Liege

Liège is a city and municipality in eastern Belgium, capital of the province of Liège, situated on the Meuse River in the Wallonia region. It is a major urban center, with a population near 200,000 in the city proper and about 700,000 in the wider metropolitan area.

Historically, Liège was the seat of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, a powerful ecclesiastical state within the Holy Roman Empire. Its position along the Meuse fostered trade and contributed to its growth as an industrial center during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with steel, coal, and related industries driving the economy.

Notable sites include the Place Saint-Lambert, the historic site of the former Saint-Lambert Cathedral and bishop's palace, and the modern Liège-Guillemins railway station, redesigned by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2009. The city also hosts the La Batte market along the Meuse, one of Belgium's oldest markets.

Education and research are anchored by the University of Liège, founded in 1817, a major public university with faculties across sciences, engineering, medicine, and humanities. The local economy today is diverse, combining services, logistics, and technology with traditional manufacturing.

The name Liège is French; in English the city is commonly written Liege. It remains a regional center for administration, culture, and transport in eastern Belgium, reflecting a blend of historic heritage and contemporary urban life.