The Thalys bullet-train links Namur to Paris with an average travel time of two and a half hours. To access Namur, Eurostar trains also runbetween Brussels around 10 times a day then passengers can change onto domestic lines on to Namur. Its central position makes it easily accesible by either car or train, because it is at the junction of the North-South axis of the E411 and N4 motorways from Luxembourg (2 hours away) to Brussels (50 minutes away) and the E42 from Lille and Charleroi to Liege (50 minutes away) and Aachen.
Eurostar
travellers between Ebbsfleet International and Namur have average journey times of 3 hours, 25 minutes; the route passes through Lille and Brussels. Highspeed rail is popular when reaching Belgium, because domestic rail links are so well-developed that visitors can reach any Belgian city. The best time to visit is late spring.
Namur is the new capital of the Province of Namur, in the Wallonia region of Belgium. It is often described by the Belgians as a bourgeois town because it is not a former coal mining area like Charleroi or Liege, but also due to its scenic location at the confluence of the Rivers Meuse and Sambre, and its 17th and 18th-century architecture. It is a commercial and industrial centre, a rail junction, and its location in the Ardennes has made it a popular tourist centre. Namur’s industries include machinery, leather and porcelain.
The city was originally a Merovingian fortress which later came under the rule of the count of Namur. This county was overwhelmed by the counts of Flanders in 1262 and later, in 1421, was purchased by Philip the Good of Burgundy. Namur was often besieged because of its strategic location, and has history of both French and Spanish occupation. It was occupied by the French in 1692 after the War of the Grand Alliance, but was reclaimed by the Dutch in 1695; later it was garrisoned by the Netherlands under the first Barrier Treaty in 1709. It served as a Belgian defence during World War I.
Namur is twinned with:
Québec City, Canada
Subotica
Bourg-en-Bresse
Ōgaki, Japan
Belmont, California
Lafayette, Louisiana
Empoli, Toscana
Points of Interest
Citadelle
The huge stone citadel fortress is the site of the oldest permanent settlement in the Benelux, the Celtic Oppidum Aduatucorum and a Roman stronghold against Germanic invasions. It is still the most extensive construction in Belgium. It is 7km in circumference and has an underground network of several passages several kilometres long. It was named 'La Médiane’ after Emperor Charles V of Habsburg had a complete citadel built between 1542 and 1555, and was intended as a self-sufficient fortification in wartime. The citadel is home to the Guy Delforge Perfumery, which has workshops open to the public that allow visitors to view the perfume production process.
Musée des Arts Anciens du Namurois
The museum is housed in the 17th/18th century patrician residence, Hôtel de Gaiffier d'Hestroy. It displays medieval and Renaissance pieces from Namur, especially goldsmiths' work, sculptures, copper utensils and ivory pieces, also four works by the painter Henri Blès (1510-1550).
Musée Félicien Rops
This museum displays collections by the Belgian artist 'Felicien Rops', born in Namur. The museum is not far from Rops’ birthplace, and explains many of his techniques. Visitors are advised to spend at least an hour in the museum.
Trésor du Prieuré d'Oignies
The Treasury of the Oignies Priory is kept in the Convent of the Sisters of Our Lady (Couvent des Soeurs de Notre-Dame) in the center of town. The valuable artefacts (including jewel-studded crosses, chalices, reliquaries, and other creations are decorated with forest motifs and hunting scenes) are the work of Brother Hugo of Oignies, a 13th century goldsmith.
St Aubin's Cathedral
The cathedral is the only example in Belgium of the academic Late Baroque style; it was built to designs of the Ticinese architect Gaetano Matteo Pisoni and is the only church built in the Low Countries as a cathedral since 1559. It is classified as a Wallonia's Major Heritage by the Region. It is not brightly-coloured because the main focus is on the architecture and bas-reliefs in the the dome. A former Romanesque church tower that stood on the site can still be seen. Attractions include the heart of Don Juan of Austria in a casket near the high altar.
Les Jardins d'Annevoie
The ornamental gardens and fountains and the 18th-century château, Annevoie, (28km/17 miles) south of Namur) is sometimes called the "Belgian Versailles". The grounds were established in the in 18th century by the de Montpellier family and are still maintained by the family’s descendants. The fountains, waterfalls, lagoons and canals are all engineered without artificial power; the château’s architectural features include woodwork, stuccos, fireplaces, and family chapel. There is a gift store, restaurant and rustic café.
Attractions
The annual Combat de l'Échasse d'Or (Fight for the Golden Stilt)- the Mélan and the Avresse teams dress in medieval clothes on stilts and battle in one of the principal squares.
The Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix ( University of Namur), founded in 1831.
Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film.
The International Competition for Young Violinists.
Materne-Confilux world-famous jam and compôte in the suburb of Floreffe since 1880.
Tresor du Prieure d'Oignies city tour
Shopping in Namur Rue de Fer Rue de l'Ange The Inno department store, located between Rue de l'Ange and Place d'Armes. Rue de Bruxelles The Old Town for boutiques. Market for Regional Products in front of the Municipal Hall.
Nightlife Restaurants and cafés: Villa Stromboli, San Marino, Au Jardin d'Italia, La Perle Blanche (Italian), Chez Chen, Asia Garden (Chinese), L'Espieglerie, Alain Dewulf, La Petite Fugue, Fenêtre sur Cour, Cuisinemoi, La Plage d'Amée, Le Darville, Aux Trois Petits Cochons (French), Pancho Villa (Mexican), Recto Verso, Le Patanthrope (European), L'Orient (Moroccan), La Charbonnade (Southwestern), Le Chemin du Cedre (Lebanese). Casinos: Casino de Namur with Casino Club restaurant. Cinemas: The Eldorado in Rue de Fer (between the old town and Namur Railway Station), and Acinapolis at the end of Avenue Materne in Jambes.
Les fêtes de Wallonie- the city is closed to vehicles for 3 days in September of drinking and partying in the streets. It symbolises the city’s spirit of conviviality and ends with fireworks displays above the citadel.
Alpes Vaudoises
Alpes Vaudoises is a beautiful tourist attraction with 74 lifts and 220km of downhill pistes, it has a 6 seater chair lift and takes 2000 people each hour.... Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland
Andermatt
Andermatt has two mountains the highest being 2344m with a 4 seater chair lift and the other with a height of 1842m with a 2 seater chair lift. Andermatt has an excellent selection of accommodation with a total of 19 hotels, many of the hotels have fitness facility''s, with ice skating, curling and hiking.... Andermatt, Switzerland
Arosa
Arosa has skiing covering 70km of marked pistes served by 16 lifts. There is a Swiss Snow Walking Event in January designed as a keep fit regime.... Arosa, Switzerland
Crans-Montana
Crans-Montana is a sophisticated resort, located above the Rhone Valley. There are 160km of pistes and 50 runs covering the mountain slopes.... Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Davos
Davos has 307km of skiing with 62 lifts including 2 mountain railways, 10 cable cars, 8 chair lifts and 31 drag lifts.... Davos, Switzerland
Engelberg
Engelberg has a 12km long run, it is dominated by Mount Titlis at 3200m yet has been largely un-discovered by British enthusiasts.... Engelberg, Switzerland
Fiesch (Aletsch)
Fiesch has a cable car and chair lifts up towards Eisenlucke at 2722m. The Aletsch ski region with 100km of downhill slopes and served by 33 lifts.... Fiesch, Switzerland
Flims-Laax
Flims-Laax Flaera ski resort has 220km of well kept slopes to suit every skier, 70 percent of the slopes are freshly prepared each day. There are 91 restaurants and 3 clubs.... Flims-Laax, Switzerland
Grindelwald
Grindelwald has 44 lifts with links to Oberjoch and Mannlichen and ample snow throughout the season.... Grindelwald, Switzerland
Gstaad
Gstaad has 250km of ski runs in the region, the longest being 17km and snowboarders are catered for with big quarter-pipe, big table jump, freeriding... Gstaad, Switzerland
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