Liège - a city in eastern Belgium, almost on the border with Germany and not far from the border with the Netherlands. The population is about 200 thousand inhabitants.
Like most Western European cities, at first it was the camp of the Romans (Leodius). In the Middle Ages, the city became the seat of very influential princes-archbishops.
Monument to King Albert I
Fragni Bridge (Bridge of Angels)
Kindergarten with rabbits
The first thing a visitor pays attention to railroad traveler, this liege train station - a building of very unusual architecture. Inside, everything is much more prosaic, moreover, the building itself is small, and this impressive roof covers the paths that are raised above the ground.
Train Station
The next thing my eyes fell on was a huge dome on the mountain on the other side of the railroad tracks. So I checked into the hotel and climbed this very mountain. On the way, passing along the street adjacent to the railway, I noticed a mannequin sitting in a window in strange clothes - leather underwear and high boots. I reached the next house, and there is another mannequin in the window in the same form, and in the next house too ... And then I look, one of the mannequins got up and went somewhere. :) It turned out to be a local red light district. Everything for business, no tourists, like in Amsterdam, and indeed there is only a small group of young people on the whole street, no one else.
People also live on the mountain and, judging by the age of the local church, have lived for a long time. Chapel of St. Mora (or Mavra) was built in 1673 instead of the old one dating from the 15th century. This area is called Coint.
Union Memorial
Union Memorial Tower
Liege does not have a compact old city, attractions are scattered throughout the territory. By the way, this suggests that already in the Middle Ages, the city occupied an area practically comparable to the present, i.e. was very large at the time. There is also a well-preserved part of the old city, around the episcopal palace, but mostly old churches are located between modern buildings.
Cathedral of st. Paul became cathedral after the cathedral of St. Lambert. The prominent yellow part of the tower with bells and a spire was built exactly from the towers of the church of St. Lambert.
Cathedral of St. Paul (X-XV centuries)
Church of st. Jacob (Saint-Jacques) was part of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Jacques-le-Miner, founded in 1050. The construction of the current Gothic church was completed in 1538. The front part of the building with one of three towers has been preserved from the previous Romanesque church.
After the secularization of the abbey, the church became a parish, and the buildings of the monastery were sold.
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Church Saint-Jacques (XI-XVI c.)
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Church Saint-Jacques (XI-XVI c.)
St. Anne's Church belonged to the Augustinian monastery. It was consecrated in 1527. In the second half of the eighteenth century, it was decided to rebuild the building in the then fashionable classicism style. Literally a few years after the completion of construction, the Great French Revolution took place, the Augustinian Order was practically destroyed and the monastery buildings were sold out. In 1859 the church was about to be destroyed, but a widow bought the building. By 1866, the church was restored and re-consecrated, already in honor of the Holy Communion.
Abbey of Peace of Our Lady of Liege (XVII century)
Church of St. Bartholomew (XI-XIX centuries)
The Church of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady (Notre Dame de Immacoule), located nearby, looks no less colorful. The style makes it clear that she is much younger than Saint Barthélemy. It was the church of the Monastery of Discalced Carmelites dedicated to St. Teresa and St. Joseph. During the Revolution, it was sold at auction, after the Revolution, it was again bought out by the Carmelites and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Church of the Conception of Notre Dame de Immacoulet (XVII century)
The Church of St. Antoine, built in 1244, was part of the Convent of the Cordeliers. Its facade, of course, appeared much later.
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Church of St. Antoine (XII-XVIII centuries)
Church of St. Servatius - one of the oldest in Liege, the first mention dates back to 1189.
Church of St. John (XVII century)
The Basilica of St. Martin, in its current Gothic form, replaced the old Romanesque church, which was founded in 962, after, according to legend, the then bishop of Liege was healed at the grave of St. Martin of Tours.
Basilica of St. Martin (XVI century)
Basilica of St. Martin (XVI century)
The main museum attraction of Liege is curtius Museum, named after the owner of the mansion where it is now located. The exposition is large and interesting, covering the period from Ancient egypt before Louis XIV.
Curtius Museum. Egyptian sarcophagus
Stairs uphill
And, of course, the archbishop lived in the city center. The current palace was built in the sixteenth century on the site of an old building destroyed by Karl the Bold.
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Archbishop's palace (XVI century)
Therefore, we can easily say that there are sights on almost every corner.
Ors-Château and En Feronstri, Rue Voliere and the Fondation Saint Servais, the Church of Saint Servais and the Chapel of Saint-Roche, medieval houses in the Mosan style, Place du Marché and Place Saint-Lambert, and of course the famous stairs of Montagne du Buren. often referred to as a staircase of 400 steps (although in fact out of only 373), the Outermeuse district with its Ottoman-style buildings, Boulevard Constitution and Place du Congress, Market Square and the old Citadel ... The historic center of Liège, in principle, can be bypassed in one day, but in fact, imbued with the spirit of this stunning place, you will look at its unique buildings for as long as you happen to live in this romantic and tough, so different and so unique city.
It will take more than one week to see all the attractions available in Liege. And after long walks, you can happily relax in, in the gardens of Cotto or in the garden of Dina Deferme.
Cathedrals and churchesThere are many cathedrals and churches in Liege - this is to some extent explained by the fact that until 1789 the city was under the rule of the episcopate. You can see a surprisingly beautiful bronze font of the 12th century. The Church of Saint-Jean is considered the most beautiful of the Liege temples, it is known for both its rather rare octahedral shape and interior decoration, including stunning paintings and a wooden sculpture of Our Lady by Delacroix, dating back to 1523. The Church of Saint-Martin was founded in the X century, burned down at the end of the XIII century and was completely restored in the XV.
– cathedral Liege, today it houses the cancer of St. Lambert. Also noteworthy are the churches of Saint-Christophe, Saint-Nicolas, Saint-Denis, the College of Evangelicals Saint-Jacques. The neo-Byzantine Synagogue on Leon Frederic Street is also very beautiful.
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"Main" - located in the old palace of Curtius and two buildings adjacent to it. The 8-storey building was built in the early 17th century and was used as a storage facility. The other two buildings once housed a hotel known for being Napoleon's twice staying there.
The ethnological museum is located in the building of the old convent on the Cur des Mignors. One of the most visited museums is also the Aquarium, which displays over 2500 species of fish. The same building houses the Science Museum and the Zoology Museum. These places will be very interesting for children.
A relatively new museum, opened in 1985 in the building of the former tram depot - which tells about the history of public transport in Liege, starting from 1875, when the first horse tram appeared in the city. Another fairly new museum is the Museum of Walloon Art, abbreviated as BAL. It is located on the Ors-Chateau in a building dating back to the 70s of the last century. It works permanent exhibition, presenting a collection of paintings from different periods, as well as various exhibitions.
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There is much to see in Liege besides churches and museums. One of business cards cities can be called a building railway station, designed famous architect Santiago Calatrava. The Perron fountain attracts tourists on market square, named after a medieval fort destroyed in 1468. Another famous fountain is located opposite St. Paul's Cathedral - this is the Virgin and Child, made by the Liege sculptor Jean Delcourt in the middle of the 12th century.
Hello dear travelers, today we are leaving for the city of Liege!
Liege is one of oldest cities Europe and one of the largest cities in Belgium, at the confluence of the Meuse and Urth rivers. What should interest us in it?
It was founded in the 8th century, initially as a pilgrimage settlement on the site of the tomb of St. Lambert. Over the centuries, the city has experienced social and economic upheavals, religious and civil wars, however, he always remained free from anyone's influence.
As the capital of Belgian Wallonia, Liège, nevertheless, is looking more and more confidently towards France, and perhaps the moment when he will become a part of it is not far off.
The city is interesting for its ancient buildings, reflecting its thousand-year history, the largest pedestrian zone in Europe, about 3 kilometers long, and the writer Georges Simenon, the creator of the image of the famous Commissioner Maigret, lived in these places.
First of all, tourists in Liege will be attracted by its architecture, among which there are many churches and cathedrals. One of the most beautiful is the Church of St. James, which has preserved the details of the original construction of the 12th century, but in general it is an example of a combination of different styles of medieval architecture.
Here you will find majestic stained-glass windows, at the entrance you will be greeted by the sculptural composition "Jacob's Dream", and in one of the chapels you will see a gilded wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary, dated 1523.
No less impressive is the Cathedral of St. Paul, built in the 10th century, but rebuilt until the 15th century. Consisting of three naves with seven transepts, the building stands out with clear Masonic Gothic features.
The cathedral is also unique for its treasures: ivory items and a golden casket with the relics of St. Lambert. The true masterpieces of the cathedral are the marble sculpture "Entombment" by Delcourt in 1696, as well as frescoes from the mid-16th century.
You will lose a lot if you do not climb Mount Buerna using the 406-step staircase, because you will be rewarded with a magnificent panorama of the city. According to legend, 6,000 soldiers led by the local patriot Buerin in this place climbed the hill to capture the camp of Charles the Bold - the Duke of Burgundy.
However, this plan failed, and 600 daredevils were destroyed. The staircase was built at the supposed climbing site in 1880. However, now they say that the events took place in a completely different place, and the stairs were built for the convenience of the garrison soldiers, so that they would bypass dangerous alleys.
You are likely to be interested in the many museums of Liege reflecting rich history city \u200b\u200band its provinces. The Museum of Walloon Art has an excellent collection of paintings representing the work of Walloon artists from XVII century to the present, among other works there are paintings by the famous surrealist René Magritte.
The former 17th century mansion of aristocrat Jean de Corte now houses a collection archaeological finds and works of decorative art of the Liege lands. Among the exhibits of the museum, the 12th century gospel, decorated with ivory and enamel, stands out. Liege also houses the arms museum - the second largest in Europe. This is a reminder that Liege at one time was one of the centers of the arms trade, which was supplied to all parts of the world.
If you are tired of excursions, then you can go shopping. Better yet, go early in the morning to the Marché de Liege la Batte market, which stretches along the Meuse River. In one of the longest markets in Europe, you will always find fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry.
For a bite to eat, visit one of the many eateries downtown and be sure to try the local beer, cheese and chocolate, as well as cutè peures (dry waffles) - a highlight local cuisine... Do not forget to visit the tracery ultra-modern building of the railway station and only then your trip to Liege will be considered complete.
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Is one of the provincial European countries that every year attracts more and more tourists' attention. It would seem a small country, but so interesting and rich in history, which has carefully preserved many monuments, ancient buildings and religious structures. There is beautiful parks and world famous museums. One of the most diverse places where travelers aspire in the first place is the city of Liege. Let's tell you more about it.
Acquaintance with the city of Liege in Belgium
Let's start with the fact that Liege - the largest city Wallonia (region in), the history of which dates back to the time of the Great Roman Empire from the settlement of Leodicus. An eventful history has led to the fact that today it is very modern city with a well-developed industry, as well as the third largest municipality in Belgium. The image of the old city does not prevent it from keeping up with the times. The production of crystal and weapons, coal mining and metallurgy are well developed here, and in the last 10 years, tourism has been given special attention.
The administrative center of the province of Liege of the same name in Belgium is located at the confluence of two rivers: the Meuse and the Urth, about a hundred kilometers from. According to the 2006 census, 194 thousand people lived in the city, today this figure has long exceeded 200 thousand citizens. The inhabitants of the city are well educated and speak fluently German, Dutch and French.
Climate and weather in Liege
The geographic location of the country is such that comfortable and pleasant weather stays here all year round. Winter in Liege is never cold and frosty, and summer is never sultry and hot. It was noted that the average daily winter temperatures are kept around the mark of -2 degrees, and in summer about +15. Peak tourist season in the city of Liege falls in the spring and summer.
Attractions and entertainment of Liege
The city still has some old houses from red brick and blue stone. But if you wanted to besides walking the historic center visit one of the interesting objects, then we suggest paying attention to the following:
- Palace of Princes-Bishops in Saint Lambert Square;
- the gothic church of St. Martin;
- weapons museum;
- ansemburg Museum;
- city Hall;
- fountain Perron, etc.
In small European cities, hectic life is usually concentrated in one place for general convenience and order, and the city of Liege is no exception. Branded clothing stores, most of the cinemas, restaurants and cafes are located in the so-called Le Carre square. It is located between the streets Pont d "Avroy, Vinave d" Ile and de la Casquette and the boulevard de la Sauveniere. There are always a lot of people here, it is noisy and festive, because from time to time there are promotions, contests or theater actors amuse the residents.
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Historically, the food tastes of the inhabitants of Liege are an interesting mixture of the cuisines of all neighbors, but, of course, the French left a special mark. Among all the variety, it is worth noting L "Héliport, Michel Germeau, Il Etait Une Fois, but you can easily find restaurants of Italian, Chinese, Japanese and some others.
In most local pubs, when ordering a large glass of beer, they will bring you Liege salad or sandwiches as a free treat, the fact is that the foamy drink is highly valued here, and tourists are trying to save money on food using this.
As far as accommodation is concerned, as in everything else, in Liege you will find excellent quality from prestigious to modest and cozy. We recommend the four star hotels Ramada Plaza Liege City and Alliance Liege, as well as the three star hotels Husa De La Couronne Liege and Best Western Univers. Tipping is always welcome and is considered a sign of good parenting.
SafetyLike many european citiesLiège is considered a safe city with extremely low crime rates. But no one excludes the possibility of pickpocketing, so be careful and do not carry large amounts of cash and valuables with you, use safes in hotels.
As for possible conflicts with local residents or law enforcement, it is recommended to keep the streets clean and use trash cans. For this minor offense for many travelers, a decent fine is due. We also do not recommend getting into political debates, criticizing the royal family and trying to compare Belgium with France.
Transport in Liege
It should be noted that public transport in Liege is well developed, the routes correspond to the schedule and have a decent level of comfort and technical condition. Also, you can use the almost perfect taxi service at any time of the day and even rent a bike.
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How to get to Liege?
A serious industrial city cannot do without a well-developed transport system: four major highways E25, E40, E42, E313 pass through the city. You can get to the city from neighboring regions not only by car or bus, but also as an excursion on a river boat.
If you want to start your visit from Liege, then don't forget the local one. This destination is very popular with charter companies, incl. from Russia and some CIS countries. You can easily reach Liege by train from Paris, Aachen and Maastricht.
Liege (Flemish Luik) is one of those cities that we either adore or hate. Located along the Meuse River, about 90 km from Brussels, it is also the most big city Ardennes, capital of the province. Industrial, decaying, tough, Liege has a peculiar charm, which, however, is not striking. Still, Liege is worth a visit, if only for its city museum. The richest collection contains unique exhibits of religious art that are not found anywhere else in Belgium.
And Liege is also the birthplace of Georges Simenon, who wrote the adventures of the wise broad-shouldered Commissioner Megre, an overweight man in a bowler hat and an invariable pipe in his teeth.
How to get there
Liège-Bierset International Airport accepts charters and regular flights from Agadir, Alicante, Bodrum, Catania, Corfu, Djerba, Hurghada, Ibiza, Izmir, Las Palma, Malaga, Monastir, Rhodes, Tel Aviv, Tenerife and other cities. You can get to the city center by public transport, although it is quite difficult.
Tourists from Russia mostly use international Airport Brussels, and from there they get to Liege by train via Leuven or by direct train from Brussels-Nord station. From Brussels, an intercity train leaves every hour, the journey takes approximately 60 minutes.
Search for flights to Brussels (nearest airport to Liege)
By train or bus
Liège-Guillemins - main railway station located in the southwest of the city. Thalys high-speed trains from Paris, Aachen, Cologne and Frankfurt also stop here. However, keep in mind that this is not the most pleasant station in Belgium, despite the fact that it was designed by the great genius Calatrava himself. Getting from there on foot to the city center is unlikely. It is better to take a bus, which costs 2-3 EUR one way, or a taxi for 8-10 EUR. The cheapest option is to take a train to Liège-Palais station (the price is included in the ticket to Liège-Guillemins), the journey takes 6 minutes. The prices on the page are for March 2019.
When designing a new station in Liege, a city of high-tech, beer and chocolate, Calatrava took into account all the shortcomings of past experiences and created a station-perfection - an openwork structure that is definitely worth seeing on your trip around the country.
Weather in Liege
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Transport
You can get around the city center on foot or by bus (one-way ticket from 2 EUR). To order a taxi, call Liège Taxi on 0800 322 00. Bikes can be rented from Pro Velo (Rue de Gueldre 3; opening hours: 14-18: 00 Fri-Wed from May to September). The rental price is 7 EUR per 2 hours, per day - 14 EUR.
Liege Maps
Shopping and markets
The Marché de la Batte market is a popular spot for a Saturday morning walk. One of the longest markets in Europe stretches along the Meuse River and the University of Liege. The bazaar opens early in the morning, closes closer to lunch. Here you can buy groceries, clothing and snacks, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits.
On flea markets Saint Gilles (every Saturday on Boulevard Louis Hillier) and Saint Pholien (every Friday morning on Boulevard de la Constitution) are worth looking for unique and fun keepsakes from Liege. In addition, the city hosts a fun fair every year, which falls on the first weekend of October and lasts 6 weeks until the second weekend of November.
Traditional souvenirs from Liège are Val Saint Lambert crystals, as well as local crafts (scarves with medieval ornaments or ties with modern designs), which can be found at the tourist information office, as well as in souvenir shops throughout the city. It is also worth taking a look at the Tchantchès folklore dolls.
Cuisine and dishes
Typical drinks and snacks in Liege are Belgian beers, chocolate and cheese. It is worth trying Herve soup with a peculiar taste, Sirop de Liege made with a mixture of apples and pears, apple cider, Pequet tincture. And for sweets - the famous Belgian waffles.
Other desserts can be found depending on the season: bouquetes (dark pancakes with raisins and sugar), lacquemants / lackmans (dry waffles), cute peures - a special kind of local baked goods. Liege coffee (cafe liegeois) is traditionally popular all year round - Viennese coffee, renamed by Parisians during the Second World War.
Popular hotels in Liege
Entertainment and attractions of Liege
The main attraction of Liege is the palace of the princes-bishops, which was built at the beginning of the 11th century, then expanded and rebuilt several times, becoming a real decoration of the city from about the 14th century. Behind the palace with a neo-Gothic façade, there are two courtyards decorated with graceful arcades in the early Renaissance style.
Cathedrals of Liege
Having paid tribute to the residence of the princes, it is worth walking to the Romanesque church of Saint Barthélemy, whose architecture with two towers is very typical of the entire region from the Rhine to the Meuse. Also traditional for the Meuse Valley is the foundry school founded in the 12-13th centuries. It was the natives of this school that created the amazing bronze font in the church of Saint Barthélemy. The font was cast by the master Reiner of Guy in the 12th century.
Another charming piece of religious architecture in Liege is the Saint-Jean Church, founded by the bishop of Notger, modeled on the Aachen Palatinate Chapel. It was rebuilt in the 18th century, but retained its octahedral shape. Inside there are rare artistic monuments such as the image of the Mother of God and the "Crucifixion" of the 13th century.
The list would be incomplete without two more picturesque churches - Saint-Martin and Saint-Paul. The first was founded under the bishop of Notger in the 10th century, but due to a fire in 1291, almost nothing remained of the temple. What tourists see today was restored in the 15th century. The Saint-Paul cathedral is more recent, dating back to the 14-15th centuries, and it also stands on the site of a Gothic cathedral that has not survived.
In the treasury of Saint-Paul - the cancer of Saint Lambert, the penitential gift of Charles the Bold.
Urban architecture
The central place in the city is occupied by the airy City Hall, built in the style of French classicism. On the pediment is the coat of arms of the city (1714), and on the bronze plaque is the name of Megre, the most famous detective in the 30s of the 20th century, who was immortalized in the pages of detective novels by Georges Simenon. The author, a native of these places, is no less loved by the inhabitants of the city. You can get acquainted with the exposition about his work and life in the house-museum of the famous writer.
Both locals and tourists love to stroll along the pretty work of the architect Jean Delcourt - the medieval colonnade (le Perron) transferred to the fountain in 1697. Which is now considered a symbol of the independence of the city.
Maasland Museum of Archeology and Art
The museum is housed in the old patrician House of Curtius, which was built in the early 17th century in the Maas Renaissance style. For a long time, the building belonged to an arms dealer, but today there is an excellent museum with a rich collection. Its pearl is the Gospel of Notger (circa 1000) in an ivory setting, decorated with enamel and precious stones.
