1

THE
HISTORICAL
HEART
The city of Liege sprang up between the river
Meuse and Saint Lamberts tomb. One can still
read its long history between the river and the foot
of the hill, from the former collegiate church of
Saint-Barthlemy (12th century) to the very heart
of the city with the Palace of the Prince-Bishops,
the townhall, the Market Square and its Perron,
symbol of the municipal liberties.

PALACE OF THE PRINCE-BISHOPS

This is one of the largest gothic civilian buildings in the world. Current
Law Court and headquarters of the
Provincial government.
From 1000, Notger established the
first residence of the Prince-Bishops
at this location. Its present look dates
back to the Prince-Bishop Erard de la
Marck (1526). After 1734, a new faade
was built on the Saint-Lambert Square.
In 1852, the neo-gothic wing of the
Notger square was attached.
The palace consists of consecutive
courtyards and borrows its plan from
the Italian Renaissance even though
most of its ornamental elements are
gothic. The first courtyard is in gothicRenaissance style surrounded by four
galleries with surbased gothic arches
resting on 60 columns, each differently decorated with fantastic human
figures and grotesque masks, which
are a testimony to the humanistic
thinking trends of the Renaissance
and the discovery of the New World.

offers some nice examples of urban renovation

throughout its picturesque dead ends and the
FORMER SAINT-ANTOINE CHURCH

Both above described areas (the historical heart

and the hills of the Citadel) represent the major

THE BUEREN STEPS

This structure is characteristic of the
shortcuts that were built in the 19th
century and the steps (1881) are a typical example of such a link between
the top of the hill and the foot of the
slopes. Their name remind, though at
the wrong place, of the failed attack by
the 600 Franchimontois and their leader, Vincent de Bueren, on the evening
of 29 October 1468, on Charles the
Reckless and Louis XI, who were attacking Liege from the Citadel.

12

Collgiale
Saint-Barthlemy

15

14

rue

nt
Lo
na
rd

t-J
n-B

ea
ap
te

tis

la

ai

qu

aB

l
de

att

21

ce
pla

Sa

rue

Lo

pol

MUSEUM OF WALLOON ART

Global view of the artistic creation in
the southern provinces of Belgium.
The ar tists, painters and sculptors of the Hainaut, Namur, Liege,
Luxembourg and Brabant wallon
regions are represented through significant works from the 16th to the
20th century.

s
u
e

N
en

The fountain was made by H. Jacubowska (1997).

ice

v
eu

La

30

FORMER SOMZE MANOR

The manor was built around 1700
on the location of a former canonical manor of Saint Bartholomew and
presently houses the headquarters of
the Echevinat de lUrbanisme, de
lEnvironnement, du Tourisme et du
Dveloppement durable of the City
of Lige. This building has kept the
name of its former owners, who sett
up workshops for manufacturing and
stores for selling brushes here.

20

28
ARCHEOFORUM
Beneath the Saint Lambert Square
you can find the vestiges of the most
ancient human occupations of the
town: prehistorical traces, walls of
a Gallo-Roman villa, the remains of
medieval buildings, among which
those of the gothic cathedral... A
modern and educational production,
full of emotion, allows you to go back
through history.
*Open throughout the year form 10 a.m. to 18
p.m. Closed on Mondays, 25 December and 1
January.
* Guided tours only (04/250 93 70)

27
THE PERRON
The most famous monument of Liege
was rebuilt on top of a fountain by Jean
Del Cour at the end of the 17th century.
Symbol of the Liege liberties, it is surmounted by a group of Three Graces,
carrying a fir cone crowned by a cross
(the original is kept in the Town Hall).
History of the Perron : In 1447, following the Liege rebellion, Charles
the Reckless transferred the Perron to
Bruges. In 1478, his daughter, Mary of
Burgundy, restored it to Liege.

22

26
pon

t de

s Ar

che

23

www.liege.be/tourisme

25

1 Office du Tourisme

Fronstre, 92 4000 Liege.

Tel : 04 221 92 21
Fax : 04 221 92 22
office.tourisme@liege.be

2 Maison du Tourisme

Place Saint-Lambert, 35 4000 Liege.

Tel : 04 237 92 92
Fax : 04 237 92 93
mtpaysdeliege@prov-liege.be

This document has been made out by the Echevinat de lUrbanisme, de lEnvironnement, du Tourisme et du Dveloppement
durable

THE TOWN HALL

Traditionally named La Violette (the violet), probably after the sign of the house
that welcomed the City Council during
the Middle Ages. Rebuilt after the fire
of Charles the Reckless (end of the 15th
century) and between 1714 and 1718 following a U-plan. Building in bricks and
limestone of classic style. Inside: remarkable decor of the era, atlantes.
It is worth while to walk round the building: the rear faade is beautiful and typical medieval alleys start from there.

NEUVICE
First pedestrian street of Liege
(12th century). Its privileged location between the market and the river made it a particularly sought after
place by traders. Many signs still exist
today.
The Saint Catherine Church was rebuilt
in 1700 in a baroque style tempered
with classicism. It contains furniture
and statues of the Liege baroque
school.

FORMER SAINT ANDREW CHURCH

Built between 1765 and 1772, following
the plans of the architect Barthlemy
Renoz. Of circular plan and crowned
by a dome, it is grafted by several chapels. The choir, lighted by five bays,
was more developed. Deconsecrated
since 1790, the building now serves as
a cultural activity centre.
*Access according to the activities

MARKET SQUARE
Its origin goes back to the birth of the
city, of which is was the main market
until the 19th century. As trade centre and refuge of civil liberties it was
the witness of big local events and for
this reason it was many times partially destroyed. Most of the houses go
back to the 17th century.

FOUNTAIN OF THE TRADITION

Rebuilt in 1719. Reliefs by Georges
PETIT (1879 - 1958).
On three faades: bas-reliefs in bronze
evoking typical aspects of the Liege
folklore: the puppets, the botteresses (coal carriers) and the cramignons (popular song and dance of the
Liege region).

MEAT MARKET HALL

Built between 1544 and 1546. The
crest of the fraternal society of the
Mangons (butchers), one of the
32 Bons Mtiers (good trades) of
Liege, overhangs the entrance door.
Preserved its first assignment until
1981. Has now become a site for temporary exhibitions.

LA BATTE
Superb dominical market, which
stretches out over more than 2 km
quays on the left bank of the river
Meuse (on Sunday mornings).

CURTIUS PALACE
This is a sumptuous patrician manor,
built in the Mosan style between 1600
and 1610 by Jean Curtius, supplier of
ammunition for the armies of the king
of Spain. It was originally part of a large
estate, which stretched out between
the river Meuse and Fronstre. The
former Libert manor occupied the
Fronstre site since the 1st quarter
of the 17th century.

18

24
INFORMATION

16
GRAND CURTIUS
Large group of museums attesting
to the art and history of the Liege
region, which is in the process of being
established and aims to bring together the collections of the Museum of
Archaeology, the Decorative Arts and
Glass, the Museum of Arms and the
Museum of Religious and Mosan Art.
It is made up of several buildings,
among which:

17

23

ber

Lam
int-

nt-

ges

eor

19

ff
Go

28

Sai

nt G

17
22

la

30

ht

Maastric

po

quai de

ain

de

t
on

rue

27

de

rue

u
Bo

eri

ch

P
du

31

ce d

pla

rch 24

a
uM

rue

29

Palais Curtius
Ancien Htel de
Hayme de Bomal

eS

ons

urs

ine

25

ongr

19

ru

tre

Fr

C
Grand

Sai

ruc

rue

b
Vel

sM

de

en

16

urtius

20

21

rue

26

Sain

18

rue du Palais

Palais des Princes-Evques

10

B
des

THE SAINT LEONARD PARK

The Saint Leonard Park has been
recently laid out on the site of a former dock bordering the city wall of
the 13th Century. From the 19th century up to 1980, there was a prison at
this place. The present park forms a
privileged link between the quarters
around it. The bois des Carmlites
(wood of the Carmelite nuns) nearby
on the hillside is also part and parcel
of this site. Eugne Savitzkayas trace
(2001) recalls the story of the place
and its inhabitants.

t-Ba

eur

rass

tea

Ch
ors-

This building is now destined to welcome expositions and receptions.

29

15

e
plac
my
le

rth

11

Collgiale
Sainte Croix

*Access from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m.

to 12 and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Sundays
from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (04/223 49 98).

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW CHURCH

Established between 1010 and 1015
outside the city walls, this former collegiate church, characteristic of the
Rhenish-Mosan architecture, was
built, in coal sandstone, from the end
of the 11th (choir) till the last decades
of the 12th century. During the 18th
century, two bays were added, the
occidental massif was drilled to add a
neo-classical portal and the large bay
was arched and decorated with rockery
stucco. Remarkable baroque furniture
from Liege. The interior of the occidental massif, exceptional through its
tribunes, rediscovered partially its original allure. The whole of the building
has been the subject of large archaeological excavations.

Escaliers de Bueren

SAINT LAMBERT SQUARE

One of the largest cathedrals of Europe
stood on this location until the French
Revolution, when the people of Liege
took arms against their Prince-Bishop.
The metal pillars, located where the
exterior walls stood, evoke the width
of the gothic cathedral. The floor-covering indicates where the former pillars of the cathedral stood. The public
space which arose from the demolition
of the Saint Lambert cathedral was officially baptised Saint Lambert Square
in June 1827.

SAINT ANTHONYS COURTYARD

Group of apar tments and houses designed by the architect Charles
Vandenhove (1979). This ensemble
completes a group of constructions of
the 17th and 18th century of the HorsChteau street restored at the same
time. Anne and Patrick POIRIER are the
artists who made the Maya-inspired
fountain-sculpture, which decorates
the courtyard (1982).

13

Former conventual church of the Minor

Friars. Nave and choir (13th century).
Baroque faade (middle of the 17th
century). Inside decorated with stucco
(middle of the 18th century).

31

BLIND ALLEYS OF HORS-CHATEAU

Because of their charm and character, these blind alleys are a world on
its own in the very heart of the city.
They attest that there was a great mix
of functions and housing in the past
between the humble abodes in the
dead alleys and the prestigious manors
of Hors-Chteau and as the area was
destined to live as well as to work in. As
they are preserved and restored by the
inhabitants themselves, their visitors
are required not to disturb their quiet.

11

SAINT GERARD CHURCH

Former church of the Barefooted
Carmes. Faade of baroque style,
built between 1619 and 1655. Restored
portal (around 1838), richly moulded, decorated with horns of plenty and
surmounted with the coat of arms of
the Prince-Bishop Maximilien-Henri of
Bavaria (1650-1688). Sculptures by Fr.
De Tombay (1808-1872).

14

BAPTISMAL FONT
The collegiate church encloses one of
the universal masterpieces of Roman
sculpture, considered as one of the
seven wonders of Belgium: the baptismal font in brass (1107-1118) came
from Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts , the
former baptistery of the city and is decorated with haut-relief sculpted baptismal scenes.

*Access to the exhibition from Wednesday to

Saturday between 3 and 6 p.m. or by appointment. (04/221 41 91)

rue

Middle Ages : the city.

13

THE BRASSEURS
Contemporary art centre organising
temporary exhibitions on several levels of a former workshop of the rue
des Brasseurs (Brewers Street).

rue H

part of the most ancient of Lieges quarters in the

12

rd
na
o

Hors-Chteau, underneath the hills of the Citadel,

10

URSULINE CONVENT
House occupied from the 2nd quarter
of the 17th century by the Ursulines,
a community of nuns who devoted
themselves exclusively to the education for girls. They gave their name to
one of the most famous blind alleys
with stairs that now start a little farther up, across the street.

THE ARAINE EYE OF

RICHONFONTAINE
In the 13th century and for over 500
years, the araines were a very ingenious draining system used in the
coalmines. Many of these araines,
among others that of Richonfontaine,
supplied the fountains, which were
very numerous in Liege, with water.
This unusual convenience aroused
the admiration of the travellers passing through Liege.

*Access to the first courtyard

small streets and medieval alleys.

Cour Saint-Antoine (courtyard).

HORS-CHATEAU
The loveliest main road of the Old
Liege owes its name to the fact that
it lay outside the first city wall (10th
century), which did not reach farther
than the Market square. It became part
of the city in the 13th century, when
the second wall was built.
Drapers settled along the above
ground stream that flowed there and
various markets and public meetings
were held at this place. During the 14th
century it served as head quarters of
nobility and religious institutions.

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST FOUNTAIN

The bas-relief by Jean Del Cour (16311707), installed in 1667, represents
the baptism of Christ. The fountain
supporting the sculpture exists since
the medieval period under the name
Pisserotte or Pisseroule fountain. It was and is now again supplied with water from the araine of
Richonfontaine, the eye of which can
be found in the rue Mre-Dieu, a little farther on.

-L
int
Sa

mark out a historical itinerary, an interlacing of

CONVENT OF THE MINOR FRIARS

Built during the 17th century and
restored in the seventies, the cloister
is linked to the house of the Superior
of the convent (Chamart building),
by a gallery surmounting a fortified
bridge. Currently Museum of Walloon
Life: objects and documents relating to
daily life and traditional trades in
Wallonia. Unique collection of solar
dials by Max Elskamp.

rc
pa

Beautiful faades of the 17th and 18th century

MONTEFIORE FOUNTAIN
The water carrier by Lopold HARZE
(Liege 1831-1893).
At the end of 1887, the Society for the
Protection of the Animals offered the
city a fountain that also served as a
drinking trough equipped with jets
for the passers-by and with bowls for
the animals. The wife of the engineer
Georges Montfiore-Lvy then decided to offer 20 more fountains to place
in passageways in the city centre.

THE CULTURE FLAME OR S.P.A.C.

The faades of the building housing
presently the offices for Culture and
Tourism were restored in the seventies with materials coming from another building of the area which was being
demolished at that time.
The Sculpture Publique dAide
Culturelle (Public Sculpture for
Cultural Assistance), designed by Alain
DE CLERCK (2002), has been put up
very nearby...Do not hesitate to stir up
the flame!

ANSEMBOURG MUSEUM
Museum of the decorative arts. This
manor (1738), property of the banker
Michel Willems, witnesses the refinement of the art of living in Liege during the 18th century. Rare collection
of sculptured and laid in furniture,
tapestries, leather draperies using
the Cordoba method, glass chandeliers made the Venice way, clocks, and
ceramics.
*Open from Tuesday to Sunday between 1 and
6 p.m. (04/221 94 02)

Crdit photographique
Vincent Botta : 7, 8, 19, A7, A8, B4b, C3a, C4a, C6b, C7b, Nocturne. | Eric Delayen : 11.
Luc Gilson : 4, A1A4, B1, B4, C3b, C4b, C5, C6a, C7a. | Enzo Turco : 21 | Archoforum : 31
Marc Verpoortern : 13, 6, 9, 10, 1218, 20, 2230, 32, A5, A6, B2, B3. | Christine Wirtgen : C2.

FORMER DE HAYME DE BOMAL

MANOR
This is a large calcareous manor in
neo-classical style, built about 1775
and attributed to the Liege architect
Barthlemy Digneffe. This building is a
remarkable testimony to the art of living
of that time and has sumptuous inside
decorations and two faades, one on the
Maastricht quay and one in Fronstre.