After years of vacancy, Luxembourg’s historic Villa Baldauff is set to begin a new chapter as the freshly restored Villa Pétrusse – a hotel blending 19th-century elegance with modern luxury.
There is renewed activity at the former Villa Baldauff, a residence steeped in history. Built in 1880 by Luxembourgish architect Pierre Kemp, the villa was originally commissioned by French industrialist Eugène Kerckhoff. At the time, the Luxembourgish government aimed to attract long-term investors by permitting the construction of prestigious villas around the capital’s parks, and this one was among them.
The villa later came into the hands of the Baldauff family through the marriage of Albert Kerckhoff’s widow to François Baldauff, which gave the residence its long-standing name: Villa Baldauff.
Three generations lived there before the property, classified a listed building since 2018, stood vacant for many years. In 2017, the parent company of La Luxembourgeoise took on the project, purchasing the villa – now known as Villa Pétrusse – for €10 million. It then invested a further €20 million to renovate and transform it into a luxury hotel.
The hotel will start receiving guests from mid-June and will offer 22 rooms, including two suites and a penthouse, while preserving as much of the building’s historic character as possible. Original features – including carefully restored parquet flooring, and the building’s wall and ceiling paintings – have been preserved.
Below ground, the hotel also offers plenty of historical interest; namely, a section of the city's famous casemates.
Since no celebration of Luxembourg’s heritage would be complete without its cuisine, the in-house restaurant – Le Lys – will offer local specialities. The head chef, Kim de Doon – a Luxembourger who lived and worked abroad for many years – is now returning to his roots.
