Credit: CHL
On Monday 30 March 2026, Luxembourg's Ministry of Health and Social Security and the Ministry of Culture issued a press release on the future of the windmill on the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) site.
As part of the project to construct the new CHL building, approved by the Government Council (cabinet) on 29 April 2022, the question arose regarding the future of a historic windmill, which has been listed in the supplementary inventory for cultural heritage since 11 December 2002.
Given the functional needs of the new CHL building ("Nouveau Bâtiment Centre") and its status as critical infrastructure, the authorities have opted to build a large emergency department hall and an ambulance bay, requiring the demolition of the windmill.
Considering the progress of the work, the relevant ministries nevertheless continued discussions to identify other possible solutions that reconcile public health requirements with heritage preservation.
Following these discussions, a solution was identified: reconstructing the windmill tower in the immediate vicinity of its original location and showcasing it as a testament to industrial history.
The costs associated with the operation - deconstruction, storage and reconstruction - will be borne by the project owner, namely the CHL.
As part of project planning, which began in 2014, the functional requirements related to the organisation of emergency services (including the need for sufficient space for an expanded emergency department and ambulance access) led the authorities to opt for full use of the site, including the windmill's current location.
These requirements were subsequently confirmed by the standing committee for the hospital sector and enshrined in the law of 15 July 2022 authorising the State to participate in financing the construction of the new CHL building.
To examine solutions that best reconcile these requirements with heritage preservation, an interministerial technical group was established, bringing together representatives from the CHL, the Ministry of Health and Social Security, the Ministry of Culture and the National Institute for Architectural Heritage (INPA). A study was commissioned to determine whether parts of the structure could be carefully deconstructed and reconstructed elsewhere.
In October 2025, based on the results of this study and the conclusions of the technical group, the decision was made to carefully deconstruct the building, in accordance with best practices, with a view to its subsequent reconstruction. The deconstructed elements will be temporarily stored under secure conditions.
A second, in-depth feasibility study identified a solution for the building's reconstruction: the mill tower will be rebuilt in the immediate vicinity of its original site, at the intersection of Val Fleuri and Route d'Arlon, on land belonging to the CHL, once the new building is operational, i.e. no later than the second half of 2029.
This location was identified as the only technically feasible option within the project's perimeter, while maintaining a strong connection to the site's historical context.
According to the ministries, the project also includes further enhancement of this heritage element. The new location, situated near the future tram line and easily accessible to the public, is expected to increase the mill's visibility. Specific improvements, such as educational signage and interpretive displays, will highlight its history and significance in the Grand Duchy's industrial development. The possibility of reconstructing the mill's sails will also be studied.
To allow for the implementation of this solution, Luxembourg's Minister of Culture, Eric Thill, has authorised the removal of the mill from the supplementary inventory of national monuments under these conditions.
This case, given its specific circumstances, also underscores the importance of considering heritage issues from the initial project planning phase, the ministries noted.
