Holiday in Liège

What makes Liège special as a destination?

Liège is the fiery soul of Wallonia and a city that has spectacularly reinvented itself in recent years without losing its rough, authentic charm. The symbol of this transformation is the Liège-Guillemins train station, designed by star architect Santiago Calatrava – a white, cathedral-like masterpiece of steel, glass, and concrete that lies like a stranded spaceship in the city. Just for this building, a stopover in Liège is worthwhile, and indeed, Thalys and ICE trains stop here on the Cologne–Brussels route. The old town of Liège surprises with a density of sights that rivals larger cities. The Montagne de Bueren, a legendary staircase with 374 steps, connects the lower town with the citadel and offers a breathtaking view over the Meuse and the rooftops of the city after the sweaty climb. The Carré district is the ultimate entertainment area: over 200 bars and pubs are lined up in close quarters, making Liège the party center of Belgium – livelier and less touristy than Brussels. What truly distinguishes Liège is its food culture. The Liège waffle, the genuine Gaufre de Liège, has nothing to do with the flat Brussels waffles – it is thicker, sweeter, caramelized with pearl sugar, and eaten as street food. The Sunday market La Batte along the Meuse is the longest and oldest market in Belgium, stretching over three kilometers. Boulets à la liégeoise, meatballs in a sweet-sour syrup sauce, are the national dish of the city. For German visitors, Liège is ideally located: it is only 60 kilometers from Aachen and less than two hours from Cologne by car or train. A day trip or weekend trip is uncomplicated and surprisingly worthwhile.