13 Facts About Namur

Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium.

Namur came to prominence during the early Middle Ages when the Merovingians built a castle or citadel on the rocky spur overlooking the town at the confluence of the two rivers.

In 1262, Namur fell into the hands of the Count of Flanders, and was purchased by Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1421.

Belgium broke away from the Netherlands in 1830 following the Belgian Revolution, and Namur continued to be a major garrison town under the new government.

Namur was a major target of the German invasion of Belgium in 1914, which sought to use the Meuse valley as a route into France.

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Namur fared little better in World War II; it was in the front lines of both the Battle of the Ardennes in 1940 and the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

Namur continued to host the Belgian Army's paratroopers until their departure in 1977.

Namur is an important commercial and industrial centre, located on the Walloon industrial backbone, the Sambre and Meuse valley.

Namur has taken on a new role as the capital of the federal region of Wallonia.

Namur has a distinctive 18th-century cathedral dedicated to Saint Aubain and a belfry classified by UNESCO as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France which are listed as a World Heritage Site.

Namur possesses a distinguished university, the University of Namur, founded in 1831.

Since 1986 Namur has been home to the Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film.

Sights near Namur include Maredsous Abbey, Floreffe Abbey, and Annevoie Castle with its surrounding Jardins d'Annevoie.