Introducing Liège

Liège (Luik in Flemish) is one of those cities people love or loathe. Sprawled along the Meuse River about 90km east of Brussels, it’s the Ardennes’ largest city and the capital of its own province. Industrial, decaying and gritty, it’s the sort of place that takes time to get to know – there are quirky charms and some old intimate quarters, but they’re not immediately apparent.

The city’s museums hold a rich showcase of medieval religious art, the likes of which you won’t see elsewhere in Belgium – for that alone Liège merits an overnight stop. Fans of Inspector Maigret may also want to pay homage here, as Liège is the birthplace of writer Georges Simenon.