Namur – Namurcum, Elegantissima ad Mosae…

Namur commented by Braun

“The council for the whole county is held here. The people of this city are very experienced in warfare. The princes have a great liking for this city and French is spoken here, albeit in a rather garbled fashion.”

Cartouche: Namur, a very fair city on the River

Full title: Namurcum, Elegantissima ad Mosae Flume Civitas.

Taschen on Namur

This engraving of Namur shows a bird’s-eye view of the city from the south. It offers a clear overview of the topographical setting of the hilly city, which in the 16th century belonged to the House of Habsburg. On the roccky spur high above the Meuse lie a set of modest fortifications. In the 17th century these were expanded into a mighty citadel. Nevertheless, in 1692 the French, under Sébastien Le Prestre Marquis de Vauban’s command, were able to capture the city, fortress and citadel after a siege lasting just a few weeks.