The Good Cities (French: Bonnes Villes) were the most important cities of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (980-1795). If considered a Good City, the city was allowed to build a city wall; partake in the States of Liège; and erect a perron symbolising the autonomy and freedom of Liège.
In 1651 the Good Cities numbered 23,[citation needed] and they were grouped in either the so-called villes thioises —contemporarily this referred to what now would be termed Dutch or Flemish cities— or the villes françoises (contemporarily French or Walloon cities).[citation needed] All of these Good Cities are located within present-day Belgium; the Prince-Bishopric's territories included at times parts in modern day Netherlands, France and Germany as well.
Two other major cities of the Prince-Bishopric had a special statute, which differentiated them from the Good Cities as they were not allowed to be represented at the States of Liège. These two were part of the Condominium of Maastricht, an area of joint sovereignty shared by the Prince-Bishopric of Liège and the Duchy of Brabant.
The cities
editVilles thioises
City Current Belgian: Province Region Beringen Limburg Flemish Bilzen Limburg Flemish Borgloon
(then named Loon)Limburg Flemish Bree Limburg Flemish Hamont Limburg Flemish Hasselt Limburg Flemish Herk-de-Stad Limburg Flemish Maaseik Limburg Flemish Peer Limburg Flemish Sint-Truiden Limburg Flemish Stokkem Limburg Flemish Tongeren Limburg Flemish
Villes françoises
City Current Belgian: Province Region Châtelet Hainaut Wallonia Ciney Namur Wallonia Couvin Namur Wallonia Dinant Namur Wallonia Fosses-la-Ville Namur Wallonia Huy Liège Wallonia Liège Liège Wallonia Thuin Hainaut Wallonia Verviers Liège Wallonia Visé Liège Wallonia Waremme Liège Wallonia
Cities with a special statute
The Condominium of Maastricht – of which the Prince-Bishopric shared a joint authority with the Duchy of Brabant and later the Dutch Republic – included two cities with a special statute.
City Current: Province
(Country)Region Bouillon Luxembourg (Belgium) Wallonia Maastricht Limburg (Netherlands) —