Halle al'Chair

Halle al'Chair is one of the most recognizable historic buildings in Namur — a solid Mosan-style structure standing at the foot of the citadel, built between 1588 and 1590. Its construction was ordered by the governor of Brussels and designed by architects Bastien Sion and Conrad of Nuremberg. The motivation behind the project was highly practical: to bring order to the meat trade and improve hygiene across the city, reducing the spread of disease and unpleasant odors that came with the previously scattered sale of meat.

Where does the name come from and what was the building originally used for?

The name "Halle al'Chair" refers directly to the building's original role — it served as a meat hall where the activity of the butchers' corporation was centralized. The ground floor, opened to the outside through a row of distinctive arches, functioned as a meat market, allowing butchers to sell their goods under one roof while giving city authorities better control over quality and sanitary conditions.

How did the building's purpose change over the centuries?

The story of Halle al'Chair is essentially a story of repeated reinvention. Once butchers were authorized to sell meat from their own shops and abandoned the hall, the building went on to serve as an arsenal, a school, and even a hospital. In the 18th century it functioned as a Protestant church for Dutch troops stationed in the city, and later, under French occupation, it was converted into a theater for French forces. This constant repurposing shows how flexibly city authorities treated a sturdy, well-located structure at the base of the citadel.

When did the city take ownership, and what moved in afterward?

In 1806, Halle al'Chair became the property of the City of Namur. Decades later, in 1855, it became home to the Archaeological Society, founded in 1849 and one of the oldest societies of its kind in Belgium. The Archaeological Museum of Namur, displaying collections dating back to Roman antiquity and the Merovingian period, was closely tied to this address for more than a century and a half, and ranked among the more important archaeology institutions in this part of Europe.

What is the building used for today?

The Archaeological Museum permanently left Halle al'Chair in December 2018, moving its collections to the new Les Bateliers museum complex, where they now sit alongside the Museum of Decorative Arts. The building itself then underwent a comprehensive renovation completed in 2022. Today it houses the Namur Tourist Office, making good use of its strategic location right at the foot of the citadel, one of the city's most visited landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside Halle al'Chair today? Yes, the building is open to visitors as the seat of the Namur Tourist Office, presenting itself in renovated form following the 2022 works.

Is the archaeological museum still located there? No — the Archaeological Museum of Namur closed its premises in Halle al'Chair in December 2018 and relocated its collections to the Les Bateliers complex.

What architectural style is Halle al'Chair built in? The building follows the Mosan style typical of the Meuse valley region, visible in the row of arches along its ground floor.

Why was the building constructed in the first place? It was built to concentrate the meat trade in a single, controlled location for sanitary and public-order reasons, on the orders of the governor of Brussels.