Luik, uw bestemming

View of Liège from the slopes of the citadel of Liège during a sunset

LUIK, ABSOLUUT...

The city of Liège is a daughter of the river Meuse. The river has marked the city's face and influenced the character of its inhabitants. The metropolis is at the centre of a European region, between the Latin and Germanic cultures, which has strongly marked the history of the West.

Liège is close by and has a very dense motorway network (motorway junction, high-speed train, euregional airport). So it is very easy to come and indulge your curiosity. A magnificent station designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava was inaugurated in 2009. This architectural masterpiece is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful stations in Europe and symbolises the revival of Liege.

Liege is not something you discover at first glance. It takes some time to become familiar with the city. The inhabitants themselves still like to play the role of eternal tourists and they invite you to imitate them and follow their trail.

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THE HISTORIC CENTRE

The town hall and the staircase on the market square in Liège in the evening

Place Saint-Lambert is the historic and traditional centre of Liege. There are traces there from the Middle Paleolithic (about 50,000 years ago), and also remains of a large Roman villa, of a Merovingian settlement and of the foundations of the cathedral of Notger, the first prince-bishop and a historically important figure in the city and the region.

The square lost its cathedral after its destruction during the French Revolution and is now dominated by the impressive Prince-Bishop's Palace (which houses the departments of Justice and Provincial Government). The palace is a complex with architectural elements from different periods and a mixture of styles, mainly Gothic and Renaissance.

The Perron symbolises the municipal freedoms. The history of this monument is as eventful as that of the city. It stands in the Place du Marché, a traditional meeting and trading place. It is one of the two fountains in this friendly and lively square, which is lined with beautiful façades from the 17th and 18th centuries, including that of the Town Hall. In this district, you can also discover elegant streets that bear witness to the city's prestigious past, especially rue Hors-Château and its alleyways and the shopping street Feronstrée. There are many museums in this city centre where history, heritage and culture compete for the most attention.

The old town district (Cité) and the island district (l'Île) together form the historic centre. The l'Île district is dominated by the Saint-Paul Cathedral and is almost entirely pedestrianised. Amongst the religious and cultural buildings of the past are theatres, movie theatres and beautiful boutiques.

View of Liège from the terraces of the minimes on the slopes of the citadel

THE COUNTRYSIDE IN THE CITY!

In addition to its well-maintained parks, Liège also has urban gardens located on the hillside (the coteaux). A walk on the hills of the citadel (site awarded three stars in the famous Michelin guide) is a must during any visit to Liege.

Stairs with solid steps, gates and old walls adorned with ivy, doors to enter, hidden courtyards, the former Beguinage of Saint-Esprit and the Tower of the Vieux-Joncs give the city its rural charm, of which the Citadel is the highlight.

In this rural setting, you may still come across sheep. You have the perfect view of the river and the city. The stairs (374 steps!) of Montagne de Bueren are climbed by the bravest visitors.

Couple walking in the Boverie park in Liege

LIEGE AND ITS MUSEUMS

Liège is also a cultural metropolis. Thanks to its history and its thirst for modernity - also artistic - the city boasts numerous museums: the Grand Curtius, the Aquarium and the Zoology Museum, the House of Science, the Museum of Walloon Life, the Tchantchès Museum, the House of Metallurgy, the Museum of Public Transport, the Cathedral Treasury and the Grétry Museum, etc.

La Boverie park, between the Meuse and the Dérivation canal, with its rose garden, Nicolas Schöffer's tower and the new footbridge, is a perfect place for a stroll. In the middle of the park stands a building erected for the 1905 World's Fair, which became 'LA BOVERIE' in 2016. It houses the Museum of Fine Arts of Liège and a brand-new space for temporary exhibitions of great appeal in collaboration with the Louvre (Paris).

LIEGE : EXPERIENCES, EMOTIONS, ENCOUNTERS

There are few other cities with 200,000 inhabitants that have a university and colleges, a permanent ensemble at the Opera, a world-renowned Philharmonic, a dozen international meeting places for contemporary dance and theatre, with biennales for poetry, photography and engraving... Liège is also a breeding ground for jazz music with its "jazz tents", its international festival and, uniquely, a House of Jazz.

THE PEOPLE OF LIÈGE ARE RARELY BORED. THOSE WHO VISIT THEM KNOW THAT VERY WELL...

Liège has long been known beyond its borders for its nightlife. It is indeed a pleasant city to live in, to party in and to drink in.

There are hundreds of cafés, brasseries and bistros. The pèkèt (grain sorbet) in its typical 'plat cou' (a glass without a base) is the local drink. The universally known 'café liégeois' is the highlight after a meal. If you want to taste local dishes, you should try tripe, fine cold cuts, Liege-style salad (potatoes, bacon and green beans), the famous meatballs with chips in a syrup sauce, and kidneys made with juniper berries. As soon as the first rays of sunshine appear, the city centre's terraces fill with people chatting away.

Liège is also the city of beer lovers. A craft brewery, specialised beer shops, bars and events welcome you with the same label: Liège Beer Lovers' City.

As a city of fairs and markets dating back to the Middle Ages, Liège has retained a clear commercial dynamism. The city centre, largely reserved for pedestrians, encourages shopping in cosy and often luxurious boutiques. In addition, three distinctive shopping galleries in the city centre offer a varied selection. The most recent gallery, Médiacité, was designed by the famous architect Ron Arad. It joined the Galeries Saint-Lambert, in the hyper-centre, and Belle-Île, the oldest shopping gallery.

Liège is a city of atmosphere, which is reflected in the neighbourhood shops. Local markets, brocantes and weekly 'flea markets', not forgetting 'la Batte' on the banks of the Meuse on Sunday mornings. It is the longest market in Europe, with all kinds of goods, fruit, flowers and vegetables, where the market vendors shout loudly and with a distinctive accent to the visitors.

Liège looks forward to welcoming you!

Perhaps on the occasion of one of the festivals whose secret is known to the people of Liège: the crazy week of 15 August in Outremeuse, the festivals of Wallonia in September, the October fair with its mills and the most beautiful Christmas village in Wallonia and the largest in Belgium with 200 chalets and four sites?