© RTL
For the first time, Luxembourg joined the European Archaeology Days with special tours and rare site openings across the country, giving the public unique access to historical locations and deeper insight into the nation's archaeological heritage.
This initiative was launched over a decade ago by the French Ministry of Culture with support from the Council of Europe. As part of Luxembourg's participation, a series of guided visits were organised across the country over the weekend to bring the nation’s archaeological heritage closer to the public. These visits gave people the rare opportunity to explore archaeological sites that are usually not open to the general public.
The first visit took place on Thursday morning at the Archaeology Museum in Nospelt. There, Grand Duke Henri was given an in-depth presentation of the museum’s diverse collections and the stories behind the exhibited artefacts. Under sunny skies, the visit continued outdoors to the nearby site of a Gallo-Roman villa, where the Grand Duke received a personal tour of the remains.
Another visit, this time without the Grand Duke, took place on Saturday morning at the Titelberg site in the south of the country. Participants were guided on a walk through nature, during which they learned about the site’s rich history and the archaeological work conducted there.
On Sunday, the programme continued at the Mansfeld site in Clausen, where the remains of a 16th-century villa are located. While not much of the once-impressive villa and its grounds is visible today, with the site being typically viewed only through small openings in an information wall, visitors were allowed to enter the ruins for this special occasion. Guide Jean-Luc Mousset led an hour-long tour, offering insights into the site's layered history.
Mousset explained that the site is of particular importance due to its complex past. He noted that the Mansfeld site was once one of the most significant Renaissance residences in the wider Luxembourg region, later serving as a garden and living space before being rediscovered through archaeological efforts.
As part of the European Archaeology Days, many other historic sites across the country were also exceptionally opened for the weekend. According to David Weis, Director of the National Institute of Archaeological Research (INRA), initiatives like this are crucial for making archaeological heritage more accessible. He emphasised the importance of connecting people to all periods of history, from the Stone Age to the Renaissance, and also noted the value of public feedback to understand which sites and stories resonate most with visitors.
Several museums also joined the celebration with themed visits. At the National Museum of Natural History in Luxembourg City, visitors were invited to explore the museum’s archaeological collections in its basement. Among the highlights was a large Roman mosaic.
It was explained that the mosaic, discovered 20 years ago in a field in Vichten, once formed the central room of a Roman villa, which is typical of those found in the region. As it could not be preserved in situ, it was carefully removed, restored, and eventually installed in the museum for permanent display, she said.
While some of the sites featured during the weekend are not normally open to the public, many, including the Mansfeld site, offer guided tours on occasion throughout the year. The initiative marked an important step in giving people across Luxembourg a deeper connection to their shared past.
