It is far from the 2,909 steps of the Khalifa tower in Dubai or the 2,171 of the Petronas towers in Malaysia, however, the 374 steps of the Bueren mountain have made it a celebrity not only in Liège, but throughout Wallonia. And it is that the southern region of Belgium, like the rest of the country, is basically flat. Its highest peak -the Signal de Botrange-, nestled in the Hautes Fagnes, in the Ardennes massif, only rises 694 meters above sea level.
Although its name could be misleading, the reality is that Bueren is not technically a mountain, nor even a building, but rather a steep staircase whose inclination -30%- makes it one of the most extreme on the planet. The effort of climbing on foot is only suitable for those who are in good physical shape, but the challenge of reaching the top has an ultimate reward: panoramic views of the city that will take your breath away.
Integrated into the city -houses swirl on both sides of this unique street-, it has become one of the local tourist attractions. Everything indicates that its construction dates back to 1880, when the military authorities decided to create a road that would connect the citadel and the center, facilitating quick access for the garrison in the event of an invasion, although some voices argue that the decision was simply hiding a maneuver to prevent the troops from frequenting the red light district. In any case, when choosing a name, they chose to honor a famous captain: Vincent van Bueren who, along with six hundred soldiers, had resisted to the end defending Liège from the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, four centuries earlier.
However, the initial commitment of the construction barely lasted a decade. The disintegration of the citadel that had protected the town from enemy attacks for more than two hundred years, led the Bueren mountain to a better life, until it became a unique local construction.
In recent years it has hosted numerous activities, such as Bueren en fleurs, an initiative that has flooded the stairs with flowers in spring; the BueRun Liège race, or the Nocturne des Coteaux de la Citadelle -the Nocturne on the slopes of the Citadel-, which illuminates the space every October. The spectacle of warm colored lights draws an even more beautiful picture of the city.
Cozy, warm and very lively. This is Liège, the fourth largest city in Belgium -and the second in Wallonia after Charleroi-, a city that, despite its many points of interest, too often goes unnoticed by tourists. The capital of the Ardennes, which has less than two hundred thousand inhabitants, stands out for its university atmosphere and lively nightlife, which has earned it being known as the Walloon city with the most southern temperament.
Modern and with medieval origins, the first surprise awaiting the traveler, especially those arriving by train, is the Liège-Guillemin station, a steel, glass and concrete construction signed by Santiago Calatrava and inaugurated in 2009. A pleasant walk along the river Meuse leads us to the historic center, the Hors-Château-Féronstrée. The Market Squares, where the Town Hall resides, and that of Saint Lambert, with the thousand-year-old Palace of the Prince-Bishop; the collegiate church of Saint-Barthélemy, or the cathedral of Saint-Paul are some of its unavoidable corners.
A delicious smell will accompany you during the tour. And it is that the waffles of Liège -an entire institution- have earned the fame of being among the most delicious in Belgium. On the street or in coffee shops, you will see people eating them everywhere. Unlike the ones in Brussels, they are small, rounded, irregularly shaped and have 24 holes (not one more and not one less). If you want to make sure you taste the authentic ones, check that whoever makes them has the Authentique Gaufre de Liège certification, something that most local shops have. Our recommendation is that you try them. They will leave you with the best taste in your mouth during your stay in the city. Bon appétit… and bon voyage.