Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

206  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

8 Namur late­Roman treasures of the
4th–5th centuries, excav ated
A stately university town, a centre of trade and the capital from tombs in various local
of Wallonia, Namur straddles the confluence of the rivers sites. The museum also has a
Sambre and Meuse. The town’s dominant feature is the beautiful 17th­century scale
massive, gaunt Citadelle, mounted on a spur of rock that model of Namur, made for Louis
XIV. In 2018, the collection will
sits on the Grognon, a dagger-shaped spit of land between move to become part of the
the two rivers. The Romans built defences here, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Citadelle has since seen action in just about every war that
has swept across Belgium; the last, World War II, brought E Musée Provincial
widespread damage to the city from air raids. Little remains des Arts Anciens
Rue de Fer 24. Tel (081) 776754.
of the medieval town, the seat of the counts of Namur, but Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun.
its old residential areas are dotted with elegant 17th- and Closed 14–25 Dec. &
18th-century civic buildings and mansions. The suburb to ∑ museedesartsanciens.be
the south of the Meuse, called Jambes, was, until the 15th Home to medieval and
century, ruled separately by the prince-bishops of Liège. Renaissance pieces from
Namur, the Musée Provincial
des Arts Anciens has a remark­
able collection of sculptures,
paintings, altarpieces,
metalwork, armour, stained
glass and embroidery. These
are elegantly displayed in a
fine 18th­century mansion,
the Hôtel de Gaiffier d’Hestroy.
Housed in Musée Provincial
des Arts Anciens, Le Trésor
d’Oignies has exquisite
examples of medieval Mosan (of
the Meuse) silver and gold work,
Namur’s mighty Citadelle rising above the banks of the River Meuse ivory carvings, enamelware,
glass and mitres. The treasury
+ The Citadelle The fortress itself is a sprawling once belonged to the Priory
Route Merveilleuse 64. Tel (081) complex of robust defensive of Oignies in Hainaut, but was
654500. Open 10am–5pm daily. & ramparts, built between the 16th whisked away and hidden
- ∑ citadelle.namur.be and 20th centuries. Its network from the armies of the French
The strategic value of the of underground passages Revolution who destroyed
Champeau hill that rises up inspired Napoleon to call it “the the priory in 1794. The most
from the Grognon has been termite hill of Europe”. There are celebrated pieces are by
recognized since prehistoric various exhibits, activities and the 13th­century monk,
times. Julius Caesar is said to have audiovisual presentations, plus Hugo d’Oignies, and include
laid siege to this rock to oust the a little train that ferries visitors bejewelled reliquaries, crosses
Aduatuci Gauls. It has since been about. Also on the hill, close to and ecclesiastical book covers.
fortified and embattled on the 17th­century Fort d’Orange,
numerous occasions, most is a small amuse ment park for
significantly in 1692, when it was children called the Parc
seized by the army of French d’Attractions Reine­Fabiola.
monarch Louis XIV. Louis’s great
military engineer, Marquis de E Musée Archéologique
Vauban, then set his stamp on de Namur
the fortress with his signature Rue du Pont 21. Tel (081) 231631.
triangular bastions, but it was Open 10am–5pm Tue–Fri,
retaken by William III of Orange 10:30am–5pm Sat & Sun. & -
three years later. The Citadelle The impressive 16th­century
saw action right up to the end Halle al’Chair (Meat Hall) is
of World War II, and was only fully home to a remarkable
demilitarized in 1977. collection of prehistoric,
The winding road leading up to Gallo­Roman and Merovingian
the top of the Citadelle is called artifacts such as statues, pottery,
Route Merveilleuse. On the south mosaics, jewellery, glassware
side, it offers panoramic views and weapons. The most Modern galleries at the Musée Provincial
over the Sambre and Meuse. celebrated exhibits are the des Arts Anciens
For hotels and restaurants see p269 and pp289–90

206-207_EW_Belgium.indd 206 18/10/16 3:02 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm