Fountain of the Virgin

You’re standing in front of the Fountain of the Virgin, one of the finest examples of Liège Baroque. Created in 1696 by the master sculptor Jean Del Cour, it features a large square basin with four bronze lions spouting water and a central column crowned by a life-sized gilded bronze Virgin and Child. Locals fondly call it “La Femme Marie”, and over the centuries it has survived more than its share of ordeals. During the Revolution, it was nearly melted down to make cannons, but the protests of Liège’s citizens saved it. Originally placed on Cathedral Square, the fountain was moved here in 1854 to make way for new streets and traffic. Listed as a historic monument, it was fully restored in 2016, with special care given to the bronzes and stone steps. Just across from it lies Cathedral Square, and beyond, the silhouette of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Founded in the tenth century and rebuilt in Gothic style between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries, it became Liège’s official cathedral in 1803 after the destruction of Saint Lambert’s Cathedral. Inside, you’ll find one of the richest treasuries in Europe, along with a moving recumbent Christ sculpture by Jean Del Cour himself. Between the fountain, the square, and the cathedral rising above, you’re standing at the very heart of a heritage ensemble that tells centuries of Liège’s history.