The most beautiful religious buildings Luxembourg

The foundation stone of Notre-Dame Cathedral was laid in 1613. First under the orders of the Jesuit Fathers, it was officially recognized as a cathedral in 1870. From 1935 to 1937, the building was considerably enlarged. Inside, you can admire the statue of the Virgin Mary, consoler of the afflicted, patron saint of Luxembourg City (since 1666) and of the Grand Duchy (since 1678). During the annual pilgrimage of the Octavian, the statue is displayed on a wrought iron altarpiece from 1766. Another protector of the place, Saint Joseph, has a remarkable golden mosaic dedicated to him. Saint Joseph is represented there carrying the baby Jesus. Also note the presence of various coats of arms on the right side of the choir (for example, those of Chimay, Saint-Hubert, Echternach, Vianden... all localities that have had a regional influence), but also magnificent mural paintings on a narrow ogival vault, as well as very beautiful stained glass windows. The cathedral is a very fine example of late Gothic, but it also has Renaissance elements and ornamentation. The various columns with Italian neo-Romanesque motifs and the baroque portal framing the organ are worth a look! You can also visit the crypt where John I of Bohemia (John the Blind), the deceased members of the Grand Ducal family (including Grand Duchess Charlotte) and the bishops of Luxembourg are buried.

This former Benedictine abbey dating from the ^17th century is a unique cultural and artistic site, combining history, architecture and contemporary creativity. It boasts a spectacular backdrop of cliffs, casemates and the winding Alzette valley. In the past, it consisted of a church and four buildings grouped around an inner courtyard. In the 19th^century , it was transformed into a military hospital and then, under the responsibility of the Luxembourg state, into a men's prison. Today, it is a cultural meeting place.

The abbey has been magnificently restored, retaining its historic charm while integrating modern elements. Visitors can explore the ancient vaulted halls, peaceful courtyards (complete with designer benches) and verdant gardens, which add a touch of serenity to the whole. Concerts, exhibitions, shows, training courses, ballets, conferences, congresses, corporate or even private parties...: the diversity of its activities is as breathtaking as the venue itself. The site also organizes residency programs for artists from Luxembourg and the Greater Region: apartments, fitted out in former cells, are made available to residents, who are accompanied in the gestation of their artistic project. Finally, it is home to the Council of Europe's Institut des itinéraires culturels and the Institut culturel luxembourgeo-germano-français Pierre Werner. A key venue for culture in the capital, not to be missed!

Erected between 1908 and 1910 by Dutch architect JF Klomp and restored in 1945-1946, this magnificent Benedictine abbey, set back high above the town, can be seen for miles around. The monks live a life of prayer and meditation according to the rule of St. Benedict.

The abbey is neo-Gothic in style and, unlike the other buildings in the town it overlooks, is not covered in Ardennes slate but in red tiles.

Although a visit to the site is limited, there is easy access to the crypt to the left of the main entrance, with an interesting exhibition on monastic life (documents, photos, etc.).

The site is also a place for spiritual retreats (only men are accommodated at the abbey). An outside building houses a gîte for groups. There's also a store selling coffee and apple juice from the abbey, and a bookshop specializing in sacred art.

Suggested itinerary. Although it's relatively easy to get here by car, it's best to take the Abbey ascent (approx. 800 m uphill), which can be reached from the church of Sainte-Come and Saint-Damien, in the town center.

Guided tours. Every first Monday of the month, after daily mass, the Tourist Office organizes a guided tour led by a monk from the abbey, covering the history of the building and daily life (booking required).

This beautiful decanal church was erected in 1510 on the foundations of another sanctuary, dating from 1417. The church presents a curious mix of styles: Gothic for the old part which dates from the 16th century and modern for the 1937 extension. The two side altars were donated by brotherhoods at the beginning of the 18th century and a series of wooden statues represent the patron saints of these orders. The last restorations (frescoes) took place in 2006 and 2010.

The Notre-Dame Chapel was built in 1654 and consecrated in 1658. It served as a place of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. Above the portal is a beautiful polychrome Virgin and Child. The interior, with its cruciform plan, is in late Gothic style. The keystones represent the Marian monogram, the coat of arms of the abbey and those of Abbot Fisch, founder of the chapel, and the monogram of Jesus with the nails of the Passion. Inside there is also a Dutch portable organ from 1845.

The church of St. Michael, called the decanal church, dates from the mid-19th century. It was built in the neoclassical style between 1844 and 1850. Its pediment is supported by four Doric columns. The interior is characterized by clear lines and volumes of the right proportions. A rounded apse completes the choir. From 1934 to 1939, the interior was repainted by the artist Notker Becker O.S.B. from the Benedictine Abbey of Maria Laach in the Eifel. The architecture and interior decoration make this church one of the most beautiful in the country.

Since 1782, the belfry has served as the bell tower of the decanal church of Saint-Laurent. The old watchtower dates from the 12th century. It is 26 m high and the thickness of its walls varies from 1.50 to 1.80 m. It is located exactly in the middle of the old fortified enclosure. The nave, erected by the Cistercian abbey of Clairefontaine (in 1782), has undergone several transformations and renovations, in 1927-1928 by the architect Joseph Jentgen and in 1981 by the architect Jean Petit.

This abbot's palace was built from 1727, according to the plans of the Lorraine Benedictine Léopold Durand. The monumental buildings were intended above all to express the position and importance of the imperial abbey of Echternach. Founded in 698, the monastery was abolished in 1796. Inside, only the monks' refectory has largely retained its original decoration. The former abbey is now occupied by the classical and technical high school of Echternach. Part of the vaulted cellars have housed the abbey museum since 1987.

During the Von Rundstedt offensive (the first offensive of the Battle of the Bulge), the inhabitants of Bavigne promised to erect a chapel to Mary. And so, since 1953, this rounded summit, known locally as Harelerberg, has been topped by three large wooden crosses and this chapel. Until recently, a stone statue of the Virgin Mary stood on a stone pedestal, but for safety reasons it was moved to the parish church.

Founded in 1308 by Henry VII, Count of Luxembourg, the church was dedicated in 1311 to Saint John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary. In 1606, the church, then hospitable, was associated with the new complex of the Abbey of Neumünster, under the influence of the Benedictine monks. The interior, although sober, houses rich Baroque furnishings: the pulpit, the organ, but also the monumental golden high altar and the sanctuary dedicated to the Black Virgin (to the left of the nave), whose statue was made in 1400.

Nestled on a hill overlooking the old town, this church is a beautiful jewel combining baroque and rococo, erected between 1761 and 1764, thanks to the will of the Benedictines of Echternach and according to the plans of Paul Mungenast. The interior is worth seeing for its remarkable Louis XV baroque furniture as well as the trompe l'oeil painting by Jean-Georges Weiser, a Bohemian native who was received bourgeois of the city of Luxembourg in 1740. Admire also the rocaille-style flesh, the organ, the carved balcony and the stained glass windows.

Nicknamed "the inkwell" because of its original octagonal shape, this tiny neo-Gothic chapel with its white walls is a true rarity. Built between 1849 and 1852, it is dedicated to Saint Cunégonde. The patron saint is represented in several forms: there is a statue above the portal and on the altar as well as a painting in the stained glass window. Since 1991, the building has been on the national inventory of listed monuments.

In 1630, Godefroy d'Eltz et de Clervaux and his wife Dorothée de Raville donated the Chapel of the Three Virgins to the Franciscans so that they could welcome the numerous pilgrims. The religious set about building a convent. Ten years later, they began to build the church which was completed in 1658. The bell tower dates from 1924. The interior impresses by the richness of its baroque decoration. The cult of the Three Virgins, daughters of St. Sophie who died for their faith around 130, certainly replaced the veneration of three pagan deities.

It's one of the oldest places of worship in the city. Originally, the place housed a small chapel, which was converted into a church in 987 by Archbishop Egbert of Trier. St. Michael's Church was destroyed and rebuilt many times, modified and enlarged many times. It was only in 1688 that it was given its present appearance and combines various architectural styles from the Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic periods. On the outside, there is a stone statue of the Archangel St. Michael and a fleur-de-lys coat of arms in memory of the French King Louis XIV.

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1757 on older foundations. The tower dates back to 1806. In the apse there is a Gothic Eucharistic cupboard. The altarpiece with a central niche in perspective dates back to the second half of the 18th century. Its polychromy was made in 1858 by Peter Dausch and Nicholas Stegreiff of Trier. The Müller organ dates from 1901 and the altar is a listed monument.

Situated near the bridge over the river Our, the church of St. Nicholas was built in the lower town by the Order of the Knights Templar, towards the end of the 13th century, when Vianden was divided into two parishes. The building was destroyed by fire in 1723 and rebuilt the following year. The interior, a single nave with a ribbed vault, houses a Baroque high altar, made in 1768 by the carpenter Fischbach from Vianden and enriched with Rococo elements. Note that until 1801 the lower town was part of the parish of Roth.

One of the country's most important religious monuments. From Gothic style to two naves, it was built in 1248 by Count Henri I of Vianden to thank Trinitarian for having bought his father, made prisoner by the Saracens during the crusades. The cloister belonged to the former monastery of Trinitarian. The convent is sold for auction and divided into private property in 1783 when order is abolished; it is only later that it will be restored and restored.

This church, founded in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 16th century, has a late medieval Gothic nave. Its ribbed vaults include a group of remarkable frescoes. They date from the 15th and 16th centuries and depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments as well as the saints who were venerated in the region. The furniture dates from the end of the 17th century. On Pentecost Sunday, an open-air mass is celebrated in honour of St Willibrord to whom the church is dedicated. This remarkable church is classified as a National Monument.

Its foundations date back to the 13th century. The tower is made of Ardennes schist and the façades of the nave are covered with the white plaster typical of the Ardennes. The interior of the chapel has a single nave with three bays. The keystone above the high altar represents the coat of arms of Frederick II of Brandenburg. The altarpiece of the altar illustrates the glorification of the patron saint of the church. Murals from the 15th and 16th centuries depict a crucified Christ, the symbols of the four evangelists and polychrome ornamentation of the flames.