Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg

Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City is the main Catholic church for the whole country. It was built a long time ago, starting in 1613, and is the only cathedral in Luxembourg. The building shows beautiful Gothic style with some Renaissance decorations too.

In 1866, an important statue called Our Lady of Consolation was given special honor by Pope Pius IX. This statue is the patron saint of both Luxembourg City and the country. The church became known as the Church of Our Lady in 1870 and was then raised to cathedral status.

Near the cathedral is a special monument remembering people who fought against unfair treatment during hard times. The main part of this monument is a bronze statue named The Political Prisoner, made by the artist Lucien Wercollier. The cathedral itself was made bigger between 1935 and 1938.

History

The first stone of the church was laid on May 7, 1613, by Father François Aldenard. Jesuit priests from Belgium started a school in Luxembourg City in 1603, where many young people learned until 1773. The church was finished and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in 1621 by an auxiliary bishop.

After the Jesuits left in 1773, the church was given to the city by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. It was renamed several times over the years. In 1848, it became known as "Notre-Dame." When Luxembourg became a bishopric in 1870, the church was officially named Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Architecture

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City is a beautiful example of late Gothic architecture, but it also includes many Renaissance details and decorations.

In the 1930s, the cathedral was made larger. This change was designed by a local architect named Hubert Schumacher. The new parts fit well with the older parts of the building and nearby structures like the old Athénée building and other important places.

The cathedral has three towers. The west tower is the oldest and holds the bells. The east and central towers were added during the 1930s. The central tower has a wide, pyramid-shaped base and a narrow, copper-covered top. Sadly, in 1985, a fire damaged the west tower and some bells, but it was fixed later that year.

Burials in the crypt

The crypt of the cathedral holds the remains of important leaders of Luxembourg, known as Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses. Some of these leaders include John of Bohemia, who was moved there from Germany in 1945, Marie-Adélaïde, Marie Anne, Felix, Prince Charles, Charlotte, Joséphine Charlotte, and Jean.