Halle aux viandes, Renaissance market hall in Féronstrée et Hors-Château, Belgium
The Halle aux viandes is a market building in the old town of Liege that sits at the intersection of several streets with symmetrical facades in Renaissance style. Inside, the space offers an open structure with columns and arches that let light through, traditionally used for selling meat products.
A meat hall (mangonie) is first mentioned in 1213, between Liège's town hall and Saint-Lambert Cathedral, on what is now rue Léopold. After Charles the Bold's sack destroyed it, the hall was rebuilt in 1546 at Vesquecour, the bishop's court of justice, in Liège Renaissance style.
The name Vesquecour, meaning "bishop's court", recalls that the bishop once held justice on this spot before the hall was rebuilt here in 1546. Since May 2016 the building has housed the city's main tourist reception desk, following the merger of the Pays de Liège tourist house and the Liège tourist office.
The building now houses Liege's tourist information center, offering visitors maps and guidance to navigate the city. It sits in a central location that is easy to reach on foot, making it a good starting point for exploring the old town.
The building underwent a major restoration in the 1990s that carefully preserved its original Renaissance features. This work made it an example of how historical structures can be repurposed for modern use without changing their appearance.
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