Namur Attractions

On one side of the Rue du Bruxelles the Rue d'Angle and the Rue de Fer continue. From here there is a turn to the right to the Baroque Church of Saint-Loup, architecturally the most interesting church in Namur because of its stucco facade with 12 Doric pillars. Peter Huyssens designed the plans for the church which was built in 1621-1645; the College of Jesuits which now serves as a grammar school is richly furnished.

The Recrealle recreation center in Alle-sur-Semois has a wide variety of activities for all ages. On the site can be found volleyball, basketball, bathing, paths for nature walks and canoeing opportunities. There is also a children's playground and mini-golf.

To the rear of the Bourse rises the bell-tower, the foundations of which are a remnant of the Tour Saint-Jacques which was part of the second city wall in the 14th C.

The tower is a UNESCO site.

Below the citadel on the left bank of the Meuse extends the oldest part of the town, of which, however, very little has remained.

A short way from the archeological museum is the Place d'Armes, the busiest square in the town, the north side of which includes the former exchange.

Near the King Albert monument is the Hospice Saint-Gilles (16/17th C.), now the the seat of the Walloon Parliament.

The chapel, once contained the interesting tomb of the sculptor Colard Jacoris of 1395. it is now found in the Citadel.

The Jambes festival combines folk music, singing and dancing in a three-day festival held every year in mid-August.

Downstream from the Hospice Saint-Gilles, the Pont de Jambes (restored after war damage) links Namur with the suburb of Jambes. Still further to the south in the Avenue Baron de Moareau can be found the gardens called La Plante.

The Marcinelle Festival takes place every July and includes dancing, music and folk singing.

At the confluence of the Sambre and the Meuse, on a spit of land called Pointe de Grognon, stands an equestrian monument to King Albert (1955).

This grotto is located at Mozet-Goyet, 10km/6miles east of Namur and has prehistoric finds and sinter formations.

To the northeast just outside the inner city is the Musée africain which exhibits artistic objects of art and everyday life from the former Belgian colony of the Congo.

Leaving the Musée de Croix turn right into the Rue des Brasseurs and immediately into a narrow street to the Musée Felicien Rops. Rops (1833-1898), who was born in Namur, worked as a illustrator of literary and political books which had a satirical element. He was notorious as his works consisted, in the opinion of many of his contemporaries, of pure pornography. A selection can be seen in the museum.

This scenic rail trip features beautiful farm and river scenery.

A 5th century abbey founded by Gérard de Brogne.

A cemetery is here with 178 German and 446 French soldiers killed in action (WWI).

Wallonia Festival in Namur is a cultural and folklore event with processions and markets; fireworks and Chinese lantern balls in the evening.