Best Tourist Places to Visit in Namur, Belgium
Belgium

Visit The Top 20 Tourist Attractions and Things to Do in Namur, Belgium

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Namur is a city in the Wallonia region of Belgium. The city sits at the confluence of rivers Sambre and Meuse. It is known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. The majority of the best things to do in Namur, Belgium revolves around exploring medieval castles and pre-historic archeological sites.

The city is home to some of the best-preserved medieval castles in Belgium. The largest among these is the Citadel. This magnificent defensive structure is one of the best places to visit in Namur. It sits atop the hill overlooking the city like a guardian.

Besides the Citadel, Namur tourist attractions also include several other forts, defensive walls, towers, chateaus, palaces, and more. You can have an entire day of Namur sightseeing just by exploring these historical structures. The majority of these military structures and royal residences were built during the Middle Ages and onwards. But, many of these Namur attractions were built on Roman military structures.

Owing to its place as a major trading settlement, the city boasted a lot of wealth. But it was also often attacked. Hence, these defensive structures played a major role in the city’s survival and evolution.

The wealth also contributed to the construction of beautiful public buildings, squares, parks, gardens, and churches. The cathedrals are especially some of the wonderful things to see in Namur. The exteriors feature a variety of architectural styles decorated with sculptures and intricate carvings. While the interiors feature an even more opulent scene adorned with incredible artwork and treasures.

Aside from history, pre-history is also an important part of Namur travel. The city is surrounded by caves that were once walked by our ancestors. These caves are important archeological sites showing evidence of early human activity dating beyond 36,000 BCE. You can also explore these caves when you visit Namur to see skeletons of several pre-historic animals including mammoth and wooly rhinoceros.

Your trip to Namur will have you tour through several ages of human history exploring culture, art, architecture, traditions, warfare, and more.

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Top 20 Tourist Places to Visit in Namur, Belgium

1. Terra Nova

This museum is held in 17th-century barracks in the Citadel. The collection includes several artifacts from different periods of history. These are some of the interesting places to visit in Namur, Belgium.

Exploring this museum first helps you better understand the history and architecture of the Citadel as well as the town.

You can also take a guided tour of the tunnels underneath the fortress. This also includes a toy train ride, one of the best things to do in Namur, Belgium. You will be touring through various stages of the Citadel’s development.

It takes about 2 hours to tour the museum and the underground tunnels.

Terra Nova

2. Citadel of Namur

The Citadel sits atop a hill close to the convergence of rivers Sambre and Meuse. It is an incredible structure, one of the most magnificent things to see in Namur, Belgium.

The citadel dates back to 937. However, the current structure was built between 1631 and 1675. You can also explore the older part of the fortification which was built in 1542.

It is only when you tour the Citadel that you can admire the size and scale of the fortification. The tour tells you about the defensive structure and its military purpose. You will need at least an hour to explore the entire Citadel.

Citadel of Namur

3. Musée Provincial Félicien Rops

This museum is dedicated to renowned artist Felician Rops. He is considered the pioneer of comics in Belgium. The museum exhibits artifacts from his life as well as his artworks.

It is one of the most interesting Namur attractions. Rops is known for his bold themes revolving around dark, erotic, and satanic subjects. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this museum.

Musée Provincial Félicien Rops

4. Belfry of Namur

Also known as the St. Jacob’s Tower, this structure was first built in 1388 and used to be a part of the city’s defensive wall. In 1746, it was turned into a Belfry. It is one of the most important historical Namur tourist attractions.

The tower played an important role in the defensive and civil history of the town. You will need about half an hour or so to explore this historical monument.

Belfry of Namur

5. Pont de Jambes

This bridge connects Jambes and the foot of the citadel. The bridge was rebuilt several times over the years. Its history dates back to the 2nd century BCE. It was also a part of the city’s defenses and used to hold cannons at one point. Take a few minutes from Namur sightseeing to admire the role this bridge played in the history of the town.

Pont de Jambes

6. Halle al’Chair Archaeology Museum

This museum is housed in a wonderful Mosan Renaissance building that dates back to the 16th century. Inside the building is the museum that traces the history of the town. It is one of the first places to visit in Namur as it puts the rest of the trip into perspective.

You will learn about the evolution of the town over the ages. You will learn about the culture, wars, events, people, and more. You will need an hour to tour this museum when you visit Namur, Belgium.

Halle al'Chair Archaeology Museum

7. St Aubin’s Cathedral

This cathedral is unlike any other building in the town. Designed in the Late Baroque style, the church’s architecture is one of the most wonderful things to see in Namur, Belgium.

The church was built in 1559 and was the only cathedral built in the Low Countries. The interior of the church is also beautiful. It is decorated with ornate carvings and amazing artwork. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Namur travel to explore this church.

St Aubin's Cathedral

8. Musée Africain de Namur

This museum exhibits several artifacts that were brought from the European colonization of Africa. The collection showcases various aspects of the African culture. The majority of them hail from Congolese culture.

It is one of the most interesting Namur tourist attractions. Alongside African culture, the museum also sheds light on the dark side of colonization including wars and slave trade. You will need an hour or so to tour this museum when you visit Namur in Belgium.

Musée Africain de Namur

9. Fort de Malonne

This fort was built in the 19th century and is one of the nine forts that were built for the city’s protection during that period. The fort lies mostly in ruins but is still a fascinating Namur tourist attraction owing to the history of the stones.

The fort was once a thriving military establishment that saw many battles. It was also bombarded by German artillery in 1914.

Learn about these stories through the scars in the stone. You will need about an hour from Namur travel to tour this fort.

Fort de Malonne

10. Spy Cave

This cave was not actually used by spies, it’s just located in the municipality named Spy. This cave has great archeological significance. It is one of the most important Paleolithic sites in Europe.

The cave has evidence of human activity dating 36,000 BCE and beyond. It is one of the most fascinating things to do in Namur in Belgium. The cave also had skeletons of various animals such as horses, hyenas, cave bears, reindeer, mammoths, and wooly rhinoceros.

The site is about 20 to 30 minutes away from the city. So you will need to take 2 hours from Namur sightseeing to explore the cave and historical treasures within.

Spy Cave

11. Château de Corroy-le-Château

This castle was built during the early 1200s. It is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the country. It is located about 30 minutes drive away from the town and is one of the most interesting places to visit near Namur in Belgium.

It looks exactly as you would imagine a medieval castle to be. A strong stone structure with a moat around it. There is a bridge that takes you inside the castle. The tour shows you how the castle was built and the history of the people that lived here. You will need about 2 hours to make a trip to explore this attraction near Namur.

Château de Corroy-le-Château

12. TreM.a – Musée des Arts anciens

The Museum of Ancient Arts of Namurois focuses on the artworks created between the 12th and 16th centuries. Although it also houses many historical artifacts as well.

The museum specifically focuses on the arts of Namur and Burgundian Netherlands. It is one of the best Namur attractions to understand regional history and culture. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

TreM.a - Musée des Arts anciens

13. Cable Car Ride

The cable car ride takes you to the top of the Citadel. It is a ride between two historical sites. The ride begins in the historical square Place Maurice Servais and culminates with the Citadel.

It is one of the top things to do in Namur, Belgium. You get an amazing view of the historical old town and the site of the confluence of two rivers. You will need an hour for this journey.

Cable Car Namur

14. Rue de Fer

This street in the old town is one of the best routes to pick for Namur sightseeing. You will be surrounded on both sides by historical buildings. You will see a variety of architectural styles including Baroque and Renaissance.

The street is also popular for shopping and dining. It is one of the best places to visit in Namur to shop for souvenirs. You can buy traditional items, high-end fashion, food products, local goods, and more. Rue de Fer also has fine cafes and restaurants. You can easily spend an hour or so strolling this street.

Rue de Fer

15. Spontin Castle (Château de Spontin)

This is yet another moated castle that you can visit during Namur travel. It was first built in the 12th century and then was expanded in the 14th, 16th, and 19th centuries.

Hence it shows a blend of different architectural sites hailing from different periods. It sits about 20 minutes away from the city, so you need at least 2 hours to make a trip to explore this castle.

Château de Spontin

16. Sambre River Cruise

The river cruise takes you through rivers Meuse and Sambre. You can take a regular ferry or a guided boat tour. This cruise ride shows you riverside Namur tourist attractions. The tours are usually an hour long and the guide gives you great insights about the city and its history.

Sambre River Cruise

17. Church of Saint Loup (Église catholique Saint-Loup)

This Baroque-style church was built during the 1600s. It is known for its beautiful architecture, especially the Stucco facade. The facade stands on 12 Doric pillars.

It also has beautiful ornate decor featuring paintings, sculptures, frescoes, stone carvings, carved furniture, and more. The interior is one of the most ornate Namur attractions and you need about 30 minutes to tour the church.

Church of Saint Loup

18. Strawberry Museum (Musée de la Fraise)

This museum is housed in a villa on the banks of River Meuse and is dedicated to Strawberries. It’s a fun museum that sheds light on the properties of the fruit and how it is cultivated in the region. You can also buy a variety of food and handicraft products made from strawberries. It is one of the most interesting museums to explore when you visit Namur.

Strawberry Museum

19. Place d’Armes

This public square is known for exhibiting Belgian humour in the form of statues. These are the most intriguing things to see in Namur, Belgium. The statues depict popular cartoon characters Francwes and Djoseph with two snails.

It is supposed to be a satire on the pace of life in the city. This is one of the most photographed attractions in Namur and you can take a few minutes during Namur sightseeing to click one yourself.

Place d’Armes

20. Maredsous Abbey (Abbaye de Maredsous)

This Benedictine monastery is known for the famous Maredsous Beer. This famous beverage was once brewed in the monastery. It is a riveting place to visit near Namur, Belgium for those interested in historic breweries.

The monastery does not brew the beer anymore, but you can tour the place to see how it was historically made. You can also see how the monks make their unique brand of cheese.

People can also sample the cheese and buy it from the monastery. You need an hour from Namur travel to tour this monastery.

Maredsous Abbey

If you are looking for more things to see in Namur, check out the sections below. We have compiled a complete list of attractions and activities to enjoy in the city and around it.

Things to do in Namur, Belgium

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Namur, Belgium

  1. Citadel of Namur
  2. Museo provincial Felician Rops
  3. TreM.a – Museo de Arte Antiguo
  4. Eglise Catholique Saint – Loup
  5. Namur Cathedral
  6. Crupet Castle
  7. Castle of Corroy le Chateau
  8. Bioul Castle
  9. Scladina Cave
  10. Abbaye Notre Dame du Vivier
  11. Strawberry Museum
  12. Spy Cave
  13. Museum of Decorative Arts of Namur
  14. Annevoie Castle
  15. Goyet Cave
  16. NAM-IP Computer Museum
  17. Fort St. Heribert
  18. Musee African de Namur
  19. Terra Nova
  20. Musee Diocesain – Tresor de la Cathedrale
  21. Galerie du Beffroi
  22. Castle of Fernelmont
  23. Le Chateau de Faulx les Tomes
  24. Belfry of Namur
  25. Chateau de Goyet
  26. Le Pavillion
  27. Chateau de Haltinne
  28. Fort d’Emines
  29. Les Bateliers Musee Archeologique de Namur
  30. Siegneurie d’Anhaive
  31. Grotte de Floreffe
  32. Musee Archeologique de la Haute Meuse
  33. Chateau de Dave
  34. Samson Fortress
  35. Fort d’Andoy
  36. Chateau de Courriere
  37. Ciudadela de Namur
  38. Fort de Marchovelette
  39. Regare sur Fosses la Ville
  40. Chateau de Flawinne
  41. Domaine de Mielmont
  42. Fort de Maizeret
  43. Fort de Suarlee
  44. Gery Art Gallery
  45. Grotte Saint Antoine de Padoue
  46. Mont Sainte Marie
  47. Le Delta
  48. Societe Archeologique de Namur
  49. Chateau de Bonneville
  50. Belfry of Gembloux
  51. Chateau Marteau Longe
  52. Les Anciens Moulins de Beez
  53. Falnuee Castle
  54. Chateau de Balatre
  55. Abbaye d’Argenton

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Namur, Belgium

  1. Bocq river
  2. Reserve Naturelle de Sclaigneaux
  3. Escaile Nature Reserve

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Namur, Belgium

  1. Les Jardins d’Annevoie
  2. Circus Casino Resort
  3. Parc Attractif Reine Fabiola
  4. Federations des Parcs Naturels de Wallonie
  5. Parc Louise Marie
  6. Isla de Yvoir
  7. Xtreme Fun Park
  8. Le NID
  9. Isla de Dave
  10. Jardin des Petits Fruits
  11. Hotel de Gaiffier d’Hestroy
  12. Isla Vas T’y Frotte

Shopping in Namur, Belgium

  1. Rue de Fer
  2. INNO Namur
  3. Galeries Saint Joseph
  4. C&A Mall

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Namur, Belgium

  1. Hiking
  2. Boat Cruise
  3. Cave Exploration

Sightseeing in Namur, Belgium

  1. Puente de Jambes
  2. Djoseph & Francwes Sculpture
  3. Esplanade de la Citadelle
  4. Passerelle I’Enjambee
  5. Point de Vue de la Couleuvrine
  6. Pont des Ardennes

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Namur, Belgium

  1. Brasserie Francois
  2. Le Ponti 2
  3. L’essentiel
  4. Les Sens du Gout
  5. L’air du Temps
  6. Michel
  7. Le Plage d’Amee
  8. Limoni
  9. Le Grill des Tanneurs
  10. Farfalle
  11. L’Espieglerie
  12. Cavo
  13. Le D’Arville
  14. Chateau de Namur
  15. Attablez Vous
  16. San Marino
  17. Le Patanthrope
  18. Le Roma
  19. Brasserie Edgard
  20. La Cantina
  21. Chez Chen Wepion
  22. Parfums de Cuisine
  23. Mykonos
  24. Bistro Belgo Belge
  25. Les Mimosas
  26. L’Huile Sur le Fue
  27. Le Val 9
  28. Le Brasserie du Quai

Where to Stay in Namur?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Namur. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Namur.

  1. NE5T Hotel & Spa
  2. Chateau de Namur
  3. Mercure Namur Hotel
  4. The Royal Snail Hotel
  5. Hotel Ibis Namur Centre
  6. Les tanneurs de Namur
  7. Grand Hotel de Flandre
  8. Hotel Villa Gracia
  9. La Bergerie de Lives
  10. B&B HOTEL Namur

TripAdvisor

Custom Tours Package in Namur

How to Reach Namur, Belgium?

By Air

Charleroi Airport is the closest one to Namur. It sits about 30 km away from the town. Although Brussels airport is far away either. It is 60 km away. Both of these towns have direct train connectivity to reach Namur. You can also get buses and rental cars from these airports to visit Namur.

By Road

You can get to Namur from several cities and towns in Belgium by train. Some of the important destinations include Brussels, Charleroi, Liege, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Goes, and so on. The bus network is even more widespread. However, if you are traveling from a significant distance, trains are far more convenient.

If you are planning for Namur travel by road, you should head for routes E411 or E42. These two routes intersect at the north edge of Namur.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to reach Namur.

Image Reference

Mustafa Natalwala

Mustafa is a content writer and digital marketing expert at WideWorldTrips.com His mainly interests are into travelling, photography, film-making

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