Overlooked by almost everyone, the Walloon Belgian town of Verviers (pop: 55,936) was one of the first towns in the world outside Great Britain to be mechanically industrialised in the early 19th century, when British entrepreneur William Cockerill (and his son John) set up shop there in 1799. Verviers – which is set in the dramatic valley of the Vesdre — also contains many traces of its pre-mechanical history, which dates make to medieval times. While the town might not be for everyone, it will certainly prove fascinating to some!

Sights

• Verviers counts several museums, including the Wool and Fashion Tourist Centre, housed in a former factory with a Neoclassical-style façade.
• The Grand Theatre, also known as La Bonbonnière, was built in the same style at the end of the 19th century, while the Grand Poste was built in the Neogothic style.
• The city has a number of interesting fountains and thematic strolling paths.

Economy

Verviers was home to a thriving wool and textile industry that was renowned for its quality and contributed greatly to the growth of the town. However, as of the 1950s, the local factories could not face international competition and started closing one after the other which prompted the economic decline of the town. The economy has been slowly recovering since the mid-1990s but remains fragile. Several commercial complexes have opened in recent years in an attempt to revitalize the most affected areas.

Education

Tertiary education

Tertiary educational institutions include:

• Haute Ecole de la Province de Liège (Construction)
• Haute Ecole de la Province de Liège – Bachelier en soins infirmiers
• Haute Ecole CHarlemagne Verviers
• HELMO Verviers

Primary and secondary schools

Secondary schools include:

• Athénée royal Thil Lorrain Verviers 1
• Athénée royal Verdi
• Centre scolaire Saint-François-Xavier
• Ecole Polytechnique – Enseignement de la Province de Liège
• Institut Notre Dame
• Institut Provincial d’Enseignement Secondaire (IPES)