Credit: MCULT
At the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held from Monday 2 to Saturday 7 December 2024 in Asunción, Paraguay, Luxembourg achieved a significant milestone in cultural preservation.
Representatives from 24 Member States reviewed 63 cultural nominations for inclusion on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, aimed at preserving and promoting diverse cultural traditions worldwide.
On Thursday 5 December 2024, the multinational nomination for “The Art of Dry Stone Construction: Know-How and Techniques” (D'Konscht vum Dréchemauerbauen) was approved for inclusion on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Dry stone construction, which involves assembling stones without the use of mortar, is a traditional technique passed down through generations. Known for its environmental significance and craftsmanship, this method is vital for preserving rural landscapes, managing natural resources and supporting biodiversity. The nomination, submitted collaboratively by Luxembourg alongside twelve other nations, underscores the art’s cultural and ecological importance while highlighting international cooperation and shared heritage.
With this inscription, D'Konscht vum Dréchemauerbauen joins five other Luxembourg elements already recognised on the Representative List, including the dancing procession of Echternach (2010), the musical art of trumpet players (2020), transhumance (2023), abissage (2023) and maieutics (2023).
The inclusion of D'Konscht vum Dréchemauerbauen not only celebrates Luxembourg’s cultural heritage but also reinforces the importance of preserving these skills for future generations. It marks a commitment to maintaining the delicate balance between human activity and the natural environment, ensuring that this unique craft continues to enrich cultural landscapes, cities and countryside alike.
The inventory carried out in various locations in the Grand Duchy has listed many dry stone structures with very different functionalities. Traditional vineyard walls are present along the Moselle, walking trails through Luxembourg's Little Switzerland, embankment consolidations in the Oesling, irrigation and drainage systems in the valley bottoms and more. Above all, the substantial dry stone development of the romantic paths through the rocks of the Mullerthal seems very rare. Luxembourg is a centre for dry stone know-how in the Greater Region and there is still much to discover.
