NAMUR CITADEL

THE NAMUR CITADEL IS LOCATED SOUTH OF BRUSSELS.  BUILT ON A HIGH CLIFF WHERE THE RIVERS MEUSE AND SAMBRA MEET.  A CASTLE WAS ON THIS SPOT BETWEEN THE 10TH AND 15TH CENTURIES.   VERY LITTLE REMAINS FROM THIS MEDIEVAL PERIOD ALTHOUGH SOME ELEMENTS CAN STILL BE SEEN SUCH AS THE GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE CASTLE, THREE OF ITS TOWERS AND PART OF THE FOUNDATIONS.  IT WAS SOLD TO THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY IN 1421.  NOW THEY HAVE ONGOING FESTIVALS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN WEEKEND.  YOU CAN ALSO ENJOY A LUNCH OR COFFEE ON THEIR PATIO OVERLOOKING THE RIVER.  

THIS FIRST PHOTO I TOOK OFF THE INTERNET.  I WANTED TO POST A PICTURE OF THE FORTRESS FROM THE CITY BECAUSE IT REALLY IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.  I WAS AMAZED AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE PLACE.

  

NAMUR, BELGIUM

YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF HOW BIG THIS MOATED AREA IS WHEN YOU LOCATE THE HIKER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.   THIS GUY HIKED UP AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THESE HILLS ABOUT 10 TIMES.   MUST BE A REGULAR EXERCISE ROUTINE.   I WAS EXHAUSTED JUST WATCHING HIM!

YOU CAN SEE THE BATTLE SCARS OF LONG AGO.   A HUGE BATTLE TOOK PLACE HERE IN 1695 WHEN THE SPANISH NETHERLANDS WERE ABLE TO WIN BACK THE CITY FROM THE FRENCH WHO TOOK IT IN 1692. 

THESE GUYS WERE TIED TO A ROPE BUT IT STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN A PAINFUL FALL IF THEY SLIPPED.   THEY MUST HAVE DRAWN THE SHORT STRAW.

WITH THE RIVERS BELOW IN THE DISTANCE THIS  IS THE PERFECT SPOT FOR ONE OF THE HEAVY DUTY CANNONS TO PROTECT NAMUR

JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE FORT, ON THE WAY BACK HOME, I CAME ACROSS THIS LITTLE CHURCH.  LOOKS LIKE  IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME RENOVATIONS.   EXCEPT FOR A POSTCARD FROM THE 1930s FOR SALE ON EBAY, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE ANY INFORMATION ON THE LITTLE CHAPEL.