| Namur is the capital of Wallonia, the French | | | | in the southern part of the left bank of the |
| speaking southern part of Belgium. It is also | | | | Meuse. Namur is also quite famous for the |
| the most important town in the province of | | | | beer festival at Easter. If you are visiting |
| Namur. This place of historic interest is | | | | Namur in September, you can watch a peculiar |
| situated 60 km south-east of Brussels, | | | | Namurois custom called the Combat de |
| Belgium's capital city. | | | | l'Echasse d'Or (Fight for the Golden Stilt). |
| | | | Held annually on the third Sunday in |
| Over the past hundreds of years, Namur has | | | | September, you can witness two teams known as |
| acquired the status of being one of the most | | | | the Avresses and the Mélans, dressing up |
| strategic places in Belgium because of its | | | | in traditional outfits while standing on |
| geographical location. Namur dwells at the | | | | stilts and performing a battle-skit in one of |
| confluence of the Sambre River and the Meuse | | | | the town's main areas. |
| River which are the two major waterways. The | | | | |
| very fact that the town is located at the | | | | The place is famous for churches and |
| union of these two rivers bears a lot in | | | | cathedrals, prominent among being them being |
| terms of historical and military | | | | the St. Albans Cathedral. You can walk |
| significance. | | | | through the narrow streets of Namur and visit |
| | | | some of the interesting museums Namur has to |
| The foundation of Namur goes back to the age | | | | offer. If you have less time, then you can |
| old Roman era. Namur played a major role due | | | | visit Trésor d'Hugo d'Oignies at the Jue |
| to its strategic location and the place | | | | Billiart Street 17. You can witness some |
| witnessed a lot of wars and subsequent | | | | beautiful gold and silver artifacts and |
| destruction of monuments and buildings right | | | | reliquaries belonging to the early 13th |
| from Roman aggression through the Second | | | | century. |
| World War. The city has undergone a lot of | | | | |
| makeover with changing times. You may not | | | | One should visit the historical places of |
| find a lot of archaeological remains or | | | | interest including the demilitarized Citadel. |
| artifacts because most of them have been | | | | Here you can visit the Guy Delforge |
| destroyed in historical conquests. However | | | | Parfumerie. The workshop open to public |
| the city is rich enough to offer the visitor | | | | participation shows you the step by step |
| a lot of pleasant diversions which may leave | | | | process involved in producing some of the |
| him or her asking for more. | | | | best perfumes in the world. |
| | | | |
| The city has a population of more than | | | | Food and Drink: |
| 100,000. The terrain is largely hilly and | | | | |
| agricultural. You will find a lot of | | | | Namur is famous for food which has a mixture |
| extensive granite, marble and limestone | | | | of German quantity and French quality. People |
| quarries here. Also found are glass and | | | | in Belgium follow a strict etiquette when it |
| cutlery factories. A resort industry is | | | | comes to food and drinks. The local dishes in |
| steadily taking shape along the southern | | | | Namur are palatable to say the least. Meat |
| stretch of the Meuse. | | | | and red wine are the favourites here and |
| | | | Burgundy sells like, well chilled beer. |
| French is vastly spoken widely and mostly no | | | | |
| one but a true Belgian may be able to discern | | | | Flamiche is another favorite. The rich chest |
| the difference between the Belgian and French | | | | flamiche cooked over a wood fire is relished |
| accents here. Namur is a beautiful locale | | | | with a lot of interest here. So much is the |
| replete with hotels and restaurants that | | | | public love for flamiche that there is a |
| promise to keep visitors mesmerized and | | | | flamiche festival which is held every |
| natives proud. | | | | September in Dinant, a town near Namur. The |
| | | | flamiche is complimented well with the drink |
| Places of interest: | | | | amber ale. The flamiche-amber ale combination |
| | | | is akin to the pizza-wine combination that |
| The greatest monument and the proud landmark | | | | you have in the US. People in Namur also love |
| of Namur is the Citadel. The place echoes | | | | their beer and there are some who like to |
| with historical significance. It served as a | | | | have beer along with the flamiche instead of |
| strategic fortress and was witness to many | | | | the amber ale. The prominent beer names are |
| aggressions, sieges and numerous wars. The | | | | Sara (bittersweet in taste) and Joseph |
| Citadel also underwent many reconstructions | | | | (fruity to taste). |
| in the course of time. You cannot afford to | | | | |
| miss out on this beautiful piece of history | | | | Among meat, venison, Ardennes sausage, smoked |
| in Namur. The Citadel is open through out the | | | | ham, veal, pork and the famous Ardennes |
| day for visitors to partake in the rich past | | | | paté is favored. The health conscious |
| of the historic wonder. | | | | folks of Wallonia and Namur are quite |
| | | | particular about their salads. In fact, the |
| The Meat Hall is another monument which can | | | | salade liégeoise, rich with warm bacon |
| hold visitor interest. Built on the banks of | | | | pieces and green beans, is predominantly |
| the Sambre, it is one of the most significant | | | | indulged in throughout the region. The |
| archaeological museums of Wallonia. | | | | dessert consists of tarts topped with rhubarb |
| Constructed in the later half of the | | | | or sugar. |
| sixteenth century, the structure made of blue | | | | |
| stones and brick is another irresistible | | | | Hotel and accommodation: |
| attraction. | | | | |
| | | | Best Western New Hotel De Lives * * * - Namur |
| Namur's only belfry tower (bell tower) is the | | | | - Belgium |
| St. James tower built in the later half of | | | | |
| the fourteenth century. Situated on the Place | | | | Hôtel Beauregard |
| des Armes, the tower overlooks the city and | | | | |
| was used quite strategically in the olden | | | | Entertainment: |
| times to look out for any kind of impending | | | | |
| attack on the province. The St. Alban's | | | | Namur has plenty of restaurants, cafes and |
| Cathedral with its Italian influence is | | | | boutiques. It is a shopping haven for books, |
| another traffic stopper. | | | | stationery, CDs and DVDs. There are two |
| | | | popular cinema halls the Cameo in Rue de |
| Things to do: | | | | Carmes and the Elderado in Rue de Fer. The |
| | | | former can be accessed when you take a two |
| Besides being a popular tourist center with | | | | minute walk down the narrow street from the |
| an attractive landscape, Namur has a casino | | | | Elderado through the shopping arcade. |