Liege is an intriguing city, to say the least. It is a city of both vernacular and designed beauty, highly stylized and often impressive to behold. I could honestly say, our views from the citadel on the hill were some of the best vantages I have witnessed on the trip thus far (of course, second only to Luxembourg). With plentiful cathedrals, preserved medieval architecture, historic avenues, expansive bridge and water systems, and hillsides reminiscent of my beloved San Francisco, this is a visually remarkable city.
But this abovementioned complimentary ramble does little justice to the true character that lies beneath. In reality, there are issues apparent all throughout the city. Our guide Guy Janssens pointed out the a famous monument (I cannot recall the name) that was close to ruins, had it not been for the leather straps that now hold the stones together. Another noticeable issue in the city is in general infrastructure and maintenance, and its lack thereof. Many of the cobblestone streets have ruptured into piles of rubble. The same goes for the several buildings in terms of general condition.
The best analogy in discussing the city and its current state is with Liege being compared to Flint, Michigan: each city invested everything into a scope of industry, Flint solely on automotives and Liege on its steel production. This lack of diversity has created problems as production and efficiency have all declined in recent decades, due to the fact that both the factories and steel industry in general are outdated. It was unwise to invest and subsidize an industry on the decline. Because of these decisions, Wallonia has not seen the same (relative) prosperity that Flanders has experienced since. And as Flanders has grown in modern industries and service fields, Wallonia has gone down in the opposite direction. Hopefully Liege can diversify and adapt to a more contemporary economy, and avoid the fate of Flint.
No comments:
Post a Comment