A varied day hike through and around the beautiful city of Namur. Not just an ordinary city walk, but also a hilly forest walk that we start at the Namur station heading towards its citadel. You can choose to make this climb via stairs and paths or take the new cable car to the top. We explore Bois de la Vecquée between the citadel and Fort de Malonne before descending to the Meuse river. We follow this river to the confluence with the Sambre to conclude with a car-free magnificent city, full of historic buildings and city squares.

On the border of Haspengouw with the Condroz, there is (reportedly) a beautiful city that has been on my wishlist for some time. Still expensive fuel prices, so the perfect opportunity to take the train for our monthly day trip. From the capital of Belgium and Flanders - Brussels, we arrive at the station of Namur - the capital of Wallonia in about an hour. From the station, we take charming alleys to Eglise Saint-Loup. A church from the 17th century and one of the most beautiful baroque churches that you can find in our country.

We do not take the newly renovated cable car to the top of the Citadel of Namur since 2021, but decide to take the climb via stairs, alleys, tunnels, and paths. A good choice with numerous beautiful viewpoints over this historic city that certainly meets my expectations. We explore this citadel which resembles a maze to reach about 100 meters above the city. A strategic spot where you have a nice overview of the confluence of the Sambre with the Meuse. Once one of the largest fortresses in Europe with its first defensive walls dating back to the early Middle Ages. The fort came into the hands of Spanish, Austrian, French, and Dutch troops who lost it to Belgian rebels during the Belgian Revolution. From 1977, the last soldiers were stationed here and the site was renovated in 2012. Since 2015, you can find the Terra Nova visitor center in the former barracks - a museum where you can discover the story of Namur and its history through screens and images.

When we arrive at the top of the cable car, we see behind this modern lift building - 'Station Esplanade Citadelle' a large square with an old grandstand. This esplanade with hotel, open-air theater, and stadium was planted at the end of the 19th century on the highest part of the citadel to partially transform this fort into a recreational area. The grandstand with the Latin inscription 'Ludus Pro Patria' or 'Games for the fatherland' can be freely accessed and gives you the feeling of the Roman Games. Especially when you walk past the adjacent open-air theater 'Théatre de Verdure'.

We descend again via the stairs to the esplanade to follow an unpaved path further towards a large water tower from 1913 and further on, Château de Namur. A castle that now serves as a four-star hotel and training school for 'Ecole Hotelière de la Province de Namur'.

We slowly leave the built-up area of Namur and reach via Saint-Séraphim de Sarov - an old Russian Orthodox wooden church - and the slightly busier N954, 'Bois de la Vecquée'. This forest, which is a remnant of the large 'Forêt de Marlagne', once stretched to Profondville. A nicer path or Sentier Du Gué takes us through the 'Gueule Du Loup' or the mouth of the wolf to the N90 next to the Sambre. (Note: Stay left of the gardens, right is closed off below). We briefly follow the N90 to start the climb again to the top of this forest, so that we can explore part of the defensive line of Namur. There were 9 forts around the city of which we try to find Fort de Malonne and its anti-aircraft tower in this forest. Unfortunately, this fort is completely closed off and serves as the habitat for several rare bats in this protected nature reserve. Built between 1888 and 1891, this complex of forts served as a defensive weapon against attacking troops. Unique for its time was that this fort was already built with concrete instead of bricks. However, it was to no avail as this fort was quickly overrun by the German conqueror in 1914 after severe artillery attacks.

After alternating several times between some outcrops of 'Bois de la Vecquée' and a rural piece of Namur, we descend further to the banks of the Meuse. We follow this 940 km long river for 3 km downstream - first along the left bank of Namur to Parc de la Plante, where we cross to the right bank in Jambes via the sluice of La Plante. A car-free section beside the Meuse and Elysette - the official residence of the Walloon Prime Minister - leads you to the beautiful pedestrian bridge 'L'Enjambée'. A footbridge that has connected Jambes with Namur since May 11, 2020, at the height of the 'Confluent' or the confluence of the Meuse and the Sambre. Transformed into a beautiful place in this historic city, you can enjoy the sun here between the Meuse and the Sambre.

We set out for the last kilometers and walk through a historic corner of Namur, with its Place D'Ames and the old stock exchange, the belfry, and the Théâtre Royal de Namur, where we stop for a terrace. Enjoying the shining March sun at Place Du Théâtre, but it's almost time for our train back home. We take a few more car-free paths that lead us via the library, Institut Saint-Louis, and the town hall back to the Namur station.

A city that amazed me tremendously and where I will definitely return, especially with warmer terrace weather.