Liège

Liège is a city and municipality in the Belgian region of Wallonia, and the capital of its own province. It lies in the valley of the Meuse River, in eastern Belgium, close to the borders with the Netherlands and Germany. The city is where the Meuse meets another river called the Ourthe.

Liège is an important economic and cultural center for the region. It is part of what was once the industrial heart of Wallonia, known as the sillon industriel. The municipality of Liège includes several smaller areas, such as Angleur, Bressoux, and Chênée, among others.

As of January 2022, Liège had around 195,278 people living in the city itself. When you count the larger area around the city, including places like Herstal and Seraing, the total reaches over 749,000 people. Liège is the third largest urban area in Belgium, after Brussels and Antwerp. It is also part of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion.

Etymology

The name Liège comes from an old Germanic word meaning "people." Many languages have similar words, like "lui" in Dutch and "Leute" in German.

The city’s name used to be spelled with a different accent until 1946. In French, Liège is sometimes called "the fervent city," a name that started because of the city’s history and its energy during the Industrial Revolution.

Main article: Acute accent
Main article: Grave accent

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Liège.

Early Middle Ages

Although settlements already existed in Roman times, the first references to Liège are from 558, when it was known as Vicus Leudicus. Around 705, Saint Lambert of Maastricht helped spread Christianity in the region. Lambert was later regarded as a hero for his faith. A church was built near the bishop's home, which became an important part of the city.

A few centuries later, the city became the capital of a special area called a prince-bishopric, which lasted from 985 till 1794. The first leader, Notger, turned the city into a center for learning and religion. The city was known for its many churches and had a lot of independence even though it was part of a larger empire.

Late medieval and early modern periods

See also: Prince-Bishopric of Liège

The location of Liège made it important and often targeted by armies. It had a castle on a hill. During this time, three women from the area helped shape Christian ideas.

In 1345, the people of Liège fought against their ruler and won. This led to a new way of governing where 32 groups, called guilds, shared power equally. This was one of the most democratic systems at the time.

Later, during a big war, a leader from another place attacked and damaged the city badly.

18th century to World War I

An army took the city in 1702 during a big war in Europe.

In the middle of the 1700s, new ideas from France became popular. This helped start a big change in 1789, leading to a new government in Liège. Later, French forces took over the city and made big changes.

When Belgium became independent, Liège grew quickly into an important industrial city, especially for making steel. There were times when workers protested for better conditions.

In 1914, when war started in Europe, the German army tried to pass through Liège to reach France. The city’s strong defenses made them slow down, which helped the rest of Europe.

World War II to the present

The Germans took the city again in 1940 but were pushed out by British forces in 1944.

After the war, the city faced hard times as its industries, especially coal and steel, declined. There were protests and unrest.

Liège has been working to recover, with new shops and improvements. Unfortunately, there have been some violent events in recent years, but the city continues to move forward.

Climate

Liège has a special kind of weather because it is close to the sea. Even though it is far inland, the warm winds from the sea keep the winters very mild. This makes Liège warmer in winter than places much farther north. The summers are also cooled by these sea winds, so they are not too hot. Because Liège is inland, there is not a big delay between the warmest and coldest times of the year.

Demographics

On January 1, 2013, the city of Liège had a population of 197,013 people. The surrounding area is home to about 750,000 people. Most people speak French, but there are also German and Dutch speakers. Since the 1990s, the number of people from other countries has grown a lot. Many people from Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, Vietnam, and other African countries now live in Liège.

Liège is an important place for learning. About 42,000 students go to more than 24 schools. The University of Liège, which was started in 1817, has 20,000 students.

Main sights

See also: List of protected heritage sites in Liège

Liège has many important places to visit. One is the large palace of the old Prince-Bishops, built on Place St Lambert where an old cathedral once stood. You can also visit an archaeological display called the Archéoforum under the square.

Another important spot is the Perron of Liège on Place du Marché, which used to stand for justice and now represents the city. It sits in front of a beautiful city hall from the 1600s.

Liège has seven special churches, including Liège Cathedral and St James, known for its statues and old carvings. The city’s main museums include La Boverie for art, the Grand Curtius Museum with collections from Egypt and more, and others showing Walloon life and art.

Other interesting places are the historic city centre, parks along the Meuse River, the Citadel, and the famous 374-step stairway called the Montagne de Bueren. You can also visit the Art Deco Memorial tower at the Interallied Memorial of Cointe, which offers great views of the city, and the modern Liège-Guillemins railway station.

Liège’s pedestrian zone is the largest in the Walloon Region and one of the oldest in Belgium, growing since 1965 and still expanding today.

• Prince-Bishops' Palace, residence of former Prince-Bishops of Liège

Curtius Museum, museum of archaeology and decorative arts, located on the bank of the Meuse

The stairway of the [Montagne de Bueren](/wiki/Montagne_de_Bueren)

The Art Deco Memorial tower of the [Interallied Memorial of Cointe complex](/wiki/Interallied_Memorial_of_Cointe)

Folklore

The "Le Quinze Août" celebration happens every year on August 15 in Outremeuse to honor the Virgin Mary. It is one of the biggest folk events in the city, featuring a special walk, a market, dancing, music, and fun games. These festivities now begin a few days earlier and continue until the 16th. Some people open their homes to visitors and share "peket," a traditional local drink. This celebration is tied to a famous character named Tchantchès, a clever boy from long ago who lived during Charlemagne’s time. You can see Tchantchès in statues, a museum, and puppets around the city.

Liège is also home to one of Belgium’s oldest and largest Christmas Markets, along with the oldest kermesse, the Foire de Liège, which happens every year starting on October 28.

Culture

Liège is famous for its lively folk festivals. The big celebration on August 15th draws crowds to the Outre-Meuse area, where narrow streets and old yards fill with people enjoying the festivities.

The city is also well-known for its vibrant nightlife. In a square block behind the Opera House, called Le Carré, many lively pubs stay open late into the night. Another busy spot is Place du Marché.

Every Sunday, locals head to the "Batte" market along the river Meuse. This outdoor market, running from early morning until 2 pm, offers fresh produce, clothing, and snacks.

Liège is home to the Opéra Royal de Wallonie and the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège. The city hosts popular music festivals like Les Ardentes and Jazz à Liège.

The city has several cinemas, including alternative options like Le Churchill, Le Parc, and Le Sauvenière, as well as mainstream theaters such as the Kinepolis multiplexes.

Liège speaks a special dialect called Walloon, and many Italian people live there, so you can hear Italian spoken in various places.

Sports

Liège has many sports teams, including Standard Liège, a famous football team that has won many championships. Another team, R.F.C. de Liège, is one of Belgium's oldest football clubs.

Every spring, Liège hosts the start and finish of the Liège–Bastogne–Liège cycling race, a famous and challenging race that goes through the Ardennes hills.

Liège is special because it has hosted parts of all three big cycling tours: the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España. It is also home to boxer Ermano Fegatilli, who is the current European Boxing Union Super Featherweight champion.

Economy

Liège is a very important city in the Walloon region for its economy. In the past, it was one of Europe's key places for making steel. Starting in 1817, a man named John Cockerill helped grow the iron and steel industry a lot. The area around Seraing had the largest industrial complex in the world, with many big factories.

Today, Liège's economy includes many different areas. Important industries are making aircraft engines, space technology, computers, and medicines. The city also makes water, beer, and chocolate. Some famous companies based in Liège include Techspace Aero, which makes parts for big airplanes and rockets, and FN Herstal, which makes weapons. Other well-known brands from Liège are the beer company Jupiler and the chocolate company Galler. There is also a science park near the University of Liège where new technology businesses grow.

Transport

Air

Liège has an airport called Liège Airport in Bierset, a little west of the city. It is mainly used for moving goods and was one of the busiest cargo airports in the world in 2011. There are very few flights for passengers. The airport is owned by the Walloon government and some private investors.

Maritime

The Port of Liège is on the Meuse river and is one of the largest river ports in Europe. Liège connects directly to Antwerp through the Albert Canal and to Rotterdam using the Meuse river. The port covers a long stretch of 26 kilometres with 32 different areas and spans 3.7 square kilometres.

Rail

Liège has many train connections to Western Europe. The three main stations are Liège-Guillemins railway station, Liège-Carré, and Liège-Saint-Lambert. Fast trains like the InterCity Express and Thalys stop at Liège-Guillemins, going to cities like Cologne, Frankfurt, and Paris-Nord.

Liège used to have many trams, but they were taken away in 1967 to make space for a new metro system. A tunnel was dug, but the metro was never finished. Later, plans changed to build a modern tramway instead. Building this new tramway had many delays, but it finally opened on 28 April 2025.

See article Trams in Liège.

Road

Liège is where several major highways meet, including the European route E25, the European Route E42, the European Route E40, and the European Route E313.

Notable people

See also: List of people from Liège

Liège has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals include:

• Alger of Liège, a learned priest from the 11th century
• Julie Allemand, a basketball player in the WNBA born in 1996
• Nicolas Ancion, a writer born in 1971
• Jacques Arcadelt, a composer from the 16th century
• Nacer Chadli, a football player born in 1989
• Charlemagne, who may have been born in Liège in the 8th century and later became King of the Franks and emperor
• Johannes Ciconia, a composer from the 14th century and Master of the Ars Nova
• Steve Darcis, a tennis player born in 1984
• Jean d'Outremeuse, a writer and historian from the 14th century
• Benoît Debie, a cinematographer born in 1968
• Theodor de Bry, an engraver who lived from 1528 to 1598
• Louis De Geer, who introduced Walloon blast furnaces to Sweden in the 17th century
• Gérard de Lairesse, a painter from 1640 to 1711
• Jean-Maurice Dehousse, a politician and activist born in 1936, first Minister-President of the Walloon Region
• Serge Delaive, a writer born in 1965
• Marie Delcourt, a university professor and expert on ancient Greek religion who lived from 1891 to 1979
• Louis Dewis, known as a painter, born Louis Dewachter in 1872 and passed away in 1946. He was also a leading retailer who managed the first chain department stores
• Emile Digneffe, a lawyer and politician from 1858 to 1937
• José Dupuis, an actor known for many roles in operas from 1833 to 1900
• Ermano Fegatilli, a boxer born in 1984
• César Franck, a composer who lived from 1822 to 1890
• Hubert Joseph Walther Frère-Orban, a statesman from 1812 to 1896
• Marie Gillain, an international actress born in 1975
• David Goffin, a tennis player born in 1990
• Anton Gosswin, a composer from the 16th century
• Zénobe Gramme, an inventor from 1826 to 1901
• André Ernest Modeste Grétry, a composer from 1741 to 1813
• Groupe μ, a team of scientists
• Gary Hartstein, a medical doctor born in 1955 who works with Formula 1 racing
• Richard Heintz, a painter from 1871 to 1929
• Justine Henin, a top-ranked female tennis player born in 1982
• Axel Hervelle, a basketball player born in 1983
• Georges Ista, a writer from 1874 to 1939
• Joseph Jongen, an organist, composer, and educator from 1873 to 1953
• Sandra Kim, who won the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 for Belgium, born in 1972
• Caroline Lamarche, a French-speaking writer born in 1955
• Bouli Lanners, an actor and film director born in 1965
• Philippe Léonard, a football player born in 1974
• Linus of Liège, a critic of Isaac Newton from 1595 to 1675
• Lambert Lombard, a painter from 1505 to 1566
• Charles Magnette, a lawyer and politician from 1863 to 1937
• Georges Malempré, a former official with UNESCO, born in 1944
• Georges Nagelmackers, founder of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits from 1845 to 1905
• Hubert Naich, a composer from the 16th century
• Jacques Ochs, an artist and Olympic fencing champion from 1883 to 1971
• Pippin the Younger, who became King of the Franks. He was born in Jupille in the 8th century
• Henri Pousseur, a composer from 1929 to 2009
• Armand Rassenfosse, a painter and graphic artist from 1862 to 1934
• Jean Rey, a former minister and activist who served as the second President of the European Commission from 1902 to 1983
• Philippe-Charles Schmerling, a scientist who helped start paleontology
• Gustave Serrurier-Bovy, an architect and furniture designer from 1858 to 1910
• Georges Simenon, a novelist from 1903 to 1989
• Stanislas-André Steeman, a writer from 1908 to 1970
• Haroun Tazieff, a scientist who studied volcanoes and earth, living from 1914 to 1998
• William of St-Thierry, a theologian and mystic from the 11th century
• Violetta Villas, a Polish singer and actress from 1938 to 2011
• Axel Witsel, a football player born in 1989
• Eugène Ysaÿe, a composer and violinist from 1858 to 1931

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Belgium

Twin towns - Sister cities - Partner cities

Liège has many friends in other countries. It is twinned with cities like Nancy in France, Cologne in Germany, and Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg. Other friends include cities in Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and many more.

One of its friends, Volgograd in Russia, is not currently working together because of events in Ukraine.

Partner cities

Liège also has special partner cities. These include Aachen in Germany, Abidjan in Ivory Coast, and Baton Rouge in the United States. Other partners are in Spain, Albania, the Netherlands, Haiti, Palestine, Canada, Uzbekistan, China, and Morocco.