Parc Louise-Marie

Parc Louise-Marie is a public park in Namur covering 3 hectares with winding pathways, artificial rock formations, and a central pond positioned at its heart. The landscape spreads across two levels, allowing visitors to walk along trails that circle the water at different heights.

In 1879, a design competition was held for the park, which architect Constantin Schmits won with his plan. The project was built on land where city fortifications once stood, replacing military structures with recreational green space.

The park is named after Louise-Marie of Orleans, Belgium's first queen, marking a turning point when the city transformed from a fortified stronghold into a place for public leisure. Visitors walking through the grounds encounter this royal connection woven into the landscape itself.

The park is located on Avenue de Stassart and offers free access year-round to all visitors. A children's playground is built into the grounds, and the pathways are easily navigable, especially if you prefer to stay on level routes.

During restoration work in 1990, workers uncovered remains of a Dutch bridge that once connected to the Brussels Gate from 1815 to 1820. This hidden discovery reveals how much history lies beneath the green pathways you walk on today.