Week-end des Coteaux de la Citadelle
Reinvented as a spring weekend, the candle-lit illumination of Liège's historic hillside stairways and hanging gardens, formerly the October Nocturne.
Promote spring tourism to Liège by highlighting the atmospheric candlelit experience of historic stairways and gardens as a unique cultural weekend destination.
- Discover Liège's hidden hillside beauty: candlelit stairways and hanging gardens come alive this spring
- Plan your spring getaway: experience the magic of the Coteaux de la Citadelle weekend
- Local gem alert: Liège's reimagined spring illumination event draws culture seekers and travelers
The Week-end des Coteaux returns on April 4 & 5, 2026 in the heart of Liège. An iconic event of Liège, the Nocturne des Coteaux is reinventing itself and becoming the Week-end des Coteaux, now in spring. Illuminations, artistic installations, concerts and animations create an unforgettable event. For three decades, the Nocturne des Coteaux has been a hallmark of Liège's cultural calendar; now the public is invited to rediscover the Coteaux in spring.
Saturday 4 April
Daytime: Museum access (free; exceptional gratuity for permanent collections—Archéoforum, Grand Curtius, Musée de la Vie wallonne, Palais des Princes-Évêques). Guided visits of Provincial Palace (11:00, 13:00, 14:15, 15:30), Mulum and Grand Curtius (16:00, 18:00). Various walking tours & heritage visits. Evening 20:30–00:30: Fairy light illuminations, artistic installations, interactive light sculptures, candle-lit Bueren stairs, projection artworks on Coteaux de la Citadelle.
Sunday 5 April
All-day free museum access (1st Sunday of month). 10:30–18:00: Free panoramic terrace access (18th floor, Cité administrative, last entry 17:30). 10:00–14:00: Children's market (face painters, clowns, inflatables) at Quai de Maastricht. Guided tours of churches, museums, Provincial Palace; carillon concerts (19:00 at Saint-Barthélemy, free organ concert 12:30). 15:00–01:00: Extended Palace night with puppet theatre, concerts. Daytime strolls and evening illuminations throughout Coteaux and historic centre.
- The historic heart illuminates with alleys, staircases and hanging gardens offering a unique setting for strolling and wonder.
- The famous Bueren staircase is illuminated by hundreds of candles tracing a glowing path, a poetic installation celebrating the magic of the Coteaux.
- Light installations feature imaginary birds (Luminéoles) dancing with the wind in light, and suspended stars (Amours en cages) immersing viewers in wonder.
- The Provincial Palace hosts guided tours of historic rooms, puppet theatre, concerts and illuminated colonnades from 15:00 to 01:00.
- Visitors can access freely on both April 4 & 5 to the Grand Curtius, the Luminaire Museum (Mulum), and Heritage Collections.
- Sunday features a special children's market at Quai de Maastricht with face painting, clown acts, inflatables and activities 10:00–14:00.