But what does it look like from the inside? Max Richartz was offered a glimpse behind the scenes.
From the inside, the Palace is even more impressive than from outside, with all the glamour and trappings one might expect from a royal residence. Inside the luxuriously furnished surroundings, with golden trimmings, historical portraits, and delicate vases, visitors are treated to a tour involving many historical facts, shared by guide Gaby Limpach of the Luxembourg City Tourist Office.
She explained: “The palace first served as Luxembourg City’s town hall, then became the forest department prefecture’s seat at the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century it became the government’s seat, then it was named the first official residence of Luxembourg’s Grand Duke and the King of the Netherlands - the three Williams. In 1890 it became the residence of Grand Duke Adolphe, who founded the Nassau/Weilburg dynasty.”
Some rooms in the Palace remain closed to the public, such as the private bedrooms and bathrooms belonging to the Grand Duke. However, visitors are offered a glimpse of guest bedrooms, and even receive permission to enter the dining room and office used by the Grand Duke. Max’ favourite feature was the impressive staircase leading to the gallery.
He asked Lampach what visitors tend to enjoy the most while touring the palace, to which she replied: “Most people enjoy the beautiful items of furniture, the vases, and the paintings. The ballroom is a big hit, with all its gold trimmings and chandeliers, and the salon with all the mirrors. I always tell them how people sit there when there is a state visit.”
How often is Grand Duke Henri at the palace?
Lampach explained: “He only stays overnight when he is hosting an official visit. He spends the rest of the year in his Colmar-Berg residence, but he travels here daily to work in his office on the second floor. Even though we don’t show any computers during the guided visits, he is absolutely a modern monarch and makes use of all sorts of technology.”
If you’ve always wanted to take a peek behind the scenes of the palace, you’re in luck. It is possible to sign up for guided visits here.
