Curiosities of Luxembourg Ville, part I !!!

I am inspired to tell you about one of my favorite countries that have not live in yet. Visited several times always in family trips and many memorable moments, we love to visit more, and will be back ,eventually. I have found me pictures in my cd rom vault to do this one for you and me, Therefore, here is my take on curiosities of Luxembourg Ville, part I !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The ARBED building is the generally used name for the former headquarters of ArcelorMittal ,and one of its predecessors, the ARBED steel manufacturing company, which was completed in 1922 on the Avenue de la Liberté, opposite the Rose Garden in Luxembourg Ville. When the building was opened, it also included salons, smoking rooms, conference rooms, a restaurant, a library, a ceremonial hall, a bowling lane and a gym. Its style is inspired by French châteaux of the 17C and 18C. Over the main entrance is a sculpture which shows Victoria crowning Mercury, in the presence of an allegorical sculpture representing science. At their feet are coins and a cog, which symbolise the economic success of industry. Next to them are putti carrying a globe made of copper, a reference to the world-wide activity of business.

After ARBED emerged from WWI in a strong position, having bought some of the steel plants that Gelsenkirchener Hütten A.G. was forced to sell due to the German defeat, it quickly decided to build a new, grand HQ for their central administration. Its staff picked a spot in the railway quarter, along the axis between the Adolphe Bridge, and the railway station. It was inaugurated on 9 December 1922. In 2002, ARBED merged with other European steel companies to form Arcelor, which in turn merged with Mittal Steel in 2006 to form ArcelorMittal, and the building changed ownership accordingly However, in 2014 the bank Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat (BCEE) (see post) purchased the site. After 18 months of refurbishment, the building had a grand re-opening in July 2016  in the presence of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, as well as the Prime Minister and various other ministers.

The Luxembourg ville tourist office on the former ARBED building : https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/place/monument/former-arbed-headquarters

The Hôtel de Ville of Luxembourg Ville is located at 42 Place Guillaume II, and it was built between 1830 and 1838 with two-story building ,built in a neoclassical style. Its construction on Place Guillaume II primarily used stone from the former Franciscan monastery, which stood there until 1829. Since 1931, the main entrance has been flanked by two bronze lions, the work of Luxembourg sculptor Auguste Trémont. The City Hall houses the municipal administration and the council chamber. A little further on is the headquarters of the Luxembourg City Tourist Office. Due to its location in the Luxembourg capital, it also regularly hosts foreign dignitaries.

The Luxembourg ville tourist office on the City/town hall : https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/place/monument/town-hall

The City of Luxembourg on its facts/figures : https://www.vdl.lu/en/city/a-glance/facts-and-figures

I happened to be walking around here and took this picture without knowing what it was just for the wonderful looks, And now here it is ! The Fondation J-P Pescatore Foundation is a privileged place to live for retirees (from 70 years old). Located in the heart of Luxembourg City Jean-Pierre Pescatore bequeathed a considerable fortune to the city of Luxembourg upon his death, as well as a collection of works of art, with the obligation to create a museum and a charitable institution. This is how the Pescatore Foundation and the retirement home located in the heart of the city came into being. It is housed in an 1892 building with Neo-Gothic architecture, which can be admired a stone’s throw from the Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator. The J-P Pescatore Foundation is located at 13 Avenue Jean-Pierre Pescatore, with nearby bus stops Avenue des Bains and Fondation Pescatore. Jean-Pierre Pescatore, born in Luxembourg, he joined the Napoleonic armies at the age of 16 before partnering in 1814 with his brother Antoine, who was involved in the tobacco trade and manufacturing; Married Marguerite Beving from Grevenmacher in March 1816, sister of Antoine Pescatore’s wife; Successfully intervened in 1817 between the French tobacco administration and the Havana planters to take over the tobacco harvests on a firm basis; Death of his wife in June 1821; Settled permanently in Paris in 1834; Obtained French nationality in 1846; Religious marriage in 1851 with Anne-Catherine Weber in Renteira, Spain, where it was recognized as a civil marriage; Appointment in 1852 as Consul General of the Netherlands and mayor of the town of La Celle Saint-Cloud (Yvelines 78), where he had owned a royal estate since 1844; Death on December 9, 1855, at his residence on Rue St. Georges in Paris.

The official Fondation  J-P Pescatore  : https://www.fondation.lu/

There you go folks, hope it gives you enough to come to see this magical small country of Luxembourg. We love it ,and can’t wait to be back again, eventually. We had many memories of driving there even just for lunch at the Place d’Armes with the family by car and come back to Versailles sometimes on the same day !!! Yeah road warriors of Europe ! Again, hope you enjoy this post on curiosities of Luxembourg Ville, part I !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health and many cheers to all !!!

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.