Story
The story of Notre-Dame Cathedral
Above the entrance on Rue Notre-Dame stands a statue of St Nicholas, a clue to this church's winding story. It began as a Jesuit church: the first stone was laid on 7 May 1613, and it was consecrated in 1621. Look for the organ tribune, where the German sculptor Daniel Muller worked; its alabaster angels play music among leaves and flowers. After the Jesuits left the city in 1773, Empress Maria Theresa gave the church to Luxembourg, and it replaced the small, decrepit parish church of St Nicholas, demolished in 1779, hence the saint over the door.
It received the name Notre-Dame in 1848 and became a cathedral in 1870, the only one in Luxembourg. Between 1935 and 1938 it was enlarged, gaining its east and central towers. On Good Friday, 5 April 1985, work on the roof set the west tower on fire, and its bells were destroyed.
In the crypt rest grand dukes and grand duchesses of Luxembourg, along with John of Bohemia, brought here in 1945.
This story is compiled from Wikipedia and other open sources; dates and numbers are checked against the source. The text is shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Source ↗
Hear this story on the spot, in a natural voice
On Sightlore, the story of Notre-Dame Cathedral is narrated in a natural voice in 5 languages. When you arrive, say "I'm here" and get your passport stamp.
21 more stories from Luxembourg City in the app
More highlights in Luxembourg City
- Gëlle FraThe Monument of Remembrance, usually known by the nickname of the Gëlle Fra (Luxembourgish for 'Golden Lady'), is a war memorial in Luxembourg City.
- Neumünster AbbeyNeimënster Abbey, officially known as Neumünster Abbey until 2014, is a public meeting place, cultural centre, and former Benedictine abbey located in the Grund district of Luxembourg City in southern Luxembourg.
- Musée Dräi EechelenMusée Dräi Eechelen is a museum in the Kirchberg district of Luxembourg City in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
- Philharmonie LuxembourgThe Philharmonie Luxembourg, also known officially as the Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte Concert Hall, is a concert hall located in the European district of Kirchberg in Luxembourg City.
- Fort ThüngenFort Thüngen is a historic fortification in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is located in Dräi Eechelen Park, in the Kirchberg district, in the north-east of the city.
- National Museum of Archeology, History and ArtThe National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art, abbreviated to MNAHA, is a cultural institution in Luxembourg City, southern Luxembourg. The institution manages three museum sites and two research centres.