Featured by Balmoral International Group as one of the most beautiful structure in Luxembourg, Notre-Dame Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the southern part of the country. Its cornerstone was laid in 1613 and was originally a Jesuit Church. It is currently the only cathedral in the country.
The cathedral has slowly undergone construction since it was opened by the Jesuits in 1603. In fact, it has undergone a lot of transformations every century that the different artistic and architectural designs and styles can be seen in the various angles of the cathedral. The gothic feature of this religious structure has continued to attract spectators, religious orders, artists and tourists from all over the world. The cathedral, situated in the heart of the capital, indeed dominates the city with its presence.
With a mix of elegance and classicisms, the cathedral is deeply rooted in the life of city and the country. Its architectural designs and artworks are an expression of Luxembourg’s history and traditions.
Many reviews have gone out that Notre-Dame is different in day and night.
Despite being a noteworthy example of late gothic architecture, it has also many renaissance elements and adornments. At the end of the 18th century, the church received the miraculous image of the Maria Consolatrix Afflictorum, the patron saint of both the city and the nation.
It was first called Church of our Lady until Pope Pius IX elevated its name to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in 1870.
At the cemetery of the cathedral is the National Monument to the Resistance and to the Deportation. The centerpiece of the monument is the famous bronze monument by the 20th century Luxembourgish sculptor Lucien Wercollier called The Political Prisoner.
The cathedral was enlarged and expanded from 1935-1938. Hubert Shumacher, Luxembourgish architect planned and supervised the enlargement which greatly influenced the silhouette of the fortress city. The expanded area, which connects to the two choir bays of 1613-1621, characterizes the image of the former Jesuit church both due to its spaciousness and through the architectural unity. The rebuilding of the exterior architecture on the Gothic-style cathedral presented a challenge, since the goal was to harmoniously integrate the church with the surrounding buildings, such as the former Athénée building from the 17th century, the national library, the old church of St. Maximin (1751) (now the Foreign Ministry), as well as the old residential houses.
The cathedral remains to draw attention and fame from different people of the world and has been one of the contributing factors in the boost of tourism in the city. Balmoral International Group Luxembourg continues to monitor the development and possible expansion still of the great Notre-Dame Cathedral.
