The Best City in the Universe

A couple of months ago, two international life addicts touched base in the heart of Europe to hold
their own urban battle. Competing with phrasings and rimes in a true 8 Mile style, they threw around
rhythmically balanced arguments to convince the intimate e-audience of what soon would be known
by all: Brussels rocks and will always do, until someone is able to prove the contrary -or tries to.
The person championing the European capital was yours truly. A good friend my partner in rhyme.
And an underlying pride for our respective roots the best excuse to challenge the unthinkable: would
it be possible to kick the Best Belgian City of the World from its throne?
Obviously not. Belgium has only one truly international city. But there is another one that comes very
close to it: Lige, the Ardent City. The only town that may call itself a former Principality, and still
has, nowadays, its own national holiday
As one of continental Europe's first large-scale steel making centers, its industrial roots are still
vividly present. An industrial heritage that slams you in the face when you drive down the highway
that leads you to a setting, apparently unchanged since decades. A strong warning signal that only
frightens away the most superficial city hoppers though. Discovering Lige is namely a bit like a trip
to Budapest or other well hidden intensively lived cities: one needs to open his eyes to sense the
charming treasures and powerful urban vibes spread out on both sides of the river.
At first, the city looks very grey. There are always some cars driving around or busses pushing
through. Some edifices stand proudly on the same spot since centuries, representing the citys
historical strive for religious and political independence. Others, like the area of the Palace of the
Prince Bishops, have received an eye-catching facelift during the past years, which increases
ambiguously enough the contrast with some hard to eradicate stubborn leftovers of politically
allocated historic wrongness.
On the other hand, some inspired examples of recent architectural heritage are spread over town as
well. Freshly restyled precincts attract the more trendy shoppers, while traditionalists can enjoy the
age-old Sunday-only market that meanders along the Meuse. And while the citys internationally
established presence has long time been limited to a small territory lost somewhere on the South
Pole called Liege Island, the new Lige Guillemins train station is undoubtedly an impressive jewel
that hit magazines worldwide by combining geographic sensuality with impressive international
grandeur.
A quite potent mix, indeed. But the real driver of its uniqueness the magic ingredient that makes
you hooked on this place is the strong human fiber. Is it because some good friends of mine come
from there? That surely helps. Is it because tasting its folklore and night life usually means diving in
vibrant party streets? Is it because the deeply rooted Belgian in me feels a historic sympathy for one
of the only cities that sent troops to help Brussels working on the Belgian independence? Or
No matter the reason why, openness, generosity and a healthy festive spirit is definitely part of its
DNA. It is one of those things that makes you feel at home, teasing you to come back and discover
new facets of its typical blend. Once you get to know it better, the ardent city-sparks turn into flames
of passion. A passion for a city that, rooted in its eternal desire for independence, will ever fit in any
comparison, but which is definitely able to conquer the world with its powerful universe.

Jrgen Janssens | 2010

janssensjurgen@gmail.com