Pont de Jambes - Namur

An old tradition dates the origins of the Jambes Bridge back to Roman times.

The Pont "de Jambes", real name "Pont de Meuse" , is a very old masonry bridge over the Meuse between Jambes (right bank) and the foot of the citadel of Namur (left bank). She has been rebuilt and modified several times. It is 145 meters long and today has seven arches , the middle one being wider to allow the passage of river convoys.

A legend mentions the construction in the 2nd century BC of a bridge over the Meuse by a certain Prince Bourgal. A document from 1289 is more accurate and speaks of a bridge of stone and wood with a tower in the middle . This tower is considered a belfry. Engravings from the 13th and 14th centuries speak of a bridge with seven stone pillars. On the last post stands a square belfry tower, pierced by a drawbridge door and extended by a wooden walkway, supported by a pier and ending on the right bank. The wooden part of the bridge survived until 1746.

The tower is in fact the border post between the county of Namur. and the principality of Liège , to which Jambes belongs. Here the aldermen of the two cities meet to discuss and resolve disputes and neighborhood and border problems. There is also a place for justice. The tower serves as a prison. Convicts are executed there.

During the First and Second World War, 3 arches of the bridge were blown up by the Belgian army to slow down the advance of the German troops. The bridge was rebuilt and renovated between 1961 and 1965.

Willem Vandenameele