Namur will host several expositions from 7 September to 15 January to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Saint-Gilles, the building which is used as the regional parliament, the Namur Capital Committee announced on Tuesday.
Originally, the building currently housing the Parliament of Wallonia functioned as Namur’s Grand Hospital. It later transitioned into the Saint-Gilles Hospice in 1724, following several years of construction, before becoming the Walloon Parliament in 1998.
In honour of the building's 300th anniversary, two studies were conducted by the Namur State Archives. The results will be accessible through three exhibitions to be launched on 7 September, 30 years after archaeological and historical research conducted on the site. The displays will reflect two millennia of history.
Inside the parliament, medieval relics will be put into context with a 3D portrayal of the Grand Hospital and its vicinity, underlining the site’s evolution over time.
A second exhibit at the Delta cultural centre will enable visitors to delve into Saint-Gilles’ architectural history through archaeological findings, written materials, and artistic items.
At the State Archives of Namur, a third exposition will portray the history of the hospital from its inception, through its operational stages, and its further expansion.
As part of the Walloon Festival, there will also be a fourth exhibition on view from 10 to 22 September at the Beffroi Gallery, also located in the Walloon capital. It will feature a collection of photographs from the Namur Photographic Archives and the State Archives of Namur.
Full details can be found at www.sg300.be.
