Prince-Bishops' Palace

The Palace of the Prince-Bishops, giant of the ardent city

Along the Liège audio-guided tour, here you stand before the Palace of the Prince-Bishops, one of the city's most imposing monuments. Rising over Place Saint-Lambert, it gathers more than a thousand years of history and is reckoned one of the largest civil Gothic buildings in the world.

A long history of rebuilding

Built around the year 1000 on the initiative of Bishop Notger, the palace never stopped evolving. Ravaged by fires and wars, it was rebuilt several times. Its present form owes much to Prince-Bishop Érard de La Marck, who called on the architect Arnold van Mulken in the early sixteenth century. The result blends Flamboyant Gothic with Italian Renaissance influences.

What there is to see

The palace layout is especially original, with three successive courtyards. The first and most spectacular is ringed by galleries on massive columns whose carved capitals show faces and motifs, each one different. The building now houses the law courts and provincial offices, yet its façade and courtyards remain open to the admiration of passers-by.

Practical information

The palace stands on Place Saint-Lambert, in the historic heart of Liège, easily reached on foot from the centre. The inner courtyards can be visited freely during office hours; the first courtyard is on the level. Opening times vary with judicial and administrative activity.

Why is Liège called the city of the prince-bishops?

For nearly eight centuries, Liège was the capital of a principality ruled by bishops who held both religious and political power. The palace was the seat of this authority, unique in Europe.

Can you go inside the palace?

The inner courtyards are freely accessible, but the interior houses judicial and administrative offices with regulated access. The first courtyard, with its galleries and carved columns, remains the highlight of the visit.