Fortifications of Liège-Fort de Liers

The first modern fortifications around Liège were constructed between 1880 and 1890 under the direction of Belgian General Henri Alexis Brialmont. These forts, including Liers, were positioned approximately seven kilometers from the city center and built using concrete, equipped with weaponry. At the beginning of World War I, the Liège forts were considered impregnable. However, German attackers quickly overcame them with heavy artillery, the “Big Bertha,” which in the case of Fort Loncin ended in a devastating explosion. In the interwar period, eight of the forts, oriented to the south, east, and north, were rebuilt.