National Museum of Archeology, History and Art

The National Museum of History and Art stands in Luxembourg City’s historic heart, in the Ville Haute district. It occupies a modern building designed by Christian Bauer et Associés, opened in 2002. The museum manages three sites across the canton, each with its own focus. The main site at Fëschmaart displays artworks and artefacts from every period of Luxembourg’s past. Two research centres support the work of the institution, one dedicated to the fortress of Luxembourg and another to Luxembourgish art. The museum’s origins lie in the 19th century, when historians formed the Archaeological Society to preserve the country’s heritage. After the Second World War, the collections were returned and the museum reopened under new management. During the Nazi occupation, staff added 3,500 items to the holdings, mostly folk objects. Today the museum holds one of the largest collections of Luxembourgish cultural material. Five directors have led the institution since 1988, with a new director appointed for 2025. Visitors enter a light-filled building arranged over several floors. The galleries show Roman mosaics, medieval manuscripts and modern paintings in chronological order. Outside, the museum sits beside the Fishmarket square, close to other historic buildings. The research centres provide access to archives and documentation for those who wish to study further. The site remains a key place for understanding Luxembourg’s past and its place in Europe.