‘Djoseph et Françwès’

In the town square of Namur stands a bizarre piece of art: a pair of bronze statues of cartoonish men seemingly in an argument over two snails, one on a leash and another in a cage. 

Djoseph et Françwès (Joe and Frank) are not exactly well-known characters like Smurfs or Tintin. Originating in the local newspaper L'Avenir and created by cartoonist Jean Legrand, the dull-witted duo represents the purported nature of the Namurois, who are said to be rather slow—an impression reinforced by the snails, both a symbol and culinary specialty of the city.

Also featured in local marionette shows, Djoseph and Françwès have been immortalized in the minds of the Namurois and was paid an homage to in 2000 when artist Suzanne Godard created the statues and installed them on the Place d'Armes.