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Monument · Liège, Liège
Palais des Princes-Évêques
Former palace of the prince-bishops who ruled Liège, facing Place Saint-Lambert. The main courtyard has arcaded galleries supported by about 60 columns, each with a different decoration.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Palais des Princes-Évêques
The Palais des Princes-Évêques occupies an entire side of Place Saint-Lambert, the heart of Liège. The prince-bishops lived and ruled there; they governed the principality of Liège — both a religious and political power — until the Revolution at the end of the 18th century.
The palace you see today was rebuilt in the early 16th century by Prince-Bishop Érard de La Marck, after Charles the Bold devastated the city. The façade facing the square was redone after a fire in 1734, and a neo-Gothic wing was added in the 19th century to house the provincial government.
The best-known part is the large rectangular courtyard, surrounded by arcaded galleries on some 60 columns. Each column has its own decoration, with masks, faces and figures whose meaning still divides historians. A second, smaller courtyard with a garden lies inside and usually opens only on special occasions, such as Heritage Days.
The building houses Liège’s court and the provincial administration, so the interior is not a museum. On the square in front once stood the cathedral of Saint-Lambert, demolished after the Revolution; its foundations and remains of a Roman villa can be seen in the Archéoforum, an underground space beneath the square.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 minutes for the façade and the main courtyard. Including the Archéoforum beneath the square, allow around an hour and a half.
Best time
On weekdays during the day, when the main courtyard is usually open to pass through. Guided visits to the interior take place on dates set by the local tourist office; check before you go.
How to get there
It stands on Place Saint-Lambert, a central hub for buses and the tram. From Gare de Liège-Guillemins, the tram or a bus takes you to the square in a few minutes.
Tip
Notice the capitals of the columns one by one: none of them repeat. As it is a courthouse, security may restrict access and ask for silence. On the same square is the entrance to the Archéoforum, where you can see what remains of the old cathedral.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Palais des Princes-Évêques
Can you enter the Palais des Princes-Évêques?
The large courtyard is usually open to pass through on weekdays. The interior houses a court and the provincial government and is only visited on guided tours with a scheduled date.
What was the cathedral of Saint-Lambert?
It was Liège’s former cathedral, in front of the palace, demolished after the Revolution of 1789. Its remains are in the Archéoforum, beneath Place Saint-Lambert.