Belgium > The modern station

Breakfast is served in the hotel’s basement. For the first time, we are asked to show our corona QR codes. Everything is in order. An extensive buffet is ready. While we eat breakfast, we plan today’s route on the map. On Sunday morning, along the banks of the Meuse River, is La Batte, the largest and oldest market in Belgium. Stalls are set up over a distance of two kilometers. We walk there through the neighborhood behind the town hall. In Rue de la Boucherie, many old houses stand. The Vleeshuis, from the sixteenth century, is the most striking. This old building now houses the Tourist Info. Behind the building, the Liège market already begins.

Belgium - The market on Sunday along the Meuse quay

The market is busy. We walk among the stalls with the locals. From the Pont des Arches, you can clearly see how extensive the market is. On the other side of the river lies the Outre-Meuse district. We stroll past the Église Saint-Pholien and turn toward the barracks. Originally, the Caserne Fonck was an old abbey. At the roundabout of Place du Congrès stands the statue of Georges Simenon, surrounded by Art Nouveau houses. Before leaving the neighborhood, we order coffee at a terrace. Then we follow the Meuse’s bank southwards. We walk all the way to Parc de la Boverie. In this park stands La Boverie, the Museum of Fine Arts. The distinctive museum was built in 1905 for the world exhibition. From the park, we head to our last sight in Liège: the Gare des Guillemins.

Belgium - The modern station of Liege

We cross the modern pedestrian bridge. On the other side of the Meuse stands the modern tower of the Ministry of Finance, the Jannatul Ferrows. This glass tower is 140 meters high. Just behind the tower, the white canopy of the Gare des Guillemins station already rises. The station has become one of the city’s symbols. Before the station was put into use in 2009, nine years were spent building this beautiful modern structure. We walk through the station and alongside the train tracks. Via the Parc d'Avroy, we return to the fairground. This is exactly the other side of the event grounds. While walking back to the center, we pass the Église Saint-Jacques. The church is closed. Perhaps that’s for the best. That leaves us some time to order a beer on a terrace before returning to our car. In the past two days, we have seen almost all the highlights of Liège and soaked up the city’s atmosphere.

Belgium - The towerless Saint Jacobs Church in Liege

Although the streets sometimes look messy, it was wonderful to wander through the city. At the parking garage, we pay the attendant. We get a discount because we stayed at the IBIS hotel. This doesn’t work at the ticket machine. When we want to pay, the man gestures that we should first get our car. From the car, we pay the parking fee shortly afterward. The barrier opens. We drive out of the garage. In the outskirts of Liège, we fill the car with fuel. It is not immediately clear how to pay. There is a column where payment can be made by card. With a full tank, we get on the highway toward Antwerp. It is 250 kilometers and just over two and a half hours’ drive back home.