Citadel of Namur

The citadel is the must-see attraction when exploring Namur and Belgium more broadly. People come here to stroll, dine, attend events, or even join a guided tour. The range of activities available today is impressive, but they’re very different from the fortress’s original purpose. To understand that, let’s go back to the 10th century, when the citadel’s story began. At that time, Namur was little more than a village, gradually growing thanks to the booming port. Sitting at the meeting point of the Sambre and Meuse rivers, the Walloon capital became a strategic trade hub fiercely contested by empires eager to control both the city and its region. To keep watch over this rising hotspot and maintain order, a powerful citadel was built on the rocky hill. Though French, the brilliant Vauban later enhanced Namur, turning it into a real architectural military gem. From the 10th to the 15th century, the fortress served as home to 23 regional, national, and even French counts. When the County of Namur was sold to the Duke of Burgundy in 1429, the citadel entered centuries of turmoil. Passing through German, French, and Dutch hands, Namur kept expanding—and so did its fortress, eventually covering some 80 hectares. After Belgium gained independence from Dutch rule in 1830, the citadel was gradually demilitarized under King Leopold II. A major transformation took place, turning the site into a key stop on Namur’s tourist trail. Today, visitors are welcome to fully explore the citadel and its 500 meters of underground tunnels. This extensive network beneath the city earned Namur the nickname “the termite mound of Europe,” given by Napoleon I himself. From a stronghold of defense to a fortress of tourism, the citadel takes us on an incredible journey through the centuries!