Public artworks in La Boverie Park

Situated between the Meuse and the Ourthe, the site owes its current name to its former purpose: ‘la Boverie’ (from the Latin ‘bovaria’) once referred to the place where cattle were grazed. Already a popular spot for walks, the Pré Mativa was transformed into a proper public garden with the creation of the Meuse Diversion in 1853.

The 1905 World’s Fair literally transformed the Vennes-Fetinne district through the construction of several bridges, including the Fragnée and Mativa bridges, the Palais des Beaux-Arts and mock Greek ruins.

Dedicated to sport and leisure following the creation of the Meuse Diversion Canal, La Boverie Park has retained its role as a pleasure garden to this day. Redesigned by a landscape architect in 1905, the park features a rose garden (1950) designed in the style of French formal gardens.

The park was designated a listed site by Royal Decree dated 14 October 1974.

In addition to its historical and architectural significance, the park is also notable for the presence of a number of works of public art.

Numerous sculptures are on display there: La Légende by Joseph Rulot (1956), La Toilette by Marnix Haveloose (1910), and Le Faune mordu and Adam et Eve chassés du paradis by Jef Lambeaux (1903 and 1899). The gallery of eight busts in the Roseraie, celebrating the Liège region, featured works by artists such as Georges Petit, Louis Dupont and Oscar Berchmans. During the interwar period, three memorials were erected in honour of the artists Armand Rassenfosse, Louis Boumal and Georges Antoine.

In the late 1950s, the site – a reflection of Liège’s urban development – was further enhanced by a modern building, the Palais des Congrès designed by the l’Equerre group, adorned with works by Freddy Wybaux and Eva Herbiet. In 1961, Nicolas Schöffer’s ‘Cybernetic Tower’ was added to complete the ensemble. The work was listed in 1997 (along with the Palais) and restored in 2018. Works in Corten steel and bronze by Nic Joosen, Bernar Venet and Mady Andrien have complemented this collection over the last twenty years.