Sightseeing in Liege - what to see. Complete travel guide

Liege is an amazing Belgian city, which is known as the largest city in the Walloon Region. Liege is also the third largest municipality of Belgium, with only Brussels and Antwerp ahead. This city is situated in the area of merging of two rivers - Orth and Maas, but, of course, not this fact attracts tourists, but an unusually long history comparing to other cities of Belgium. Here you will see excellent museums, which provide valuable information about the history and culture of the city, as well as old houses and buildings that prove the existence of the Mosan style of architecture.

Liege is considered the city of metallurgists, gunsmiths and manufacturers of cut glass. You will be truly amazed by its lively streets, numerous avenues, squares and parks. The city carefully maintains its ancient traditions as well as items representing Walloon art, which are exhibited in museums of Walloon life. Start your observation of Liege with its central square of St. Lambert. Once a beautiful cathedral named after this saint was standing on the square, but after the French Revolution it was turned into ruins. Some items from the cathedral that have survived as well as its model can be viewed at the Museum of Religious Art on Mer Dew Street.

Among the main attractions of the city you simply cannot fail to visit the palace of Prince-Bishops, which combines Italian Renaissance outer look, Gothic interior and French façade. Other places to visit are the local town hall, an incredible fountain with four lions symbolizing freedom, a museum of armor and cut glass, museum of decorative art, the Gallo-Roman coins and medals, religious sculptures and numerous ancient churches. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

On the promenade of the Meuse, can be seen one of the most impressive architectural monuments of the city - the Curtius Palace. This spectacular building with a bright red facade and a tiled roof was built in the early 17th century. The palace belonged to one of the wealthy merchants of the city. Now the palace is attractive not only for its unique appearance, but also for its interior decoration. Elements of pristine design, including incredibly beautiful stucco reliefs and artistic paintings on which religious and historical scenes are depicted, remain within its walls. The palace is presently used as a museum, and it often hosts exhibitions of contemporary art.

The greatest religious symbol of the city is Saint Paul's Cathedral. The very first Romanesque church in its place was built in the 10th century. It lasted until the 13th century, after which the miniature church was rebuilt into a beautiful Gothic cathedral. Its last major reconstruction took place in the 19th century. It retains an ancient central nave, made in the early Gothic style, as well as old frescoes and stained glass windows. Within the walls of this cathedral, are many important religious relics, among which the shroud of St. Lambert, which was brought to the church over a thousand years ago.

Not far from the cathedral is the Citadel Park - an important historical area with preserved monuments of the past. This park is located on the top of a hill. For hundreds of years, fortifications were located here. In the 13th century, a huge fortress was built here. Today in the park, you can see fragments of ancient fortifications, as well as defensive walls. There are preserved 17th-century bastions, as well as many wells and secret passages. In the park, there is an ancient cemetery.

Nature lovers should definitely visit the Liège Botanical Garden. It is beautiful and interesting at any time of the year. The botanical garden was founded in the city, in 1819 and was originally located in the place where the Cockerill square is now. When the active development of new areas began, the garden was moved to the place where it is located now. In the garden, beautiful greenhouses were built, which are used for holding various exhibitions. In them, huge trees more than 150 years old can be seen.