You are now at the foot of one of Europe’s most famous stairways: the Montagne de Bueren. In front of you, 374 steps rise in a straight line toward the heights of the Citadel. Built between 1875 and 1880, this spectacular ascent once linked the Citadel’s barracks to the city centre, allowing soldiers to avoid Pierreuse Street, then considered too unruly. Its name pays tribute to Vincent de Bueren, a Liège hero associated with the epic of the 600 Franchimontois: in 1468, these volunteers launched a desperate nighttime sortie in an attempt to capture Charles the Bold and Louis XI to save besieged Liège. The operation failed and most of them perished, but their bravery remains one of the most powerful symbols of Liège’s resistance. As you climb, you will quickly feel the slope: an average of 30%, nearly 70 metres of elevation gain, but each landing offers a new perspective over the rooftops of the historic centre and the Meuse valley. At the top, the reward is a remarkable panorama and direct access to the Coteaux de la Citadelle, a vast area of gardens, footpaths and ancient walls overlooking the city.