On October 13, 2016 the Secretary of State for Culture Guy Arendt presented the first results of archaeological excavations taking place during the extension work on the Parking Knuedler under the Place Guillaume II in Luxembourg-Ville.
The excavations are being carried out by the National Archaeological Research Centre (CNRA) in close collaboration with officials from the City of Luxembourg, the project developer and the presentation was made in the presence of the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer.
Archeologists have uncovered the foundations of the choir of the church, which was part of the 13th Century convent, lying parallel to the Rue Notre Dame. They also found some steps of a spiral staircase that very probably leads to a crypt at the same level as the Choir. The existence of this crypt was not previously known. In fact, written records refer only to a crypt below the Mansfeld Chapel of which foundations were discovered lying under the extension of the 13th Century choir near the Maison Lassner in the corner of the square.
The archeologists also discovered two tombs which may be associated with the church, dating from the 17th Century. Excavations have shown that the former ground level of the cloister and the 13th century church was significantly lower than that of the 17th century church.Further surveys have revealed the foundations of the old 13th century cloister as well. Objects recovered show that the walls of the cloister were highly decorated with colourful murals, even using gold, while the floor was covered with tiles glazed in bright colours including green, yellow and black.
The research fits in perfectly with the timing of the construction works. This allows a balance between the needs of the developers and the history of the site. As far as possible, these newly-discovered historical and architectural remains will be made part of the construction. More importantly, their discovery has provided valuable new information about the history and evolution of this Franciscan convent, which played an important role in the history of the city and the country.
History of the “Knuedler”
The name "Knuedler" refers to the knotted rope belt worn by the Franciscan monks, known as the Knuet, Knued or Kniet. In 1222, the Franciscans founded a convent including a church and cloister in front of the walls of the old medieval city of Luxembourg. The extension of this convent stretched across almost all of the current Place Guillaume II.
Towards the end of the 18th century, following the conquest of the fortress by French troops in 1795, the monastery was annexed and the religious order dissolved in 1796. In 1804, Napoleon donated the old Franciscan property to the city of Luxembourg. An 1811 map also shows religious buildings and landscaped gardens in the 17th century. On the property register (Cadastre) drawn up around 1904, all traces of the convent had disappeared under an embankment following major demolition work.
Photo by MCULT
