Seraing
The first mention of Saran dates from 956, when a Carolingian farming domain extending on both sides of the river Meuse and owned by someone named Saran was donated to the abbey of Sint-Truiden. Several skeletons, potshards, weapons, and jewels were discovered here, dating from the 5th and 6th century, attesting to Seraing being inhabited in Frankish times. The whole territory soon passed to the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. In the 11th century, Prince-Bishop Henri I of Verdun used a house in Seranus to entertain guests. Throughout the Middle Ages, the inhabitants of Seraing owed allegiance to Liège, pledging to defend the fluvial approach to the city in case of invasion, in exchange for tax exonerations. The first wooden bridge across the river, which replaced the ferry, was built in 1381.
At around that time, various factors combined to attract industrial investors to Seraing: the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the proximity of the river Meuse, and the discovery of coal at Ougrée. The first ironworks were founded there in 1809. John Cockerill and his brother James revolutionized the steel industry by using blast furnaces and coke instead of traditional charcoal. These inventions would be the basis for his new company, John Cockerill & Cie established in Seraing in 1817. Over the next decades, many more metallurgical plants and foundries were built in this area, which became an integral part of Wallonia's industrial backbone, the sillon industriel. Glassworkers found the proximity of a cheap source of coal attractive. The Val Saint Lambert started its operations in 1826.
The site of the Arcelor steel company, previously known as Cockerill-Sambre, is the former summer residence for the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The Cockerill castle used to be the summer residence of the prince-bishops of Liège, then a hospital under Napoleon, a powder magazine, and the personal property of William I of the Netherlands, who ceded it to the Cockerill family in 1817. The Val Saint Lambert site includes the old Val-Saint-Lambert Abbey and the crystal manufacture, where glass workers still blow, carve, and etch the world-famous pieces of art. The neighbouring castle houses a glass museum. Besides the Cockerill castle, the historic centre of the city also includes the city hall and the main church, which harbours 12th-century baptismal fonts.
John Cockerill, British entrepreneur and founder of the Cockerill-Sambre steel company lived from 1790 to 1840. Eugenio Barsanti, Italian inventor of the internal combustion engine lived from 1821 to 1864. Leo Anton Karl de Ball was an astronomer born in 1853 and died in 1916. Julien Lahaut was a communist active between 1884 and 1950. Louis-Clément Picalausa wrote Scout novels from 1898 until his death in 1969. André Renard served as Secretary-General of the General Federation of Belgian Labour and led the 60-61 General Strike during his life from 1911 to 1962. Christian Piot played football as a goalkeeper starting in 1947. Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne became filmmakers born respectively in 1951 and 1954. Laurette Onkelinx entered politics in 1958. Michel Preud'homme began his career as a football goalkeeper in 1959.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, Ougrée, and Seraing. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle, it forms the greater Liège agglomeration with 600,000 inhabitants. In the 2012 Tour de France, Seraing acted as the finish of Stage 1. The list of mayors shows political shifts over time. Jacques Vandebosch served as mayor from 1994 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2006 under the PS party. Guy Mathot held office from 2000 to 2005 also representing the PS. From 2006 to 2018, the position was held by a member of the PS. The current leadership since 2023 remains within the same political party structure that has dominated the region for decades.
According to an old local legend, witches abound in the Seraing area. The macrales have been resurrected in the year 2000 and are now a regular staple of the local folklore. Like many other towns in Wallonia, Seraing has its own giant puppet: Li Rayeû d'class. Seraing also counts a number of colourful associations, including a coopers' brotherhood, whose goal is to revive the wineries of the Val Saint Lambert abbey, and the Gay Boulet brotherhood, whose mission is to popularize Boulets à la Liégeoise, a local recipe. These groups preserve regional culinary and cultural customs through active community engagement and public celebrations.
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Common questions
When was Seraing first mentioned in historical records?
The first mention of Saran dates from 956, when a Carolingian farming domain extending on both sides of the river Meuse and owned by someone named Saran was donated to the abbey of Sint-Truiden.
Who founded the John Cockerill & Cie company in Seraing and when did it start operations?
John Cockerill established his new company, John Cockerill & Cie, in Seraing in 1817 after revolutionizing the steel industry with blast furnaces and coke instead of traditional charcoal.
What are the districts that make up the municipality of Seraing?
The municipality consists of the following districts: Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, Ougrée, and Seraing.
Which famous event used Seraing as the finish line for Stage 1 in 2012?
In the 2012 Tour de France, Seraing acted as the finish of Stage 1.
What is the name of the giant puppet associated with Seraing folklore?
Like many other towns in Wallonia, Seraing has its own giant puppet called Li Rayeû d'class.