The city of Liege is the capital of Liege province. With 186,000 residents, it is the most populous commune in eastern Belgium. It lies at the confluence of the Meuse River and the Ourthe River, 25 kilometers south of the Dutch city of Maastricht, and 40 kilometers west of Aachen, in Germany. Liege, heavily industrialized, was the economic engine of Belgium in the 19th century, but saw decline in the late 20th century with the closing of the local coal mines and heightened international competition.
Liege has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but its modern era begins around 700 CE, with the murder of Saint Lambert. Purported miracles began to occur on the site of the murder, attracting pilgrims and spurring development.
The detetive novelist George Simenon is a Liege native.
Angleur, Bressoux, Chenee, Glain, Grivegnee, Jupille-sur-Meuse, Luik, Rocourt, Sclessin, and Wandre are boroughs within the municipal district of Liege.
