Things to do in Liège
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Musée d'Ansembourg
Two other museums are located close to the tourist office. Life as it was for some in the 18th century is depicted in the beautiful Musée d'Ansembourg. If you've just come from either the Musée de la Vie Wallonne or the Musée d'Art Réligieux et d'Art Mosan, you'll find this rich, Regency-styled mansion wonderfully uncluttered. Highlights include four original 17th-century Oudenaarde tapestries, pieces of antique delftware pottery and, upstairs, a six-faced clock.
The latter simultaneously shows the time in 50 countries and was invented in 1795 by one Hubert Sarton; it still works.
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Musée de la Vie Wallonne
Close to the base of Montagne de Bueren is the Musée de la Vie Wallonne. Everything that's Walloon and old-fashioned is extolled here, from 12th-century Mosan metalwork to old wooden puppets and biscuit moulds (capable of making mega 5kg biscuits). There are reconstructed ateliers (workshops) from various trades including candlestick-making, basket-weaving and cooperage, as well as industries specifically associated with this region like glass-blowing that's still practised in Dinant.
It's all housed in a restored convent and makes a fascinating amble through the region's past.
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Musée d'Art Réligieux et d'Art Mosan
Just steps away from the Museum of Walloon Life, is the excellent Musée d'Art Réligieux et d'Art Mosan. Spanning several floors, this museum is chock-full of well-preserved religious relics and paintings from the region. Start on the 3rd floor - home to glowing 16th-century statues of St Hubert, the region's patron saint of hunters - then weave your way down. On the 2nd floor, note the worn but nevertheless delicate wood carving of the Vierge (Virgin) that dates right back to 1070.
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Simenon Route Audio tour
The tourist office has an English-language brochure, the Simenon Route, which describes a walking tour around Outremeuse, where writer Georges Simenon spent his youth. One of the most tangible references to Simenon is the brass plaque marking his nearby birthplace at Rue Léopold 24. Alternatively, a French-language Simenon Route Audio tour entitled 'Sur les Traces de Simenon' starts at the Maison du Tourisme.
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Musée Tchantchès
Outremeuse's rakish resident, Tchantchès, appeared one day between two stones in 760, in Charlamagne's reign. This folklore hero and city mascot refused to drink his mother's milk at birth, instead screaming for pékèt (local gin). Despite age he's still working, starring in puppet theatres. The Musée Tchantchès displays his costumes and other paraphernalia.
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Église Collégiale St Barthélemy
Romanesque Église Collégiale St Barthélemy has one attraction - a brass baptismal font crafted between 1107 and 1118 and believed to be the work of either Lambert Patras, a coppersmith from Dinant, or Renier, a goldsmith from Huy. This enormous bowl rests on oxen and is adorned with five baptismal scenes (elaborately described in a video screened near the font).
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Office of Walloon Products
Walloon specialities such as pèkèt, chocolate, Liège syrup (dense jam made of apples or pears), Aubel cider, Trappist beers, salt meats and Herve cheese can be found at the Office of Walloon Products. And not only perishable goods; Walloon cookbooks, puppets and other souvenirs are available. What's not on the shelf for instant gratification you can order.
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Arms Museum
In this neo-classical mansion built in 1775, the Musée d'Armes (opened in 1885) houses a complete collection of armaments. With over 11,000 objects, it's the second largest of its kind in Europe. As well as getting the lowdown on Liège manufacturing history, we're treated to such highlights as 15th-century guns, a prehistoric axe and Napoleon memorabilia.
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Jacques Galler's Chocolate Factory
Jacques Galler's famous (and arguably Liège's most delicate and delicious) chocolate is in all the supermarkets but if you buy from his factory, it's cheaper. Starting out in his father's pastry shop in 1976, Galler's choc-shop took off when he started doing such tasty things with praline that he was given the title of 'Belgian Royal Warrant Holder' in 1994.
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Montagne de Bueren
Don sturdy shoes and climb up the steep steps of Montagne de Bueren: you can rest up top with the superb panoramic view over Liège. In 1468, Franchimontese soldiers, under the patriot Bueren, climbed it to fight with Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who'd occupied the city. The story has no happy ending: they failed, died, and Liège was plundered.
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Former Palace of The Prince-Bishops
The Palais des Princes Evêques (former palace of prince-bishops) boasts a mishmash of styles: the facade is Italian Renaissance in parts and 18th-century French; the interior is Gothic. Seeing it for the first time, author Victor Hugo said, 'Nowhere have I seen a construction so remarkable, serious and gradiose at the same time.' Today, it's a courthouse.
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Musée de l'Art Wallon
The Musée de l'Art Wallon occupies a modern building that's accessed from Rue St Georges. It accommodates a very enjoyable collection of art by French-speaking Belgians, including 16th-century paintings by Henri Blès (1510-55). There are also works by some of the big guns including Constantin Meunier, Antoine Wiertz, René Magritte and Paul Delvaux.
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Saint Bartholomew Church
Crafted between 1107 and 1118, the Eglise Collégiale St Bathélemy is a collegiate church worth seeing for its graceful, brass baptismal font by Renier d'Huy. The font exhibits a large bowl resting on oxen, and is adorned with five naturalistic baptismal scenes. Inside, there's splendid art from the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Val Saint Lambert Abbey And Factory
Since 1826 Liège's Val Saint Lambert crystal has been famous for its purity. Today, its factory behind an ancient abbey offers demonstrations of glass-blowing and crystal engraving. Its museum is worth a visit too for its admirable collection of ancient crystal ware from all over the world. You can buy items from the showroom.
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La Maison du Pékèt
Directly behind the Hôtel de Ville, the bar La Maison du Pékèt keeps the beer and gin humming. They serve over 250 different pékèts in tall glasses: natural, with fruit or flambé. Or if you like there are shots of older, delicious-but-deadly varieties poured from pottery bottles. Happy punters indeed.
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Mamé Vi Cou
'Mamé Vi Cou' is Walloon-speak for 'an older woman of ample proportions'. But try not to binge here, though you may want to after tasting such local specialities as Rognon de Veau au Pékèt (veal in a jenever-based sauce). It's carnivorous food served in cavernous surroundings and it's all very very good.
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La Batte
This Sunday morning market stretches along 1.5km (0.9mi) of river quays (the word 'batte' is old Walloon for 'quay'). Locals and tourists alike frequent here for their weekly food shop, bric-a-brac, exotic birds and fishes, farmyard animals, household goods, old books and other fantastic treasures. Haggling is allowed.
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Soundstation
Soundstation is a former train station that now sports house parties and live rock, jazz and blues. It hosts a restaurant done up in 1930s decor, a cafe for lovers of live acoustic music, a recording studio, and the main dance area for thumping electronic beats.
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Enoteca
The decor is plush - dark and heavy with black marble tables, cushioned brown chairs and wood-panelled walls - but the Italian food is light. You can view it being created in the open, white-tiled kitchen. The food is so good that reservations are recommended.
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FNAC
FNAC is a French-based retail store selling mainly electronics. It's got computers, televisions, stereos, cameras, books, movies and music. It also has a large selection of travel guides and maps. You can make a reservation for a concert or play here too.
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Au Point de Vue
This restaurant occupies a house dating from 1652, and it's busy but informal. A must are the seasonal mussels, shrimps in a cognac sauce and the house speciality, lapin à la Liègeoise (rabbit done the local way).
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Chez Bouldou
This is an elegant bar with attitude. Upstairs is for drinking, downstairs is for dancing the night away. Beer flows and music pumps with acoustic guitar concerts on Monday nights and pop/rock concerts each Thursday from 20:00.
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Taverne à Pilori
This packed-out pub attracts all ages and seems to never close. Underneath its wooden beams, punters can choose from a bewildering range of beers. There's outdoor seating if it gets too busy inside; and it probably will.
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As Ouhès
Specialises in rich Walloon cuisine with ultragenerous portions, attentive service and reasonable prices. Note the restaurant's apt logo - a gluttonous man sitting on a mound of hams, waffles and sausages.
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Le Grain de Sel
Cheery eatery set up in three connecting rooms. The house speciality is tartines Corses, sandwiches of sorts with a base of mozzarella cheese and tapenade. A good respite for vegetarians.
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