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A potted history If so, why not hop on board the Val Mosan for a relaxing boat trip on the river. This is an ideal way to get a different perspective of the town - from the river. The trip on the Val Mosan
first takes you along the left bank, then along the right bank. What will you see? Well, you can discover some examples of Huy’s wonderful architectural heritage: the Batta house, the cable car, the iron bridge, the old Abbey of St Victor (this abbey was rebuilt in the 18th century and now houses the head offices of the I.S.I.), the pontoon house, the marina of Statte, the bandstand (19th century), the old church of St-Etienne-au-Mont (17th and 19th centuries), the Père Pire Bridge, the sugar refinery of Wanze (a subsidiary of the Tirlemontoises sugar company), the island of the Béguines, the Fort, the old Hospice of Oultremont, the Collegiate Church, the Baudouin Bridge, the Cultural Centre, the swimming pools, the Bridge of Europe and the
Palais de Justice (law courts). On the other bank, you will enjoy seeing the vineyards and the vide-bouteilles (a delight for wine-bibbers), the nuclear power station of Tihange (70 hectares - Tihange I was built in
1975, Tihange II in 1983 and Tihange III in 1985), the dam (lock of La Neuville), the Auberge des Chats qui Rient (the ‘Laughing Cats Inn’) and the old Hôtel de la Cloche (Bell Hotel). The old Hôtel de la Cloche This hotel is rightly considered to be one of the most interesting examples of Mosan-style architecture in Huy. In days gone by, the passengers and goods that travelled on the boats between Liège and Namur bordered at this point. Their arrival was announced by the bell, hence the name of the hotel. The facade (from 1606), which is made of a mixture of brick and limestone, is erected on a skilfully dressed high substructure. THE RIGHT BANK The old Hospice of Oultremont This 16th-century building, which now houses the main Tourist Office, is characterised by a blend of brick and Meuse limestone and its stair tower crowned by a pyramid-shaped roof. The Collegiate Church
The first stone of this Collegiate Church (dedicated to Our Lady) was laid in the year 1311. The chancel was built in
1377, and the entire building was completed in 1536. The architecture is a harmonious blend of the exultant Gothic
style typical of the 14th century and the flamboyant style of the 15th century. On the outside, you will notice the huge
square tower that was formerly topped by a spire that was burned down in 1803. The chancel is flanked by two other towers. A large resplendent rosace, Li Rondia
, was recently adorned with the addition of new stained-glass features designed by Master R. Julin (external diameter 9 metres, internal diameter 6 metres). In the right lateral nave, there
is a staircase leading to the Romanesque-style crypt of the church (built by Theodon of Bavaria in 1066). The Bethléem Passing under the arvô (arched passageway) of the House of the Doyen (Dean), then under a second arvô, rue des Cloîtres will take us through the famous Bethlehem Gate. A large central lancet arch (dating from the mid-14th century) has been consolidated by the recent addition of two similar lateral arches (1890). Two arches have been erected here to separate a series of scenes that depict the events surrounding Jesus’ early life: a nativity scene (with something quite rare in this part of the world - a recumbent Virgin); the baby Jesus in the manger, heated by the ass and ox; the adoration of the Magi; and, at the top, the massacre of the innocents. Grand’Place (Town Square)
To reach the Grand’Place, we now cross the Pont des Chaînes (Bridge of Chains), from where you will see one of the rare visible stretches of the Hoyoux, a river which in olden times was the driving force behind the industries of this town. The Town Square is in the very heart of the town, the district that was formerly occupied by traditional traders and craftsmen. There is an elegant fountain in the middle of the square - Li Bassinia . Interestingly, the oldest part of this fountain goes back to as early as 1406: a large bronze tank topped by a representation of walls, four statuettes (Saint Catherine, Saint Mengold, Saint Dominitien and Saint Ansfrid) and a statuette of the Cwerneu (1597), the municipal official who formerly kept watch from the top of the belfry. In the early 18th century, there was another feature made of wrought iron with a two-headed Austrian eagle on top and stone troughs around it. Here in the Town Square, you can also admire the facade of the Literary Society (1788) and the house that was the birthplace of Joseph Lebeau, a man who played a key role in the struggle for Belgian Independence (1794-1865). The Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall)
The Town Hall of Huy dates back to 1766. It was designed in the classical style of town halls in the Liège region. It features a symmetrical facade topped by a triangular pediment with the coat of arms of the town and a perron with a double flight of stairs leading to the bel étage (first floor). The Place Verte (Green Square) Tucked away behind the Town Hall you will find the Place Verte and the nearby alleyways with their characteristic old buildings. The Church of St Mengold The Church of St Mengold was built in 1108 and has been redesigned on several occasions over the centuries. The existing design dates essentially from the second half of the 15th century. It is no longer used as a church and is the venue for many exhibitions during the summer. Nearby there is a fine old house that is worth a visit (dating from the 13th and 16th centuries) of which the ground floor has been converted into an art gallery. The Musée de la Charte des Libertés (Museum of the Charter of Freedoms) The Municipal Museum, which is located in the former monastery of the Mineur Brothers (built around 1244), will this summer be taking on a new look, as it is set to become the Museum of the Charter of Freedoms of 1066. On 27 August 1066, the Prince-Bishop of Liège, Theodon of Bavaria, formally granted to the town of Huy a charter which made its inhabitants the first free bourgeois in Western Europe. This date marked the beginning of a struggle that was to last several centuries aimed at securing freedom and enshrining the rights and prerogatives which we now take for granted but which were acquired by our forefathers by dint of much blood, sweat and tears. The text of the charter, which was penned in medieval language, is accompanied by a translation, and the different articles are explained and illustrated in a newly-fitted room of the museum. The other rooms of the Museum of the Charter of Freedoms of 1066 focus on different aspects of local and regional life. Many objets d’art made of pewter, gold and copper (dinanderies), coins and earthenware are displayed along with many features of religious life, viticulture and folklore and work by artists from Huy.
THE LEFT BANK The église Saint-Pierre (Church of Saint Peter) This Gothic edifice dates from the 13th century. It was partly rebuilt based on the drawings of the architect E. Vierset. In 1854, the church was consecrated, and it was once again restored at the start of the 20th century. The key feature is a 12th-century Mosan baptismal font which is decorated with crowned lions and dragons. It actually comes from the Romanesque-style church of Reppe, near Andenne. The Church of Saint Peter was formerly attended by the guilds of winegrowers and market gardeners, who came to honour their patron, Saint Vincent. The Potstainiers Hutois (tin workers of Huy) As early as the High Middle Ages, metalwork was much prized in the Mosan valley. The merchants of Huy purchased
on the London market tin ore from Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. From the 14th to the 17th century, tin was in great demand, but cheaper materials like earthenware and glass subsequently became more popular with families.
However, tin enjoyed something of a revival in the early 20th century, centring on the region of Huy. The first workshop was opened in 1925, and in 1949 three men - Messrs Discry, Gramme and Fallais - founded the
‘Potstainiers Hutois’. The present owner, Francis Lacroix, has made the fashioning of pewter objects a universally recognised art form which is admired for its exquisite quality. The Abbey of Aulne The former refuge of the Abbey of Aulne is a very imposing edifice that was built in the mid-16th century by Jean de Lannoy, who was the Abbot of Aulne from 1529 to 1556. This building replaced an earlier refuge whose existence in Huy is mentioned as early as 1243. The characteristic feature of this building is the masonry. It is made of pure limestone, with accolade window lintels and a high steeply sloped roof with many attic windows. The Maison Batta (Batta House) The Batta House is a former refuge of the Abbey of the Val-Saint-Lambert. In this remarkable series of buildings, three distinct periods of construction can be identified, each with their particular hallmarks. The building on the left is the oldest (dating back to 1585). Its decor is inspired by the French and Italian Renaissance. The nearby tower is square, being somewhat later. Its design is clearly influenced by the Flemish Renaissance. The building on the right dates back to 1645 and is typical of the Mosan style, being characterised by stone-tied brick walls, with attic windows, mullioned lattice windows and a freestone substructure. The ground floor opens out to an arvô (arched passageway), which was formerly closed every evening by a gate. The cable car
Since 1957 a cable car has taken many tourists from the banks of the Meuse to the plateau of the Sarte (a total
distance of over 3,000 metres up and down). What better way to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the town as the cable car
soars over the Fort, affording a breathtaking panorama of the whole region of Huy? The cable car starts from the left bank, facing the Fort, between the Batta House and the Iron Bridge and takes you up to the Plain of the Sarte. The Fort of Huy The rocky crag overhanging the valley of the Meuse has from time immemorial been regarded as strategically
important. In fact, an act dating from as early as the year 890 already mentions the presence of fortifications here. Over the centuries, the ‘Li Tchestia’ Château became increasingly important until in the 17th century seemingly
impregnable fortifications were added, along with various later additions, notably the Red Fort, the Picard Fort, the
Joseph Fort and the Sarte Fort. The existing fort was built in 1818 with the help of the Dutch. For four and a half years starting in May 1940, it became an infamous Nazi prison. Seven thousand Belgian and foreign prisoners were
interned here. The Fort of Huy was one of the main ‘sorting centres’ for prisoners, who were then dispatched to the death camps. The Fort has now been restored as a memorial to those dark years. Visitors can also see the well (12th
century) of the old Château, which was restored under Erard de la Marck (16th century). However, they will no doubt be more struck by the connection between the Fort and the concentration camps: cells, sinister dungeons, the
Gestapo interrogation room and the rather rudimentary laundry rooms. To encourage visitors to reflect on the price many paid for freedom, the Museum of the Resistance and Concentration Camps presents 150 educational panels and
around thirty display cases in eleven rooms of the Fort. The Ponton (The Pontoon) A long time ago, the Ponton was no doubt the house of the ‘pontonnier’, whose job was to help people get across the River Meuse. This interesting site, most of which dates from the 16th and 17th centuries, is made up of two L-shaped buildings which are connected to each other by a square tower-porch. These buildings were restored in 1925 by the local architect L. Schoenmackers. The Père Pire Bridge This bridge is a cable-stayed bridge with one single pylon. It has a total span of 341 metres. Its most interesting feature is the method of construction: the span suspended over the River Meuse and the swinging flail were built on the left bank, parallel to the river. The bridge was assembled in one day (18 September 1987) by a process of rotation.
Things to see around Huy
The © Photos institut tibétain
he estate of the Château de Fond l’Evêque (Promenade St Jean l’Agneau 4, 4500 Huy-Tihange) houses a Tibetan
Institute dedicated to the study, preservation and dissemination of all aspects of Tibetan culture, including the art, history, ethnology, philosophy and religion of Tibet. The Château of Tihange, Rue du Centre, 4500 HUY (Tihange)
The construction of the Château of Tihange first began in the 10th century. It was built on the site of the villa of Saint
Jean l’Agneau, the Bishop of Tongres-Maastricht. In 1576, the Château was completely rebuilt in stone and brick by Charles de Pottiers. The imposing building that we can still see today has retained the general appearance and Mosan
style given to it by Charles de Pottiers. It subsequently became the property of Count Jean-Baptiste de Nuvolara, who
partly reconstructed it in 1687. It is believed that it was also Nuvolara who built the elegant pinnacle of the tower. It has three floors and the roof is made completely of slate. The Château of Tihange was then passed on to the
nephews of his wife and remained the property of the Van den Steen family until the end of the 18th century.
The Château has changed owners several times since the end of the 18th century. It was then purchased in 1879 by Mr Prosper Poswick. In spite of the inevitable conversion work that has been required to make it habitable, generally
speaking the Château retained its characteristic Mosan style until the end of the 19th century. The Château of Bonne-Espérance
The local chroniclers Jean Gougnard and Paul Erève wrote that seven centuries ago on the site of the existing Château
there was a secondary house of the Order of the Knights Templar that was dependent on Villers le Temple. The Musée de la Vie Tihangeoise
(Museum of the Life of Tihange) This museum is in the building that formerly housed the Municipal Administration (Rue du Centre 19), close to the church. The piperie d’Andenelle (Pipery of Andenelle) (10.6 km) The Château of Modave (14 km)
The Château of Jehay (14 km) The Préhistosite de Ramioul (Ramioul Prehistoric Site) (15.5 km)
The Musée de la Gourmandise (Museum of Gourmandise) (15 km) Syndicat d'initiative of Hermalle-sous-Huy
Touring the area by car? The old Convent of Neufmoustier and the statue of Peter the Hermit (1858
The Mont Mosan leisure park (can also be reached by cable car)
The plateau of the Sarte has an exciting leisure park where parents and youngsters will be delighted by the antics of
the otters and seals. For the convenience of visitors, there is also a cafeteria, a chip shop and covered and uncovered areas for picnicking.
The Church of Our Lady of the Sarte (1628) The remains of the Château of Beaufort (12th-century dungeon), which was destroyed by the people of Huy in the 15th century. The valley of the Solière
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132a, 4480 Hermalle-sous-Huy. Tel.: 085/31.42.86 
