Namur - Citadelle

There are several ways of reaching the citadel hill: by cable-way; by bus from the station; by car along the Route Merveilleuse, over the steep bank of the Meuse or along the Route Panoramas through the citadel park; on foot on one of the paths along the bank of the Sambre, also through the park. The entrance to the citadel is situated opposite the horseshoe-shaped stadium.

A fine tourist trail leads through the citadel complex and this includes the subterranean passages. From the barracks a light railroad covers the major attractions; there is also a film about the history of the fortress.

The citadel can be clearly divided into four sections. Nearest the entrance is the "ouvrage à cornes" (earthworks in the shape of horns) and the powder magazine built by the Dutch.

The path leads down to the Dutch barracks (which can also be reached along the subterranean "Galéries Boufflers"), the central point of the section called "terra nova", the "New Fortress" built by Vauban and Coehoorn.

Below the barracks the bridge, from which there is an impressive view of the town, leads across a deep ditch and links the "terra nova" with the section of the fortress called "Médiane" dating from the 16th C.

From here the visitor can look down onto the bend of the Route Merveilleuse around the "donjon" (the site of the medieval castle). Only the detached Tour Joyeuse and two other towers (in one of which a military museum is housed) have remained from the fortress. A good view of the town can be enjoyed from a little platform near a halt on the way down from the citadel.

The forestry museum is devoted to the flora and fauna of the Ardennes forest; its principal attraction is a very fine large diorama with animals of the forest and a comprehensive collection of insects.

From the top of the citadel hill extends the 65ha/160 acres wooded Parc de la Citadelle, a favorite rendezvous for the inhabitants of Namur at weekends. The attractions include the "Reine Fabiola" nature park and the Fort d'Orange, built in 1691 to protect the "terra nova". There are sports events in the stadium and performances in the open-air theater.