BELGIUM city of LIEGE

BELGIUM city of LIEGE

Liege city is located in the east of Belgium near the Netherland boarder.

It’s nicknamed the Ardent city, and you need to study the history of Liege to understand its fierce independent spirit. The once industrial powerhouse of Belgium was for 800 years a separate principality. Ruled by a Prince-Bishop until the end of the 18th century, it was the only part of Belgium to escape successive foreign rule. Today, the largest city in Wallonia is a cultural beacon of art, design and fashion and loves to party.

Lying on the river Meuse, Liege has become a major transport hub Liege Airport is just outside the city comes alive the night with dozens of aircraft transporting cargo across Europe and the World. The main cargo airline TNT has its central base in Liege.
Liege is home to numerous folklore traditions. For a full appreciation of the depth of Walloon culture, don’t miss the museum of Walloon life, near Place Saint-Lambert (if you are feeling energetic, climb the narrow steps behind the Museum to the slopes of the Citadel). It pays special attention to puppet theatre, the city’s emblem is the character Tchatches. The puppet has pride of place in the four-day festivities that take place in mid August in the Outremeuse area. As the most francophone city in the country, Liege celebrates the French national holiday on July 14th. Many of the locals do not speak Netherlands (Flemish) here but some of the younger generations speak Engish nowadays.

Overlooking Place Saint-Lambert in the heart of Liege is the sumptuous Prince-Bishops Palace, housing provincial offices and the Law courts. Guided tours are available, or you can walk through the main entrance to marvel at the Medieval courtyard. Heading East, the museum quarter includes he refurbished Curtius museum, dedicated to History and Art.

The area includes the city’s oldest religious building, the Collegiate Church of Saint-Barthelemy. Cross the river by Pont des Arches, the favoured bridge of local crime writer Georges Simenon and explore the Outremeuse area. Back in the centre , the commercial area known as the Carre is a warren of enticing shops, and its bars are polular student haunts. Shopaholics can head to the mediacite complex, which includes an ice skating ring, open all year round. Take a tourist train from the centre to see all the city sights, this is well worth it and of course translated into many languages.

A local speciality is boulets de Liege, savoury meatballs in a Liege syrup sauce. One authentic restaurant serving them is Chez Lequet. For an introduction to peket, the local genever made from juniper berries, go to La Maison du peket, which proposes 30 flavours.
Other regional favourites are boudin sausages and sugar encrusted Liege waffles. Italian immigration has and local of cuisine and pizza and pasta joints abound. In the foyer of the newly opened Wallonia Royal Opera house, enjoy a quick self-service lunch in a grand setting. Equally fabulous is the five-star Crowne Plazza Hotel, a modern complex created out of two elegant townhouses. Smaller but still is the Hotel Neuvice, near the Place du Marche. The 18th century building is in a street that dates from the 12th century and today has an excellent choice of high quality food shops.

Liege is most definitely worth adding to your list of European city trips. One will not be disappointed with its culture and architecture.