"NAMUR : INFORMATION/CITADEL/CAPITAL OF WALOON" Namur Travelogue by coceng

Namur Travel Guide: 227 reviews and 490 photos

Namur is the capital of Namur province as well as the political capital of Wallonia (the French-speaking Southern part of Belgium). The city has a population of 105,000. Namur is located at the confluence of the Sambre River and the Meuse River
( both major waterways), and thus has had a military significance in centuries past that guaranteed continual assault, from Roman times through the second World War.
As a result of having been leveled time and again, the antiquities in Namur are relatively sparse. Nevertheless, the city is large and important enough to offer the visitor a wealth of diversions.

One of the most awesome buildings in Namur is St. Alban's Cathedral. (Cathédrale Saint Aubin) Built between 1751 and 1767 it shows it Italian influence.

The Meat Hall is one of the most impressive monuments of Namur. It is located on the banks of the Sambre and is one of the most important archeological museums of Wallonia. This building was constructed between 1588 and 1590 and is made from brick and blue stones. The old St. James tower built in 1385 is Namurs only belfry tower. Located on the 'Place des Armes', it watches over the city and was used during its time as a lookout for the city.

By far the greatest monument of Namur is the Citadel. The Citadel served as a strategic bastion, attracting many attacks and numerous reconstructions during its history. Today the Citadel is accessible by a winding road or by cable-car. The Citadel is open daily and offers visitors a look at its wonderful past and its importants throughout history.

Because of its strategic location it has been the center point of many battles over its long history. Today Namur has gained considerably in importance. The city is now the political capital of Wallonia. Here is the seat of the Walloon government.

THE CITADEL

The history of the city is closely linked with that of its main monument the 'Citadel' (stronghold, fortification). In the 3rd and 4th centuries the Romans built a fortified outlook post on top of the rock to defend the Meuse valley against invasions of Germanic tribes. Later, in the 10th century the Count of Namur replaced it with a wooden tower. Around the tower other buildings were added such as a wall, a water pit, a church and a new and bigger tower. Everything was built with stones. Nothing has remained of these first constructions. Between 1235 and 1245 a new fortress with two walls and four towers was constructed (only 2 towers remain, namely the 'Tour aux Chartes' and the Tour au four'). Other parts and towers of this 13th century fortress still exist as well as later additions from the 14th century.

From 1542 till 1555 Emperor Charles V had 'La Médiane' construced, a citadel that functioned almost as a real city where the soldiers who protected the fortress could live. Later, other fortifications were added to protect the most vulnerable parts around the rock. By the end of the 17th century the surface of the fortress and its side-parts had doubled in size and the Citadel of Namur had became a mighty stronghold and one of the largest fortified constructions in Europe. Only at the beginning of the 19th century large parts of the Citadel were demolished by order of Napoleon Bonaparte. He found that he did not need this fortress anymore since his empire had expanded already far to the East.

Around 1860, the citadel started to be used as a military barracks for divisions of the Belgian army. It again took up its role of military stronghold in 1939-1940 when the underground parts of the citadel were equipped with air-conditioning systems, anti-gas systems and armored doors.

CAPITAL OF THE WALOON REGION

Today's Belgium is a federal state. Each federal partner (Flanders, Brussel Capital Region and Wallonia) has its own government ant parliament. Namur is the capital of the Walloon Region. Most of the political organisations are based here.

Quite close to Brussels, the capital of Europe, serviced by major road, rail and waterway networks, and moreover host to the Walloon capital, the Namur region is also rich with thousands of companies.
The fact that there is no industrial bastion has meant that the region has avoided the downside of inevitable closures and painful restructuring. In the meantime, a network of small and medium-size firms has been woven, mostly operating in the service industry. Gradually, the province has acquired a vocation as a centre for services, business exchange and tourism.

Page Updated Aug 7, 2003
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Comments (4)

cbeaujean Jun 21, 2005 at 10:24 AM Report Abuse

interesting page about the capital city of wallonia,french speaking part of federal belgium!
dsantosh May 12, 2004 at 8:50 PM Report Abuse

Hey, nice work..Good information.
olja1234 Oct 23, 2003 at 10:34 AM Report Abuse

Very, very nice page and travelogue. I like your VT postcards.
irisbe Apr 8, 2003 at 3:50 PM Report Abuse

Very nice t-logues. I agree Namur is a very quiet city but nice to hike through and around.