A true open-air book located in the Jardin du Maïeur, the Fresque des Wallons tells the story of a city, a region, a country, through well-known characters (historical, scientific, industrial, sports, artists, athletes, etc.) or anonymously. This monumental trompe-l'oeil is a cultural, touristic but also educational instrument for locals and visitors.
The painting was made in 2004 by CitéCréation (Lyon) and was completely restored in September 2018. The five famous characters who appear in the windows - Blanche de Namur, Dominique Pire, Ernest Solvay, François Bovesse and Georges Simenon - were repainted on canvas in the CitéCréation workshops and replaced the old canvases on the facade of the 'Town Hall ' mounted. . The plant area at the bottom of the glass roof, the stained glass window of Charlemagne, the mountain climber Muriel Sarkany, the Marsupilami, Smurfette, the Walloon rooster and the flying witch Macrâle have also been renovated.
At the same time, the city wanted to integrate new characters. For example, the Namur athlete Nafissatou Thiam appeared in a victorious pose at the foot of the fresco. In the windows we see Namur's favorite priest, Abbé Malherbe, appearing wearing a cap, while on the right of the fresco an Amazon by the artist Félix Roulin sits proudly. New names are included on the book spines: Willy Peers, Namur and Mai, Pairi Daiza.
Source: StreetArtCities