Here you are on Place de l’Opéra, one of Liège’s great cultural landmarks. This graceful neoclassical square is dominated by an unmissable monument: the Royal Opera of Wallonia. Its story begins in 1818, when the first stone was laid on the site of an old convent. Just two years later, in 1820, the Opera opened its doors, impressing everyone with its elegant colonnaded facade and quickly becoming a centerpiece of Liège’s artistic life. Over the years it grew and evolved: a new auditorium was added in the nineteenth century, a sculpted pediment in 1930, and then a complete renovation between 2009 and 2012 that restored its neoclassical splendor while adding some of the most advanced stage technology in the world. Today, with more than a thousand seats, the Opera hosts internationally acclaimed productions and proudly carries on its centuries-old lyrical tradition. Just in front stands a bronze statue of André Grétry, born here in Liège in 1741 and celebrated as the father of French comic opera. Sculpted by Guillaume Geefs and inaugurated in 1842, it hides a moving secret: Grétry’s heart is actually sealed inside the base, a lasting symbol of the deep bond between the composer and his city. In a single glance, this square unites Liège’s rich musical heritage with the vibrant artistic life that still thrives here today.