# Liège

> city in Wallonia, Belgium

**Wikidata**: [Q3992](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3992)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liège)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/liege

## Summary
Liège is a major city and municipality located in the Wallonia region of Belgium, serving as the capital of the Province of Liège and a historic episcopal see. Founded around 800 AD, it is situated along the Meuse and Ourthe rivers and is renowned for its rich history as the "Cité Ardente" and its status as a cultural hub with a population of approximately 195,000 as of 2022. The city functions as a significant administrative center, hosting the mayor's office and numerous international partnerships while maintaining a distinct identity through its French and Walloon languages.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** City, municipality of Belgium, episcopal see, chef-lieu, and big city.
*   **Location:** Wallonia, Belgium; coordinates 50.639722° N, 5.570555° E.
*   **Area:** 69.39 km² (general); 68.65 km² (preferred, as of 2022).
*   **Population:** 195,278 (preferred, as of January 1, 2022); historical counts range from 196,291 (2014) to 197,885 (2017).
*   **Inception:** Circa 800 AD.
*   **Official Languages:** French (predominant), Walloon, German, Dutch.
*   **Postal Codes:** 4000, 4020, 4030, 4031, 4032.
*   **Time Zone:** UTC+01:00 (Standard), UTC+02:00 (Daylight Saving).
*   **Elevation:** 66 meters above sea level.
*   **Head of Government:** Willy Demeyer (since September 15, 1999); predecessors include Jean-Maurice Dehousse (1995–1999), Henri Schlitz (1991–1995), and Edouard Close (1976–1990).
*   **Local Dialing Code:** 04.
*   **UN/LOCODE:** BELGG.
*   **Enterprise Number (Belgium):** 0207343933.
*   **Legal Form:** Cities and municipalities.
*   **Drainage Basin:** Meuse basin.
*   **Rivers/Canals:** Located on the Meuse, Ourthe, Monsin Canal, Albert Canal, and Canal de l'Ourthe.
*   **Bordering Municipalities:** Herstal, Seraing, Montegnée, Ans, Juprelle, Oupeye, Visé, Blegny, Beyne-Heusay, Chaudfontaine, Esneux.
*   **Subdivisions (Contains Settlements):** Bressoux, Rocourt, Liège, Wandre, Jupille-sur-Meuse, Chênée, Angleur, Grivegnée.
*   **Awards Received:** Knight of the Legion of Honour (August 7, 1914); Good City; Bonne Ville de l'Empire first class; Belgian municipality with the title of city (May 30, 1825).
*   **Twinning Partners:** Tangier (since 2006), Volgodograd (1959–2022), Esch-sur-Alzette (since 1958), Cologne (since 1958), Turin (since 1958), Lille (since 1958), Aachen (since 1955), Rotterdam (since 1958), Porto (since 1977), Nancy (since 1954), Ramallah (since 2014), Samarkand (since 2005), Szeged (since 2001), Wuhan (since 2014), Taiyuan (since 2002), Saint-Louis (since 1980), Quebec City (since 2002), Port-au-Prince (since 2015), Plzeň (since 1965), Maastricht (since 1955), Lubumbashi (since 1961), Heerlen (since 1955), Kraków (since 1978), Hasselt (since 1955), Ghent, Fuzhou (since 2016), Elbasan (since 2014), Bilbao (since 2013), Abidjan (since 2013), Bishkek (since 2012).
*   **Social Media:** Twitter (@villedeliege, verified since 2013), Facebook (liegeville), Instagram (ville.liege), YouTube (VilledeLiegeOfficiel, channel ID UCF4vsOsOb-6l5HV3tBW9mkA, 478 videos as of 2022), Vimeo (user22086069), LinkedIn (ville-de-liège).
*   **Website:** https://www.liege.be/ (French).
*   **Phone:** +32-4-221-81-11.
*   **Identifiers:** GND 4074361-5, VIAF 125420999/137408460, ISNI 0000000122851509, Geonames 2792414, Freebase /m/0d4k2, OSM Node 1689207163, OSM Relation 1681788.
*   **Demonyms:** Liégeois (masculine), Liégeoise (feminine), Luikenaar, Lidjwès, Lidjwèse, liegesi.
*   **Aliases:** Lîdje, Luik, Luuk, Lüttich, La ville aux 100 clochers, La fille ainée de Rome, Fille de l'Église romaine, Cité Ardente, Cité Mosane, Athènes du Nord, Lieja, Люттих.
*   **Historical Sovereignty:** Holy Roman Empire (962–1795), French First Republic (1795–1804), First French Empire (1804–1815), Belgium (since 1830), and various earlier entities including Francia, Middle Francia, Lotharingia, East Francia, and the Kingdom of Germany.
*   **Historical Capital Of:** Province of Liège, Ourthe, Prince-Bishopric of Liège, Republic of Liège.
*   **Historical Location:** Prince-Bishopric of Liège (985–1789), Arrondissement of Liège (since 1800).
*   **Owner Of:** Halle aux viandes, Château de Péralta, Hôtel d'Ansembourg, Hôtel de Hayme de Bomal, market of la Batte, Curtius Palace, Hôtel Somzé, Hôtel Brahy, Hôtel Sklins, hôtel de Bocholtz, Hôtel de Stockem de Heers, Cybernetic Light Tower, Château de Sclessin, Fontaine Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Liège City Hall, Perron of Liège.
*   **Significant Persons:** Hubertus (founder), Notker of Liège (Roman Catholic Bishop).
*   **Annual Weddings:** 558 (recorded in 2016).
*   **YouTube Views:** 1,564,134 (as of December 7, 2025).
*   **Social Media Followers:** 9,136 (Twitter, as of February 13, 2023).

## FAQs

**What is the historical significance of Liège's political status?**
Liège has served as a capital for multiple historical entities, including the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, the Republic of Liège, and the department of Ourthe. It was part of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries before being annexed by the French First Republic in 1795 and later becoming a core part of the Kingdom of Belgium in 1830.

**Which languages are officially spoken in Liège?**
The primary official language is French, which is the predominant language used in administration and daily life. However, the city also recognizes Walloon, German, and Dutch as languages used within the community, reflecting its diverse cultural heritage.

**How is Liège connected to the international community?**
The city maintains an extensive network of twin cities across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with partnerships dating back to 1954 with Nancy. Notable active partnerships include those with Cologne, Turin, Fuzhou, and Ramallah, while its partnership with Volgograd ended in March 2022.

**What are the key geographical features of the city?**
Liège is situated in a valley at the confluence of the Meuse and Ourthe rivers, with an elevation of 66 meters. The city spans an area of approximately 68.65 square kilometers and is bordered by several municipalities including Herstal, Seraing, and Ans.

**Who currently leads the city government?**
Willy Demeyer has served as the Mayor of Liège since September 15, 1999, succeeding Jean-Maurice Dehousse. The office of the head of government is titled "Mayor of Liège," and the city operates under the legal form of a Belgian municipality with the title of city.

## Why It Matters
Liège holds profound historical and cultural significance as one of the oldest episcopal sees in Europe, having been founded around 800 AD and serving as a center of religious and political power for centuries. Its role as the "Cité Ardente" (Fiery City) reflects its history of resistance and industrial innovation, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries. As the capital of the Province of Liège and a major hub in Wallonia, it drives the regional economy and serves as a critical administrative center for the French-speaking community of Belgium. The city's extensive network of international partnerships underscores its role as a diplomatic bridge, fostering cultural exchange and cooperation across continents. Furthermore, its preservation of unique architectural heritage, such as the Perron of Liège and numerous protected sites, makes it a vital repository of European history and art.

## Notable For
*   **Historical Titles:** Known as "La ville aux 100 clochers" (The city of 100 bells), "La fille ainée de Rome" (The eldest daughter of Rome), and "Athènes du Nord" (Athens of the North).
*   **Unique Awards:** Recipient of the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1914 and the title of "Bonne Ville de l'Empire first class."
*   **Architectural Landmarks:** Home to the iconic Perron of Liège, the Liège City Hall, and the Cybernetic Light Tower.
*   **Cultural Identity:** Distinctive for its Walloon language preservation and the use of the demonym "Liégeois."
*   **Geographical Uniqueness:** Located at the confluence of the Meuse and Ourthe rivers within the Meuse basin.
*   **Administrative Status:** Functions as a "chef-lieu" (capital) for the Province of Liège and historically for the Prince-Bishopric.
*   **International Reach:** Hosts one of the most extensive lists of twin cities in Belgium, including partnerships with major global cities like Wuhan, Quebec City, and Porto.
*   **Founding Legacy:** Founded by Saint Hubertus and historically governed by notable bishops such as Notker of Liège.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Liège is situated in the Wallonia region of Belgium, with precise coordinates at latitude 50.639722° N and longitude 5.570555° E. The city covers a total area of 69.39 square kilometers, with a preferred measurement of 68.65 square kilometers recorded in 2022. Its elevation stands at 66 meters above sea level. The city is geographically defined by its location on the Meuse and Ourthe rivers, as well as the Monsin Canal, Albert Canal, and Canal de l'Ourthe. The drainage basin is the Meuse basin. The municipality borders Herstal, Seraing, Montegnée, Ans, Juprelle, Oupeye, Visé, Blegny, Beyne-Heusay, Chaudfontaine, and Esneux.

The population has fluctuated in recent years, with recorded figures of 196,291 in 2014, 197,885 in 2017, and a preferred count of 195,278 as of January 1, 2022. The city is composed of several settlements, including Bressoux, Rocourt, Liège, Wandre, Jupille-sur-Meuse, Chênée, Angleur, and Grivegnée. The official languages are French, Walloon, German, and Dutch, with French being the predominant language. The local dialing code is 04, and the postal codes range from 4000 to 4032. The time zone is UTC+01:00 for standard time and UTC+02:00 for daylight saving time.

### History and Sovereignty
The city's inception dates back to approximately 800 AD. Historically, Liège has been part of numerous political entities. It was located within the Prince-Bishopric of Liège from 985 to 1789. Prior to that, it was part of the Holy Roman Empire from 962 to 1795, following a lineage of sovereignty through the Kingdom of Germany (919–962), East Francia (870–919), Lotharingia (855–870), Middle Francia (843–855), and Francia (ending 843).

In the modern era, Liège was part of the French First Republic from 1795 to 1804, the First French Empire from 1804 to 1815, and has been part of Belgium since 1830. It served as the capital of the Province of Liège, the department of Ourthe, the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, and the Republic of Liège. The city received the title of "Belgian municipality with the title of city" on May 30, 1825. Significant historical figures include Hubertus, recognized as the founder, and Notker of Liège, a Roman Catholic Bishop.

### Governance and Administration
Liège operates as a city and municipality of Belgium with the legal form of "Cities and municipalities." The head of government is the Mayor of Liège. The current mayor is Willy Demeyer, who has held the position since September 15, 1999. Previous mayors include Jean-Maurice Dehousse (1995–1999), Henri Schlitz (1991–1995), and Edouard Close (1976–1990). The city's enterprise number is 0207343933.

The city owns numerous significant properties and facilities, including the Halle aux viandes, Château de Péralta, Hôtel d'Ansembourg, Hôtel de Hayme de Bomal, the market of la Batte, Curtius Palace, Hôtel Somzé, Hôtel Brahy, Hôtel Sklins, hôtel de Bocholtz, Hôtel de Stockem de Heers, the Cybernetic Light Tower, Château de Sclessin, Fontaine Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Liège City Hall, and the Perron of Liège. It also contains facilities such as Sanisettes. The city is part of the Emergency zone Liège 2.

### International Relations and Partnerships
Liège maintains a robust network of international partnerships. Active twinning agreements include:
*   **Tangier** (since 2006)
*   **Esch-sur-Alzette** (since 1958)
*   **Cologne** (since 1958)
*   **Turin** (since 1958)
*   **Lille** (since 1958)
*   **Aachen** (since 1955)
*   **Rotterdam** (since 1958)
*   **Porto** (since 1977)
*   **Nancy** (since 1954)
*   **Ramallah** (since 2014, preferred)
*   **Samarkand** (since 2005)
*   **Szeged** (since 2001)
*   **Wuhan** (since 2014)
*   **Taiyuan** (since 2002)
*   **Saint-Louis** (since 1980)
*   **Quebec City** (since 2002)
*   **Port-au-Prince** (since 2015)
*   **Plzeň** (since 1965)
*   **Maastricht** (since 1955)
*   **Lubumbashi** (since 1961)
*   **Heerlen** (since 1955)
*   **Kraków** (since 1978)
*   **Hasselt** (since 1955)
*   **Ghent**
*   **Fuzhou** (since 2016, preferred)
*   **Elbasan** (since 2014)
*   **Bilbao** (since 2013)
*   **Abidjan** (since 2013)
*   **Bishkek** (since 2012)

The partnership with **Volgograd** was established in 1959 but ended on March 8, 2022.

### Culture, Media, and Digital Presence
The city is known by various aliases and nicknames, including "La ville aux 100 clochers," "La fille ainée de Rome," "Cité Ardente," and "Athènes du Nord." Demonyms include Liégeois (masculine), Liégeoise (feminine), Luikenaar, and Lidjwès. The official website is https://www.liege.be/, and the phone number is +32-4-221-81-11.

Liège has a strong digital footprint with verified social media accounts: Twitter (@villedeliege, verified since 2013), Facebook (liegeville), Instagram (ville.liege), and LinkedIn (ville-de-liège). The official YouTube channel is "VilledeLiegeOfficiel" (ID: UCF4vsOsOb-6l5HV3tBW9mkA), which had 478 videos and over 1.5 million views as of late 2025. The city also has a Vimeo presence (user22086069).

Cultural and historical data is preserved in numerous encyclopedias and databases, including the Encyclopædia Britannica, Brockhaus and Efron, the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, and the Catholic Encyclopedia. The city is the subject of the "List of protected heritage sites in Liège." It is also associated with the "Economy of Liège" and "History of Liège" topics.

### Identifiers and Technical Data
Liège is identified by a vast array of global and local identifiers:
*   **GND:** 4074361-5
*   **VIAF:** 125420999, 137408460
*   **ISNI:** 0000000122851509
*   **Geonames:** 2792414
*   **Freebase:** /m/0d4k2
*   **OpenStreetMap:** Node 1689207163, Relation 1681788
*   **UN/LOCODE:** BELGG
*   **Enterprise Number:** 0207343933
*   **Library of Congress:** n2004025074
*   **BNF:** 11864753d, 11940624b
*   **Getty TGN:** 7007945
*   **MusicBrainz:** 7f24b77b-abe7-42d9-b79c-ee09bbf5c83c
*   **WorldCat:** E39PBJfh8cqtfq3JYqHh9YbWXd

The city is categorized under "Category:Liège," "Category:Births in Liège," "Category:Deaths in Liège," and "Category:Views of Liège." It is also listed in the "Govdirectory" focus list of Wikimedia projects. The city's flag is available as "LuikVlag.svg," and its coat of arms is "Blason_liege.svg." The city has a Wikipedia title "Liège" and a Commons category "Liège."

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Global LEI Index
3. [Source](http://www.provincedeliege.be/fr/liege1418/legiondhonneur)
4. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/tanger-tanja-maroc)
5. [Source](http://www.volgadmin.ru/d/about/TwinCities)
6. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/volgograd-volgograd-russie)
7. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/esch-sur-alzette-grand-duche-de-luxembourg)
8. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/cologne-koln-allemagne)
9. [Source](https://www.stadt-koeln.de/politik-und-verwaltung/internationales/staedtepartnerschaften/luettich-belgien)
10. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/turin-torino-italie)
11. [Source](http://www.comune.torino.it/relint/gemellaggieaccordi/liegi.shtml)
12. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/lille-france)
13. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/aix-la-chapelle-aachen-allemagne)
14. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/rotterdam-pays-bas)
15. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/porto-portugal)
16. [Source](https://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M4000)
17. [Source](https://www.nancy.fr/citoyenne/relations-internationales/nancy-partenaire-de-11-villes-dans-le-monde-516.html)
18. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/nancy-france)
19. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/ramallah-palestine)
20. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires)
21. [Source](https://www.ramallah.ps/userfiles/server/Advertisement-for-the-International-Triennial-of-Contemporary%20Print.pdf)
22. [Source](https://www.ramallah.ps/userfiles/file/publications/annual/annual_report2013e.pdf)
23. [Source](https://ramallah.ps/en/Article/9353/International-Cooperation)
24. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/samarkand-samarquand-en-ouzbek-samarkand-en-russe-ouzbekistan)
25. [Source](https://www.szegedvaros.hu/aranyoldalak/liege-belgium/)
26. [Source](http://szegedtourism.hu/hu/liege-belgium/)
27. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/szeged-hongrie)
28. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/wuhan-chine)
29. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/taiyuan-republique-populaire-de-chine)
30. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/saint-louis-senegal)
31. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/quebec-canada)
32. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/port-au-prince-haiti)
33. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/plzen-republique-tcheque)
34. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/maastricht-pays-bas)
35. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/lubumbashi-republique-democratique-du-congo)
36. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/heerlen-pays-bas)
37. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/cracovie-krakow-pologne)
38. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/hasselt-belgique)
39. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/gand-gent-belgique)
40. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/fuzhou-republique-populaire-de-chine)
41. [Source](http://www.fuzhou.gov.cn/zgfzzt/zjrc/gjyhcs/202201/P020220117351044590058.pdf)
42. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/elbasan-albanie)
43. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/bilbao-espagne)
44. [Source](https://www.liege.be/fr/vie-communale/services-communaux/international/jumelages-et-partenaires/abidjan-cote-divoire)
45. [International cooperation of Bishkek City Hall](https://bishkek.gov.kg/en/international_connections)
46. Virtual International Authority File
47. Crossroad Bank of Enterprises
48. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
49. Czech National Authority Database
50. MusicBrainz