Namur

The city is the capital of the province of Namur, situated at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse Rivers. It was a fortified town in pre-Roman times, and became the seat of the counts of Namur from 908; their citadel on a rocky outcrop between the two rivers was refortified several times over the centuries and not abandoned for good until 1862. It passed to Burgundy in 1421, and to the new nation of Belgium with the rest of the Burgundian Netherlands in 1830. Its strategic location on the various routes into France meant that the city was often the scene of conflict in the 17th and from the 19th to the 20th centuries. It underwent considerable damage during both World Wars. Despite this, many historic structures remain, such as the Baroque cathedral of St. Aubain, the Jesuit church of St. Loup, the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady, containing 13th-century treasures of silver and gold craftsmanship; and the Meat Hall, built in 1588, which houses the archaeological museum. Its industries include tourism, glass, paper, leather goods, steel products, and cement. Its 2003 estimated population was 105,700.