Le Perron

The Perron is a piece of living history in Liège, situated in the Place du Marché.  But what exactly is it?

This pillar originally served as a symbol of the prince-bishop of Liège, and its image has been found on money used in the region, dated as early as the 12th Century.  In the 15th Century the Perron was placed on Lièges coat-of-arms, and the image of it has stayed there to this day.

Coin dated to the 16th Century featuring The Perron prominently

City of Liège coat of arms

To the Liègeois, The Perron represented justice.  Liège lived under a communal charter, established under the prince-bishop, and the site of The Perron was used as a place where declarations were made to and concerning the public including judicial rulings and the dispensation of justice, along with changes or amendments to the law.  No law could be put into effect without being read aloud in front of The Perron.

In 1468 Liège was seized by Charles Le Téméraire (Charles The Bold.)  Upon seizure of the city, the new ruler had the Perron removed.  This gesture matched the imposition of harsher rule over the people of Liège.  Charles Le Téméraire wanted to destroy the Liègeois' previously held notions of justice and public liberties.  To make this perfectly clear to the people of Liège Charles left them a message.  After removing the Perron and transporting it to Bruges where it served as a trophy, words to this effect were inscribed on the base where the Perron once stood:

"Don't look anymore to the sky,
By my fall, learn that nothing lasts forever.
A symbol of courage and glory at one time
I protected a people invincible to war.
I tell you today I was mistaken, I am a cheap toy
which Charles has taken and broken!"


Fortunately for the people of Liège, Charles The Bold died 9 years later, and the person who took his place (The prince-bishop Louis de Bourbon,) had better relations with the people of Liège.  He made use of his connections in Bruges and in July of 1478 after 10 years of absence the Perron was returned to Liège to much fanfare.

Scene depicting the re-erection of The Perron, artist unknown

A new inscription (this time in Latin,) was made when The Perron was re-erected.  This time the words acknowledged the taking of the Perron and its exile:

"The Perron, seen by Liège with pride as a sacred emblem of the fatherland, was replaced on this pedestal the 10 July 1478.  Liège where the arts live, Liège the new Athens, Charles had ruined you and covered you with chains!  Far from you, exiled by his order to Bruges, where I stayed ten years overpowered with insults.  But these times of bitter servitude have passed: Here I am again against your breast, oh my mother."

This "putting right" of the wrong that was committed has only added to the historic value given by the Liègois to the Perron, a symbol representing justice and fairness, values the Liègois hold dear.