3D Digital Tour of Luxembourg’s Holy Ghost Citadel Launches

An immersive 3D digital tour of the Holy Ghost Citadel (Citadelle du Saint-Esprit) in Luxembourg-Ville launched on Tuesday 17 December 2024, on the 30th anniversary of the recognition of Luxembourg’s old quarters and fortifications as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Developed by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Luxembourg Fortress Documentation Centre of the National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art (MNAHA), Schock asbl and the Luxembourg Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, this project offers a new perspective of the Holy Ghost Citadel casements.

The digital tour allows visitors to discover an underground heritage, which is largely inaccessible. The tour, in Luxembourgish and in "leichte Sprache" (easy to follow language), will allow visitors to discover the history of the most important military structure in the entire former fortress. Additional languages will be available from 2025.

Designed to promote social inclusion, the tour is aimed at both young people and people with special needs. 

The free virtual tour is part of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 10 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities launched by UNESCO.

The tour can be viewed via: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=BcVnooZztha

From Easter 2025, the archaeological crypt of the Holy Spirit, on the Plateau du Saint-Esprit, will open temporarily to the public. Important remains of the former convent of the Poor Clares, founded in 1234, were discovered at this site during excavations carried out by the National Institute of Archaeological Research, prior to the construction of the Cité Judiciaire (judicial centre). The crypt includes traces of the "well house", the former riding school, the military kitchen and medieval ramparts.

At the time of construction, these remains were protected and integrated into a large crypt of more than 1,000 m2, on the advice of the World Heritage Committee. In 2022, a project to make this historic area accessible to the public was begun by the National Institute for Architectural Heritage (INPA). Completion of the work is expected in 2027. Organised educational tours of the crypt will be centred around the themes of the architecture of the convent, daily life in the convent, as well as religious life in the Middle Ages. 

Visitors will be able to view the archaeological remains from 220m of suspended walkways and take the path that the nuns once took, including the one crossing the cloister to the convent church. The remains of Vauban’s fortress, that was also built here, can also be seen. 

Luxembourg's Minister of Culture, Eric Thill, said that "the assessment of the '30 years of Lëtzebuerg World Heritage' is very positive. The legislative framework has been strengthened with the adoption of the law on cultural heritage in 2022, and capacities within administrations have been increased. The National Sites and Monuments Service, which has become the National Institute for Architectural Heritage (INPA), has also played a key role in promoting our heritage. In particular, it created the educational route ‘Vauban’ in 2010, and in 2015, extended the Wenzel circuit to the Rham plateau. INPA has restored and highlighted emblematic elements such as the Bons-Malades tower and the Hielepart tower. It is also worth highlighting INPA’s many collaborations within the UNESCO perimeter. These include the restoration and redevelopment work at the Palais Mansfeld, the former Dominican convent at the Marché-aux-Poissons, the Hôtel St Maximin, as well as the work encompassing the Viaduct and the Adolphe bridge."

In July 2024, the World Heritage Committee adopted the periodic report on the management of "Luxembourg: old quarters and fortifications". The Historic Cities Programme described Luxembourg as a "champion and leader" in the care of the historic urban landscape. The new UNESCO Regional Action Plan for Europe and North America will guide future actions for the protection and presentation of the property until 2031.