- Address: 17 Rue du marché-aux-Herbes | L-1728, Luxembourg
- Phone: +352 47 48 74-1
- Fax: +352 46 70 70
- E-mail: touristinfo@lcto.lu
- Website: http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/index.html
- Working hours: from 10.00 to 18.00 (from 13 July to 6 September)
- Ticket price: 10 euro for adults and 5 euro for children under 16 years.
The Palace of the Grand Dukes is one of the oldest attractions in Luxembourg and serves as the official residence of the Grand Duke, located in the capital of the state . The building was built in the distant 1572 by architect Adam Robert, but after centuries it does not cease to delight tourists with its splendor and luxury.
A bit of history
The residence of the Duke castle was only in 1890, and before that time it was used as the city hall, the residence of the French administration, the government hall. Since the Palace of the Grand Dukes was completed two times, the facade of the building has its own characteristics.
The right side of the building refers to the Flemish style of the second half of the 16th century, and the left part was reconstructed in the 19th century and displays the French Renaissance. Despite the differences in architectural parts, the building almost does not differ from a number of existing buildings. Usually a tourist can learn the palace only thanks to the flag and the guard at the entrance.
What to see?
On the first floor, the guests will see the halls and cabinets, which are intended for audiences and receptions. Also for guests on the ground floor an exhibition is opened, telling about the time when Grand Duchess Charlotte returned from exile. Special interest among visitors is enjoyed by the Ballroom, which is the embodiment of luxury and style of the 19th century. From the first to the second floor leads a delightful staircase, on both sides of which you can see many family portraits, ancient maps and historical manuscripts. On the second floor are the rooms of the duke and his family, guest rooms. Also, the excursion program includes a visit to the museum of Chinese porcelain, Russian malachite and a collection of unique paintings. Of particular value are two rare vases that were donated to Prince Guillaume. Most of the items in the palace are made in a single copy and have no analogues throughout the world.
You can get tickets only at the Luxembourg City Tourist Office, which is located on Guillaume II Square near the Cathedral of the Luxembourg Our Lady . You can only visit the palace as part of a guided tour. The group usually consists of 40 people, and the tour itself does not exceed 45 minutes. Tickets are worth buying in advance, since there are a lot of people wishing to visit the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, and not everyone can get there.
The Palace in our days
At the moment, the duke of Henri and his family live in the palace. In a separate wing there are parliamentary sessions and reception of high-ranking delegations, and from the Yellow Hall on Christmas night there is a direct broadcast of the annual congratulation of the monarch. Important guests and heads of other states also stop at the palace during their visits to Luxembourg. In honor of such guests, the duke arranges lavish banquets in the Ballroom.
For tourists, a visit to the Palace of the Grand Dukes is allowed only from July to August, when the duke with his family goes on vacation.
What should a tourist know?
- When the palace belonged to France, Napoleon Bonaparte himself lived in it.
- In the dining room there are four huge tapestries that tell the story of Telemachus.
- Tourists enter the palace from the rear wing. Before entering, you need to go through a security system and listen to a small introduction about the history of the Palace of the Grand Dukes.
- When the duke is absent from the residence, the flag on the roof of the palace is lowered.
- Photographing and shooting video in the palace is prohibited.
- All the money earned for tickets from visiting the palace goes to charity.
- Excursions are only available in English, French, German, Dutch and Luxembourgish.
How to get there?
Traveling to Luxembourg is best on foot or on a rented bike. You can also use public transport . The Palace of Grand Dukes reaches the bus number 9 and 16.
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