Luxembourg City Hall
Encyclopedia
Luxembourg City Hall is the city hall
of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
. The city hall is the centre of local government
, including being used as the private office of the Mayor of Luxembourg City. Due to its position in Luxembourg's capital, it also regularly plays host to foreign dignitaries. It is located on the southwestern part of Place Guillaume II
(Knuedler), the main square in the centre of the city.
The two-storey building is built in neoclassical
style.
Until 1795, the Place Guillaume II was home to a monastery
of Franciscan
monks, At the time, Luxembourg's town hall was the current Grand Ducal Palace
, located just to the east of Place Guillaume II, on Krautmaart
. The French
invasion during the French Revolutionary War heralded a seizure of the monastery, and the beginning of the use of the Grand Ducal Palace for central government purposes. As a result, for three decades, the municipal headquarters were moved around the city, without adequate accommodation.
Ever since Napoleon
had given the site of the monastery to the city, plans had been underfoot to build a purpose-built city hall. These plans finally came to fruition in 1828, when a design by Liège-based Justin Remont was given the go-ahead. The following year, the old monastery, which had fallen into disrepair, was deconstructed
, with much of the material going towards building the new city hall, construction of which began in 1830. Construction continued through the Belgian Revolution
, with Luxembourg City (protected by its German
garrison) remaining the only part of the Grand Duchy outside the control of the rebel forces.
The building was completed in 1838, and first used for a city council
, chaired by Mayor François Scheffer
, on 22 October 1838. Due to the ongoing Belgian Revolution
, the city hall could not be opened by the King-Grand Duke
. Consequently, the official unveiling had to wait until 15 July 1844, when William II
also unveiled the equestrian statue to himself on the same Place Guillaume II (which is named in his honour). In 1848, the City Hall hosted the Constituent Assembly
(from 29 April onwards), which wrote the new national constitution
.
The building went without major changes until 1938, with the addition of two sculpture
s of lion
s, which flank the entrance, designed by Luxembourger Auguste Trémont
. During the German occupation
of the Second World War
, the German
occupiers converted the basement from market halls into offices, greatly increasing the amount of office space in the building. After the war, the building played host to the first meeting of the High Commission of the European Coal and Steel Community
, chaired by Jean Monnet
on 8 August 1952.
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. The city hall is the centre of local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, including being used as the private office of the Mayor of Luxembourg City. Due to its position in Luxembourg's capital, it also regularly plays host to foreign dignitaries. It is located on the southwestern part of Place Guillaume II
Place Guillaume II
Place Guillaume II is a town square in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The square lies to the west of Krautmaart and to the north of Boulevard Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the heart of Luxembourg's historic Ville Haute quarter...
(Knuedler), the main square in the centre of the city.
The two-storey building is built in neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style.
History
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monks, At the time, Luxembourg's town hall was the current Grand Ducal Palace
Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg
The Grand Ducal Palace is a palace in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and where he performs most of his duties as head of state of the Grand Duchy.-History:...
, located just to the east of Place Guillaume II, on Krautmaart
Krautmaart
Krautmaart is an irregularly-shaped broad street in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is situated in Ville Haute, the historic heart of the city. It lies to the east of Place Guillaume II, across the rue du Fossé....
. The French
French First Republic
The French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
invasion during the French Revolutionary War heralded a seizure of the monastery, and the beginning of the use of the Grand Ducal Palace for central government purposes. As a result, for three decades, the municipal headquarters were moved around the city, without adequate accommodation.
Ever since Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
had given the site of the monastery to the city, plans had been underfoot to build a purpose-built city hall. These plans finally came to fruition in 1828, when a design by Liège-based Justin Remont was given the go-ahead. The following year, the old monastery, which had fallen into disrepair, was deconstructed
Deconstruction (building)
In the context of physical construction, deconstruction is the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-use, recycling, and waste management. It differs from demolition where a site is cleared of its building by the most expedient means. Deconstruction has also been...
, with much of the material going towards building the new city hall, construction of which began in 1830. Construction continued through the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
, with Luxembourg City (protected by its German
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
garrison) remaining the only part of the Grand Duchy outside the control of the rebel forces.
The building was completed in 1838, and first used for a city council
Luxembourg communal council
Luxembourg communal council is the local council for the commune of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.It consists of twenty-seven members, elected every six years by proportional representation. The last elections were held on 9 October 2005, and resulted in a victory for the Democratic Party...
, chaired by Mayor François Scheffer
François Scheffer
François Scheffer was a Luxembourgian politician. He served four stints as the Mayor of Luxembourg City, with a total tenure of twenty-one years....
, on 22 October 1838. Due to the ongoing Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
, the city hall could not be opened by the King-Grand Duke
King-Grand Duke
The designation of King-Grand Duke was held by the three monarchs of the House of Orange-Nassau that ruled Luxembourg and the Netherlands in personal union, between 1815 and 1890...
. Consequently, the official unveiling had to wait until 15 July 1844, when William II
William II of the Netherlands
William II was King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg from 7 October 1840 until his death in 1849.- Early life and education :...
also unveiled the equestrian statue to himself on the same Place Guillaume II (which is named in his honour). In 1848, the City Hall hosted the Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly of Luxembourg
The Constituent Assembly of Luxembourg was a constituent assembly called in 1848 in Luxembourg to write and pass a new national constitution.The Grand Duchy had been administratively separate from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands since the Belgian Revolution in 1830, but remained in personal...
(from 29 April onwards), which wrote the new national constitution
Constitution of Luxembourg
The Constitution of Luxembourg is the supreme law of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The modern constitution was adopted on 17 October 1868.Whilst the constitution of 1868 marked a radical change in Luxembourg's constitutional settlement, it was technically an amendment of the original constitution...
.
The building went without major changes until 1938, with the addition of two sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s of lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, which flank the entrance, designed by Luxembourger Auguste Trémont
Auguste Trémont
Auguste Nicolas Trémont was a Luxembourgian sculptor. He specialised in sculptures of animals, with a particular emphasis on big cats.-Life:...
. During the German occupation
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II was the period in the history of Luxembourg after it was used as a transit territory to attack France by outflanking the Maginot Line. Plans for the attack had been prepared by 9 October 1939, but execution was postponed several times...
of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupiers converted the basement from market halls into offices, greatly increasing the amount of office space in the building. After the war, the building played host to the first meeting of the High Commission of the European Coal and Steel Community
European Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
, chaired by Jean Monnet
Jean Monnet
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet was a French political economist and diplomat. He is regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity and is regarded as one of its founding fathers...
on 8 August 1952.