Maladrerie District – Rue and Quai
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Behind the Pont de Liège lies the Maladrerie neighborhood, made up of Rue de Maladrerie and Quai de Maladrerie. These names refer to a former hospital that treated leprosy patients—“ladrerie” being an old term for leper asylum, related to “malade” (sick).
As was typical, the facility was located just outside the city walls. Surprisingly, until the 1930s, this district was one of the most charming in the city. The houses, with their balconies overlooking the natural riverbanks, were picturesque.
Fortunately, many old photos and paintings preserve the district’s former beauty—especially the work of painter Albert Raty (1889–1970), born and raised in this neighborhood.
Two major events changed the area's face:
The construction of a new road (the Quai) and a stone embankment in the 1930s, intended to manage frequent flooding in this low-lying area. Locals mockingly called the new quay the Quai Maginot. It was inaugurated on 25 June 1939.
The bombings of May 1940 during WWII. The Maladrerie district and the Pont de Liège were almost completely destroyed. The iconic riverside houses with balconies were lost forever. The new Pont de Liège was built in 1951.
