Halle al’Chair

Belgium

The Halle al’Chair , located in the Belgian city of Namur , is a historic building style Renaissance Mosan built in the xvi th  century. Originally built for the corporation of butchers, it now houses the archaeological museum of Namur .

The building, rectangular in plan, is built on a limestone base. The elevation is in bricks, placed in a cross structure. The building is divided into four levels: the cellars, the ground floor, the first floor and the attic covered with a roof of slate hipped and cored (softening of the slope of the roof) from which emerges a double row of dormers. The south (Sambre side) and north (rue des Bouchers side) facades are made up of ten spans, plus that of the stairwell, which is differentiated from the others. The basement is massive and pierced by three arcades, currently walled up but which were certainly open at the time of the butchery. The ground floor is pierced with small harp windows. The first floor is brightly lit by high stone windows, very close together, and harped too. Stone bands running all along the facade give strength to the whole, while emphasizing horizontality. The west facade is that of the entrance portal. This door is surrounded by two blocked arches which were originally intended to be opened and presumably served as shops. Above this portal is the coat of arms of Philip II of Spain. They are presented today in a painted form, the original sculptures having been hammered in the revolution. The east facade has no holes. This door is surrounded by two blocked arches which were originally intended to be opened and presumably served as shops. Above this portal is the coat of arms of Philip II of Spain. They are presented today in a painted form, the original sculptures having been hammered in the revolution. The east facade has no holes. This door is surrounded by two blocked arches which were originally intended to be opened and presumably served as shops. Above this portal is the coat of arms of Philip II of Spain. They are presented today in a painted form, the original sculptures having been hammered in the revolution. The east facade has no holes.

As for the interior of the building, the cellars are barrel vaulted. The two upper levels are each composed of a large room spanning the entire width of the building. Beam and transom ceilings, tiled floors. A wooden staircase with two superimposed straight flights connects the ground floor with the attic. The attic also opens onto a large room and the framework is visible.

Contact

Visit Namur
email
info@visitnamur.eu
address
Place de la Station, Namur, Belgique
phone
+3281 24 64 49