Les coteaux de la Citadelle - Bois, champs et panoramas

At the bottom of the hill you can see the stones marking the access to the former shaft and the walls of the old coalmine operating from the 19th century to the years 1960.

In the past, the Vivegnis hillside (Vivegnis could mean old vineyard) was the site of coalmine industry. Nowadays it is a green area with sheeps grazing in orchards, next to a forest with ashtrees, wild sherrytrees and maple copses

Erected in the 17th century inside the former city walls on the initiative of Ferdinand and Maximilian- Henry of Bavaria, the first citadel dominated the city. It was also seen as a serious threat for the people of Liege who had scant appreciation of these authoritarian Prince-Bishops.Indeed, the cannons were directed both towards the city and the countryside. Over three centuries, the citadel underwent many over hauls. In 1981, its military role was done away with and it became host to the regional general hospital.

The boulevards that run along the citadel’s fortifications boast unique views of Liege and the Meuse River. In a similar way to the belvedere in which a sketch map of the valley can be found, a number of viewpoints have been created.

Witnesses to a more recent military past, the Monument du 14ème de Ligne war memorial, a tall column overlooking the valley, and the Enclos des Fusillés cemetery where more than 200 people were executed, are a reminder of the darker days of the two world wars.

The fortifications do not consist entirely of walls and stone-built gateways. The original system consisted in changing the landscape by way of banking and ditching, as was the case for the irregularities of the land still visible above the orchard of Favechamps.

Running parallel to the present- day rue Montagne-Sainte- Walburge is the Rempart des Anglais (the English Ramparts), which was the western end of the city walls in the 13th Century. The trail follows the ancient rampart walk.

Before in Favechamps were beautiful gardens belonging to an English Jesuits Monastery. Nowadays , the fields are partially enclosed by a hedge of indigenous species - hawthorn, hornbeam, wild rose, black elder, blackthorn, wild clematis, and bramble. Orchards are rare in the urbanenvironment, and must therefore be looked after and conserved. Useful for birds and insects, they promote bio-diversity. The fields and the old orchard of standard trees at Favechamps, listed since 1999, are “a bastion of ruralresistance”.

The farm “Ferme de la Vache” (Cow Farm) dates from the 18th century, but the farm thatstretches almost 5 hectares has been known since the 15th century. In mid-17th century, the master of the house built a beautiful house (No. 119 rue Pierreuse) and farm buildings (from the porch located at No.115). It is now part of the property of the Liege welfare authority (CPAS), which is developing a social rehabilitation project through biological market gardening.

The Licorne House is an example of Liege’s most ancient building type. The « Cellites Brothers» (Alexian brothers) settled there in the 17th Century. They very soon specialised in looking after mentally ill persons, and did so until 1960. Throughout the years, many other buildings were annexed and the « Fonds wallon du Logement » (Walloon housing fund) has recently remarkably well restored the whole complex in order to supply low-income families with quality flats.

The Saint-Roch chapel (1558) was part of the Cellites convent. This very nice baroque building has remarkable acoustics. Its original Robustelly organ has been listed exceptional heritage of Wallonia. Though still serving religious purposes, the chapel is also used for concerts and exhibitions and to welcome the visitors of the Citadel hillsides.

The Rue Pierreuse is one of the oldest access roads to Liege. It linked the city with Tongeren. Its name refers to the quarrying of stone, of which there is evidence dating back to the 13th Century. A part of the defensive system, due to its steeply sided setting, the street had several “false gates”, designed to obstruct any enemy incursions.

This historical access from the city to the church of the Minims can be seen on the old plans. In 1798, the property of the Minims was sold. The church and the convent, which had already been pillaged, were demolished. However, part of the outer walls has been preserved andre-used to underpin the gardens of the properties, which can now be seen in the Cour des Minimes.Way in : 38, rue Pierreuse

The Minims, a mendicant order which f irst appeared in the 15th Century, were characterised by a very strict rule, where the virtues of penitence, humility and love were primordial. These friars believed in perpetual fasting and abstained from meat, dairy produce, andeggs. They carried out charitable and pastoral works, mainly in the urban environment. Their motto was: “Charitas et Humilitas” (Charity and Humility). The Minims settled at the Pérî district in 1624, and only left during the revolutionary period at the end of the 18th Century,after opening a free school for boys in 1744. In the interests of humility, their habits were very simple: a long undyed black wool vestment with a knotted cord.

The terraces enjoy a south-facing aspect, sheltered from the north winds. They have a wel l-drained sub-soi l (coal schist and sandstone) which retains heat. Thanks to these characteristics, the site was used for many purposes from the Middle Ages onward: growing vines, medicinal and culinary herbs, kitchen and ornamental gardens. In the 17th Century, the then owner of these terraces, the Teutonic Order, laid out a pleasure garden here, inspired by the models of the Renaissance. The Tour des Vieux Joncs: the name of this tower refers to the fact that the Saint-André Commandery belonged to the High Commandery of the Teutonic Order at Alden Biesen. They translated from the Old Dutch as “old rushes” (vieux joncs in French), which was where the knights in Liege originated from. There is evidence of this tower dating back to 1423. The pavilion of later date surmounting the tower was probably used as an office. The way through the tower is part of the tour.

The Teutonic Order, whose initial activity was to defend Christendom against the Infidel, both in the Holy Land and Eastern Europe, came to Liege in 1254. Well organised and established throughout Europe, this religious and military order drew its wealth from its Commanderies.At the end of the 13th Century, the Teutonic knights settled behind the Palace of the Prince- Bishops, and were headed by a “Grand Pastor” or “Grand Priest” rather than a knight! This is explained by the patronage of the churches of Saint-André and Saint-Gangulfe, from which theCommandery benefited directly.

The bois des Mineurs (Friars Minor’s wood) was part of the estate of the Friars Minor, of which the cloister is situated in the lower part. There one can listen to the birds and admire some beautiful trees like a famous catalpa and a Japanese maple tree.

The Impasse des Ursulines is the deepest of the seven blind alleys still existing at the bottom of the Coteaux. Although it is first mentioned in the first half of the 17th Century, only its lower part has undergone major modifications, which were undertaken when the Montagne de Bueren stairs were opened in 1881

In this blind alley, one architectural complex is the outcome of theheritage conservation practices of the sixties. The old Béguinage du Saint-Esprit (former Beguine Convent - early 17th Century) was surrounded by other buildings, reconstructed using architectural elements recovered during various demolition works in Liege.

A feat of engineering characteristic of the breakthroughs of the 19th century, the Montagne de Bueren allowed a direct link between the barracks of the citadel and the city centre. The name of this flight of stairs, boasting no less than 374 steps, is evocative of the aborted overthrow carried out by 600 men of Franchimont. Led by Vincent de Bueren and Gossuin de Streel, they attempted during the night of 29th October 1468, to capture Charles the Bold and Louis XI. Contrary to the common belief among the people of Liège, the 600 men of Franchimont never took this route.Quiet zone: Please help us preserve the tranquillity of this site.

The second set of city walls (13th Century) enclosed an area of 200 hectares and had 10 gates. This part has been altered little since it was built and is made up of locally mined coal sandstone. There are also a few blocks of limestone, taken from nearby buildings.

Archaeological excavations have disclosed two different states of the Vivegnis Gate, dating back to the 13th and the 16th Century. The floor covering recreates the plans.

The Saint-Leonard Park has been laid out on the site of a former dock bordering the wall of the 13th Century, through which the Saint-Leonard and the Vivegnis Gates gave access to the city.