Things to Do in Liege
Even though I didn’t know much about Liège beforehand, I chose it because it was close to Eindhoven and I thought it would be relatively affordable. I didn’t expect to explore the city so thoroughly in less than 24 hours, but with a bit of determination, I can say that I almost left no stone unturned. Since there aren’t many personal writings about Liège in Turkish, I wanted to prepare this guide as detailed as possible for you.
My General Impressions of Liège
Despite the rain and cold, Liège gave me a positive impression the moment I set foot there, which is usually hard in cold weather. I did have some concerns about safety in the evening, but I didn’t encounter any problems. Even though it’s a small city, it’s packed with things to see. I think they’re not very accustomed to foreign tourists; there were no English menus, and most people spoke French, but I didn’t have any issues in restaurants or cafes. However, it was a strange feeling when museum staff had to explain everything to me in another language. It’s not a place I’d want to stay for a long time, but it was enjoyable for a short visit. The riverside view and green spaces contributed a lot to this feeling. I also liked the small houses and streets; everything was easily accessible and within walking distance. Of course, it might seem ordinary to those familiar with other Belgian cities, but it was my first experience in Belgium. The closest I had been before was Cologne.
By the way, Liège is pronounced “Liej.” When I got on the bus from Eindhoven, an elderly man corrected my pronunciation twice, and I eventually got used to it 🙂
How Many Days Should You Stay in Liège?
I think two full days are enough to enjoy Liège, but if you want to visit every museum and do some nature walks, it could extend to three days. If the weather is very cold, even one day might suffice, as there are only a few museums and churches left to see once you skip the riverside walks and parks.
Accommodation in Liège
I stayed at Eurotel in Liège. I didn’t have any issues with its central location. After getting off the bus, I reached the hotel in just 20 minutes. It’s an old hotel but a clean one. Still, it might be challenging to stay for more than a day or two because there was a bit of a smell in the bathroom. The stairs are quite narrow and steep, not suitable for elderly people. There is an elevator, but it’s a bit unusual; you have to hold down the button until you reach your floor. The reception isn’t open at night, and the main door is locked, so you need your key to open it. The staff was very helpful, but the older ones didn’t speak English, yet we managed to communicate somehow.
Places to Visit in Liège
The first thing that catches your eye in Liège is the number of places of worship. Considering it’s a small city, I can say there are quite a few. I didn’t visit any of them inside. One of the most majestic from the outside is Saint Paul’s Cathedral. The square where this cathedral is located is one of those classic European squares surrounded by shops and eateries. Close by, another church, Church Saint-Jacques, isn’t as grand but is still quite large.
The most interesting one, though, is Saint Bartholomew’s Church, which stands out with its colors. It’s the first church I’ve seen in red and white tones. If the form were a bit different, I could have mistaken it for Charlie’s Chocolate Factory :). Although it’s an 11th-century church, it has recently been renovated, which explains the colors.
Another church that doesn’t stand out from afar but looks majestic up close is Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church. This church, with its brick tones and small but ornate facade, draws attention.
In Saint Lambert Square, Place Saint-Lambert used to host a cathedral, but now it serves as a government building. My reason for going to this square wasn’t to see this building; I stumbled upon it when I heard concert sounds and realized there was an event celebrating Italian culture. While an Italian artist was singing, the Belgian people were dancing and sipping their Aperol Spritz. Especially the elderly weren’t shy about throwing themselves into the dance, which was admirable.
Near Saint Lambert, there is also the Opera House (Opera Royal de Wallonie). While I can’t say it’s the most impressive one I’ve seen after visiting many opera houses in different cities, it’s in the city center, so it can be seen in passing. I didn’t buy a ticket, so I can’t say anything about the inside. Also, from what I understand, events like concerts and theater performances are held at Forum, where there was a line for an event as I passed by.
Another building that stands out with its artistic design is the Philharmonic Hall of Liège, with its intricate decorations on the facade and purple evening lights. I find it more majestic than the Opera House. I’ll leave the judgment to you based on the photos.
After the churches, the next most noticeable things while walking around are the sculptures. I can say that you encounter a sculpture at almost every step. One of the most striking ones in La Boverie Museum’s garden is Le Faune mordu by Jef Lambeaux (1903). The sculpture has won many awards and was once damaged by devout Catholics. The nude male and female figures in the sculpture, with the woman biting the man’s ear, might not have been well-received by the ultra-religious, of course.
Le plongeur et son arc was another sculpture that caught my attention, depicting a diver ready to dive right by the riverside. If you decide to climb the famous stairs I’ll talk about in detail soon, you’ll be greeted by a large statue, Monument au 14ème Régiment de Ligne. This statue was erected in memory of the regiment that fought in World War I. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find some of the statues I photographed later on the map. By the way, none of these were statues I specifically went to see; they’re just along the way, so you’ll come across them anyway.
Now let’s talk about one of the most famous spots in Liège, Montagne de Bueren, the 374-step staircase. As I stood at the foot of the stairs, I thought, “There’s something worse than Lisbon.” When I saw Belgians going up and down the stairs for exercise, I started climbing as well. The house with red bricks along the stairs was particularly charming, but as I looked back, I realized that the weather wouldn’t help me enjoy the view. Fortunately, I climbed the stairs without much difficulty.
After climbing these steps a bit further, you’ll see the statue I mentioned earlier and, by taking the stairs next to it, climb even higher. Normally, the viewpoint offers a good view, but unfortunately, the foggy weather didn’t allow me to see much. However, the park behind the statue, with its walking path surrounded by the Van Luik Castle walls, was quite beautiful. It’s more accurate to call it a forest rather than a park; it’s a large area with dense trees.
A bit further on from the statue, there’s another viewpoint called Belvedere. The view was slightly better there, but it would have been more meaningful on a sunny day. By the way, I mentioned a walking path, but the Belgian people love running; they run everywhere—by the river, in the forest, in the streets. If I had more time, I wouldn’t say no to a walk with plenty of oxygen in this area.
On the way back, instead of Montagne de Bueren, I went further and descended from different stairs. If you go further, the road only leads to these stairs. The houses along the way are like models, very cute. From there, I descended to Prince-Bishops’ Palace via Au Péri. As you can see from the photo below, it’s a very grand and beautiful building. There are many small sculptures on the facade of the building. Diagonally across from it is a very modern building: Palais de Justice. The streets I passed through on the descent reminded me of Edinburgh.
Aside from these, walking along the river is very enjoyable. On Sunday, there was a market set up by the riverside, and it was quite lively. Since the houses are also charming, getting lost in the streets is a nice option too.
If you want to shop, Mediacite is a large shopping mall with many brands, from Primark to Zara. I also saw a very cute shop, especially its window display was beautifully designed for jewelry enthusiasts, but unfortunately, it was closed, so I couldn’t visit it. If you like jewelry, I recommend it.
There are surprisingly so many museums in Liege, I visited many but not all. Thnaks to its being first Sunday of the month, almost all the museums were free. I am telling about those in a separate post . Also, you might want to read my post on “Best Cafes in Liege“.
