Rue Notre-Dame, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Cathedral of Notre-Dame Luxembourg
The national cathedral of Luxembourg, a seventeenth-century Jesuit church with a remarkable Gothic-Renaissance fusion that houses the beloved icon of Our Lady, Consoler of the Afflicted, patroness of the Grand Duchy.
Notre-Dame sits in the southern part of Luxembourg City's old town, built by the Jesuits between 1613 and 1621. The exterior blends late Gothic structure with Renaissance ornament — pointed arches alongside classical columns and pilasters — in a way that is unusual and oddly harmonious. The interior is three-aisled with elegant ribbed vaulting and a crypt that holds the tombs of the Grand Ducal family. The church's most important feature is the statue of Our Lady, Consoler of the Afflicted, a small seventeenth-century wooden figure venerated as the patroness of Luxembourg. During the annual Octave pilgrimage in spring, tens of thousands of Luxembourgers process through the streets to honor her. The building became a cathedral in 1870 and was elevated to a minor basilica in 1935.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Luxembourg
Style: Late Gothic-Renaissance
What to See
The Gothic-Renaissance fusion on the exterior is worth studying — the two styles sit together more naturally than you would expect. Inside, the ribbed vaulting is fine Jesuit work. The crypt is accessible and contains the Grand Ducal tombs. The statue of Our Lady is small and easy to miss if you are not looking for it.
Pilgrim Notes
The cathedral is in Luxembourg City's old town, walkable from the Gare Centrale. The Octave pilgrimage takes place in spring, usually in April or May, and is the best time to experience the cathedral in its full devotional life. Luxembourg is a small, wealthy, multilingual country — most people speak French, German, and Luxembourgish.