A Snapshot of Liège

When you think of Liège, you see the Meuse
Or Van Buren's steep ascent occurs
Prince-Bishops' palace, Market Square
And a Cathedral – that's not there!

Abbeys, Convents, Catering School
The Perron and its history cruel
Sculptured fountains by Delcour
Hors-Château mansions to explore.

Poor Liège, so often pulled apart
See the Archeoforum at its heart
Archbishop Lambert lives again
A shopping arcade bears his name!

Le Carré, once an almost isle
Now thrives with nightlife, student style
Fine Opera house with colonnades
No memory now of Viking raids...

Industrial heartland, coal mine slump
The Coronmeuse now bears the brunt
Much shabby housing, seen from boat
Its Renaissance grandeur seems remote.

Yet Grand Curtius is the place to go
Vast range of artefacts on show;
The baptismal font - surviving gem
And masterpiece from way-back-when ...

The ancient Butchers' Hall delights
With leaflets on historic sites
Congresses, Fairs and La Batte fray
Home to waffles, beer and Jules Maigret!

(c) Poet in the woods 2019



"Montagne-de-Buren"



Guiding round the 12th c. baptismal font - St. Bartholomew's Church