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The Grand Ducal Palace. Photo by Francisco Anzola.

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Grand Ducal Palace

Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 1815 and the Grand Ducal Palace, home of the Grand Duke is one of the country鈥檚 main attractions.

A grand duchy is a territory whose head of state is also a monarch, called a grand duke or a grand duchess.

As one might expect the residence of the grand duke is quite spectacular and luckily enough, parts of the palace are open to the public.

The Palace of the Grand Dukes also known as the Grand Ducal Palace was built in the 16th century and was initially used as the city hall.
Having been renovated several times over the centuries, the current structure exhibits some of the finest Flemish renaissance architecture in Luxembourg.
Below are some remarkable facts about the Grand Ducal Palace ;

1.It is the Official Residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg

From 1817, the palace became the residence of the Governor, the representative of the Dutch Grand Dukes.

It was used by Prince Henry, during his time as Lieutenant-Representative of Luxembourg. The building’s interior was renovated in 1883, in preparation of a visit by Grand Duke William III and his wife, Grand Duchess Emma, King and Queen of Netherlands.

It is now the official residence of the grand Duke and where he perform most of his duties as a head of state of the Grand Duchy.

He and the Grand Duchess, together with their staff, have their offices at the palace, and the state rooms on the first floor and are used for a variety of meetings and audiences.

2.It Hosts Various State Receptions Through Out the Year

On Christmas Eve, the Grand Duke’s Christmas message is always broadcast from the Yellow Room.

Foreign heads of state are accommodated at the palace, as guests of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, during official visits to Luxembourg, and the Ballroom is the setting for state banquets in their honor.

Throughout the year, numerous other receptions take place at the palace, such as the New Year’s reception given for members of the Government and the Chamber of Deputies.

3.It was Constructed by Jesuits in 1613

It was among the Luxembourg Castle鈥檚 surviving fortifications, together with Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Its construction begun by the Jesuits

In 1613 and completed in 1621, together with other historic buildings. The city eventually spread westward, and the suburbs of Grund, Clausen, and Pfaffenthal developed in lower-lying sections across the Alzette.

4.A Home to the Netherlands Royal Family

The Grand Ducal Palace was home to the royal family, king of the Netherlands heirs of William I, in 1772 to 1843.

 The palace dates from 1572, and later additions were made in 1895. After renovations were completed in the 1990s, portions of the palace were opened to the public.

5.The Stone Balustrade was Replaced by a Wrought Iron Balustrade

After the town hall was destroyed by a gunpowder explosion in 1554, it was rebuilt 20 years later. In 1741, the stone balustrade was replaced by a wrought-iron balustrade that still exists today. In the mid-18th century, the town hall was enlarged on the right side by a Baroque building called 鈥淪alle de la Balance鈥�.

6.It Has been Repeatedly Attacked and Rebuilt

Having been renovated several times over the centuries, the current structure exhibits some of the finest Flemish renaissance architecture in Luxembourg.

Over a 400-year period, Grand Duke was repeatedly attacked and rebuilt by the Spaniards, Austrians, French, and Dutch, successively became the strongest fortress in Europe after Gibraltar.

During the German occupation in the Second World War, the Grand Ducal Palace was used by the Nazis as a concert hall and tavern.

Most of the palace’s furniture, art collections and jewels were ruined, large swastika flags were hung down at the front. With the return of Grand Duchess Charlotte from exile in 1945, the palace once again became the seat of the Grand Ducal Court.

One such reinforcement was undertaken by the French military engineer S茅bastien Le Prestre de Vauban, who redesigned the city鈥檚 defensive fortifications after having orchestrated its siege in 1684 in the service of Louis XIV.

From 1945 to 1966 the Grand Ducal Guard mounted ceremonial guard duties at the palace. From 1966 to date soldiers of the military of Luxembourg perform guard duties.

7.Visitors are allowed to Tour Seven Miles of Casements

After the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to 1866, the fortress was garrisoned by the Prussians as a bulwark of the German Confederation.

 With the Treaty of London, in 1867, Luxembourg was declared neutral, and the fortress.

It was  containing 15 miles (24 km) of casements, three battlements with 24 forts, and an extensive (10-acre area of military barracks, was largely dismantled, an operation that took 16 years.

Today visitors can tour the remaining 7 miles of casements or view the modern city below from the Chemin de la Corniche, a promontory built atop the old town wall.

8.Summer is the Best Period for Tourist Visit

During the summer months, the Luxembourg City Tourist Office has the honor of organizing exclusive guided tours of the grand ducal Palace.

9.Some of the Area are Open to the Public

The ballroom at the Palace One of the areas open to public viewing . Photo By Mr. Skylar Man.

Visitors are allowed to look at the Grand Duke鈥檚 office, the dining room and the 鈥淪alon des Rois鈥�, and others. Through the sale of tickets, the Luxembourg City Tourist Office supports the Foundation of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess foundation.

A foundation that supports humanitarian and solidarity initiatives to assist vulnerable people and those in distress, both in the Grand Duchy and in developing countries.

During the opening period, tours are available daily in several languages such as Luxemburgish, French, English and German.

10.Its Guarded by the Millitary With The Great Spectacle Change of Guard

Luxembourg Army Standing Guard at the Palace. By Dan Castiglia.

The palace is guarded by the Luxembourg military who display a spectacle in  the during the guard change over