excursion mini-train runs through the park, tunnels and around the protective structures. The workshop of local perfumer Guy Delforge is also located here.

The majestic Namur castle of the 19th century, located on a hill, next to the citadel. The castle is surrounded by magnificent gardens, an ornamental pond with fish. Today there is a hotel in the castle.

Cathedral of St. Alban (1751). Not like any of the Belgian churches, a grandiose cathedral. Designed by the Italian Pizzoni. The dome of the cathedral is richly decorated with bas-reliefs, the whole style of the ensemble creates a sense of sophistication, which enhances the beautiful collection of more than 20 paintings by the schools of Rubens and Van Dyck, presented in the marble interior of the cathedral.

Diosesan Museum is the treasury of the Cathedral of St. Alban, there is also a small but noteworthy collection of paintings, ancient robes, sculptures, shrines and other religious artifacts.

Corbel (La Corbeille), the old quarter of Corbels is squeezed into a corner at the confluence of the rivers Sambre and Meuse. There are no masterpieces of architecture, but it is worth looking at the bell tower and the Square of Arms. There is a special atmosphere here, many cafes, whose tables are put up on cobblestone streets. On Saturday, there is a lively, colorful Marche-et-Legum market.

Archaeological Museum, located in the building of the old meat market of the 15th century. The market was built in the Renaissance style. The region was once famous for its rich rural villas. The museum now houses archeological finds that tell the story of daily life and death in isolated rural communities.

Namur Museum of Ancient Art, in fact, the main exhibits represent the medieval religious art of the Meuse valley.

On an inconspicuous side street is Felicien Rops Museum. A wonderful exhibition that gives a complete picture of the work of a famous artist. The master himself could not have dreamed of a better exposure. The wayward artist of the 19th century was always attracted by everything unusual and erotic, the master gladly shocked the respectable bourgeois of that time with his works.

Grosbeck de Croix Museum. The museum reveals the sophisticated lifestyle of a wealthy family that lived in Namur in the 18th century. A well-maintained urban mansion, typical of the bourgeoisie, exhibits an excellent collection of decorative arts.

If you are traveling with children. Then be sure to bring them to Fabiola Amusement Park, located near the citadel, a huge and fun children's playground. Also take a walk in Louise Maria Park, the park is located near the Sambra River, picturesque ponds with grottoes where ducks swim. Beautifully manicured flower gardens.

From Namur on pleasure boats you can make excursions along the rivers Sambre and Meuse. If you happen to be in Namur in June-July, be sure to visit a small coastal the village of Vepion. The village is considered the Belgian strawberry capital. There is even strawberry museum.

In summer, Vepion stores offer a huge amount of strawberries of different varieties, you probably have not seen or tasted such a variety and quality.