Perron of Liège

The Perron of Liège stands in Place du Marché as a tall stone structure with tiered sections and decorative stonework at its crown. The monument has been restored and rebuilt multiple times to preserve its form as a defining landmark of the public square.

The monument was erected in 1305 as a symbol of the city's independence from religious authority. After being removed to Bruges in 1467 as a political punishment, it was later restored and has since been rebuilt several times following damage.

The monument represents the freedom and self-governance that the people of Liège fought to maintain against religious authority. It stands as a symbol of civic pride and the city's independent spirit that visitors can still sense in the square today.

The monument sits in the center of the marketplace, easily reached on foot and surrounded by shops and cafés. The square is most lively during daytime, especially on market days when the space fills with activity and vendors.

A sculpture group called the Three Graces by Jean Del Cour decorated the monument from 1697 but was moved to a museum for protection. The absence of this artwork today reminds visitors of how much the monument's original appearance relied on artistic embellishment.