As the capital of Belgium’s Wallonia region, the charming riverside city of Namur is the perfect base for exploring the French-speaking south of the country.

At the confluence of the Rivers Meuse and Sambre, Namur is also a crossing point for several European motorways linking Belgium and the channel ports with central Europe.

Whether you’re driving the European E42 highway from the French coast to the southeast of Germany or taking the N4 highway from Brussels to Luxembourg, you’ll pass by Namur.

If you are travelling by train, the city is well connected to the Belgian capital by rail with services on the main line from Brussels to Luxembourg every 30min.

Or if you are flying in, Belgium’s second largest airport, Charleroi, is a 35min drive away making Namur the ideal location for a weekend break with a hire car to discover Wallonia and the nearby Ardennes.

You’ll find our friendly Avis team in Namur located within the Sonama Volvo dealership in the suburb of Erpent. The office is situated just off the N4 Avenue de Luxembourg around 4km southeast of Namur city centre.

If you have arrived in Namur by train from Brussels or by bus from Charleroi airport, you can reach our office using public transport. Take either the 89 Bus (in the direction of Naninne) or the A Bus (in the direction of Namur Notre Dame de la Paix) from Namur’s Place de la Station (platform D) as far as the Erpent Tournoir bus stop. From there, Avis at Volvo Sonama is a 2min walk away.

The drive to the centre of Namur from our Avis office in Erpent takes around 12min depending on the time of day. Turn right onto the N4 Avenue de Luxembourg and head northwest merging onto the N90 at Avenue des Princes de Liege. At the next roundabout take the first exit and cross the River Meuse at the Pont des Ardennes taking a left turn onto the N92 and following the river right into the centre of the city.

Although Namur is a fairly compact city, there is plenty to see whether you are on a quick visit or spending a few days.

Top of the list is a trip around the city’s impressive fortress or Citadel with its 7km maze of tunnels. You can stretch your legs and walk up to the old city or take the cable car for the finest views over the city.

Next up would be a tour of the city’s domed Cathedral of Saint Aubin followed by a glimpse into the lives of Namur’s wealthier 18th Century residents at the splendid Museum of Decorative Arts.

For a more modern take, you can learn about Namur’s sustainability drive at Namur Intelligente et Durable (NID) before taking to the water either by kayak or boat for a different perspective on the city.

Finally, rest weary legs or people watch in one of buzzing eateries lining the picturesque café quarter along Rue des Brasseurs and Rue de la Croix.

Our Namur rental location is well-located at the southeastern exit to the city and handily placed for access to the wider road network.  As well as exploring Namur itself, you’ll be heading into the Wallonia region if you are looking to plan an Ardennes road trip.

Dinant

Historic Dinant in its beautiful setting on the banks of the River Meuse is a short 30min (40km) drive south from Namur on the E411. Don’t miss the onion-domed Collegiate Church of Notre Dame de Dinant or the 11th century Citadel which rivals that of Namur.

National Park of Grottes de Han in Han-Sur-Lesse

Go back in time with a trip to some of the world’s most impressive and well-preserved caves at the Grottes de Han. Located in Han-Sur-Lesse, close the village of Rochefort, a 50min, 42km drive from Namur along the E4 highway, you can take a guided tour into the caves on a century-old tram.

La Roche-en-Ardenne

A road trip of around 80km from Namur to La Roche-en-Ardenne will take you deep into the heart of the spectacular forested and mountainous Ardennes region. Leave the N4 behind and follow the N833 along the Ourthe river valley before winding up the escarpment into La Roche. Tour the remains of the feudal castle, sample the local cuisine and bask in the natural beauty of the area with its hiking trails, cycle paths and water sports.

Namur can easily be explored on foot but although there are public transport options available, if you want to travel further afield into the Ardennes or head to the neighbouring town of Dinant and make the most of your time here, hiring a car is highly recommended.

Hiring a car is an great way to travel around Belgium. The area around Namur is well served by European highways and although you get to travel further, you’ll see more of Belgium if you leave the motorways behind and opt for the well-maintained national A road network instead. You’ll find foad signs in the south of the country are in French while in the northern part of Belgium (Flanders) they are in Dutch.

Be aware that as in the rest of mainland Europe, you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road as you leave our rental location.

If you have not driven in this part of the world before, we’d advise checking the road rules for driving in Belgium before you set off.