The town of Huy (Flemish Hoei) is pleasantly set in an undulating landscape at the confluence of the Meuse and the Hoyoux, approximately half-way between Namur and Liège. Sugar refineries, paper industry and the Tihange atomic power station situated upstream make up the economic base of the town, which is
dominated by the powerful citadel. The town's most important buildings are known as the "four wonders": Li Tchestia (the castle, destroyed 1717), Li Pontia (the bridge, its successor is the Pont Roi-Baudouin), Li Rondia (the rose window) and Li Bassinia (the fountain); only the last two still exist in their original form. The two best known masters of metal casting in the Meuse region Renier de Huy and Godefroid de Claire, the latter also known as Godefroid de Huy, came from Huy. Father Dominique Georges Pire (1910-1969), the founder of European Villages and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1958, lived and worked in Huy.
Huy is one of the oldest towns in Belgium. It was mentioned in documents as far back as 636. It received its freedom charter from Prince Bishop Theoduin in 1066. During the High and late Middle Ages it achieved considerable prosperity because of its famous brassworks and wool industry and became a thriving market center for pewter and copper ware. However, as a result of the numerous wars between the prince bishops of Liège and the dukes of Burgundy it gradually declined in importance.
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