You are standing on the Place du Marché, the historic heart of Liège for over a thousand years. This is where the city took shape in the Middle Ages, between the branches of the Légia River and the merchant streets of Féronstrée. Over the centuries, the square has hosted everything: medieval markets, guild halls, public proclamations, celebrations, tournaments—and even executions. Right in front of you stands the Perron, the ultimate symbol of Liège’s liberties. Today set on a Baroque fountain, it consists of three steps supported by lions and a column topped with the Three Graces. This is where justice was dispensed and the city’s edicts were proclaimed. In 1468, Charles the Bold, seeking to humiliate the people of Liège, carried the Perron off to Bruges; it would return only in 1478, after his death, restored by his daughter Mary of Burgundy. Facing it, the City Hall, known as “La Violette”, dates from the 18th century. Rebuilt after several destructions, it blends brick and limestone in an elegant Mosan Baroque style. This is where the burgomasters elected by the city’s guilds once met. Today, the Place du Marché remains a lively space, with cafés, terraces, festivities, and each winter, one of the main sites of the Christmas Village.