Namur Citadel

The fortified position of Namur

At the end of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871, Belgium wished to modify its military situation. Narrowly avoiding involvement in the conflict, it became aware of the power of its neutral status.

In order to openly demonstrate its neutrality, Belgium was invited to make the crossing of its territory difficult, if not impossible, by fortifying the Meuse corridor.

On 14th June 1887 the law that put into practice military engineer Brialmont's project to establish the fortified positions of Namur and Liège was approved. The idea was to build small forts that formed a belt of protection situated at a respectable distance from the town centre, in order to avoid its bombing. Distributed along a perimeter of 5 to 8km around the Namur Citadel, the forts were set apart at a distance corresponding to the intermediate range of their artillery (about 5 km) in order for their fire to cover the lines of communication which converged on the town and to guarantee the reciprocal defence of their approaches.

The 9 forts of the fortified position of Namur occupied the highest points and alternated, along a perimeter of 40 km, large (Andoy, Cognelée, Suarlée and Saint-Héribert) and small forts (Dave, Marchovelette and Emines, which were triangular in design, and Maizeret and Malonne, which were quadrangular).