A dark but undoubtedly interesting component of the National Museum of Natural History's "UNexpected Treasures" exhibition is the history of capital punishment in Luxembourg.

The 19th century was marked by several milestone events in Luxembourg's history. A modern and liberal constitution, Luxembourgish both as a native and a literary language, the shaping of a clear national identity... In other words, Luxembourg's identity as a nation was gradually forged.

However, this century also witnessed much darker moments: more than 28 people were sentenced to death. Quite a few of them faced the death penalty because they were involved in the 1798 Peasant's War, a violent revolt against French occupiers. Other death row prisoners were executed because they had performed atrocities against victims of their own. 
 
A chilling example includes the case of a miller who was accused of killing his wife. According to old court reports, he battered her to death with a mill stone and was consequently condemned to the guillotine. The execution was performed in public on the fish market in Luxembourg city, attracting many curious spectators.

This more sinister part of our history has been well preserved in the court documents that can still be found in Luxembourg's national archive and in the guillotine itself.

Interested in finding out more about Luxembourg's past? The "UNexpected Treasures" exhibition at the "National Museum of Natural History" can be visited until the 31 August 2018.