Eurostar to Namur

For a holiday filled with cultural visits and historical charm, take a trip to the beautiful city of Namur. The city is the capital of Wallonia in Belgium, the region which mainly speaks French. If you are interested in all things political, then it’s a great place to visit, for Namur has a government and parliament of its own. But there is more to the city than affairs of state. If you’re keen for an unusual weekend away, Namur might be just the place to visit. It is one of the destinations available on the Eurostar connection service, so it’s never been easier to reach.

About Namur

After you’ve settled into your hotel, head to the number one tourist destination in the city: the Citadel. Terra Nova towers over the city, so you can’t miss it, and was once one of the biggest bastions in all of Europe. From the tenth century, it was the home of the Counts of Namur, and was once even attacked by Louis XIV and his army. For more history of the place, take a look at the Spiral of Time just outside of the Palace of the Counts. Here you’ll find a timeline of all the important dates in Namur’s history. It’s also a lush and calm place to wander around, so take a stroll and immerse yourself in history. The hill upon which the citadel is built consists of a number of tunnels, which stretch for about seven kilometres. They were christened by Napoleon as the termite mound of Europe, and are fascinating to explore, as long as you’re not afraid of the dark, or claustrophobic! And if you’ve bought the family along, a short walk to the top of the hill will take you to the Reine Fabiola Adventure Park.

For an unusual afternoon out, take a trip to the Guy Delforge Perfumery. It’s got some fascinating exhibitions where you’ll learn about the perfume making process, as well as having the chance to explore the old laboratory.

If it’s local architecture that floats your boat, you should definitely take a trip to the local cathedral. The Cathedral of Saint Aubain in the centre of town is a fantastic example of late-Baroque structure, an unusual style for Belgium. And just a short walk away from here is the Groesbeeck de Croix Museum, another fine building dating back to the nineteenth century.

If you time your visit well, you may be able to visit one of Namur’s two big festivals. The Namur Circus Festival and Namur in may both celebrate street performance.

Namur by Eurostar Trains

You can get to Namur on one of the Eurostar’s connection services. This means you'll have to change trains at some point. Eurostar trains depart from St Pancras International, a very easy-to-get-to destination in London. Your simplest option of connection services after getting on the train at London is to change Gare de Bruxelles Midi, from one platform to another for a connection SNBC train. All in all, your journey from London shout take about three and a half hours.

Visit the official Eurostar web site to book your train tickets to Namur.