© Chris Meisch
The partial collapse of a 300-year-old protected farmhouse in Enscherange has triggered a preservation crisis, exposing the legal and financial challenges of saving Luxembourg's neglected heritage from ruin.
A 300-year-old, state-protected farmhouse in the village of Enscherange is at the centre of a preservation emergency after half of the structure collapsed earlier this month.
The building, located at number 10 in the lower part of Enscherange and originally mapped in the 1770s, had been left to decay for decades by its owner. A local resident, Hubert Hollerich, witnessed the collapse on 2 November. "There was a huge crash, tiles flew through the air, and then the entire front section of the barn collapsed", Hollerich recounted. He had previously assisted with the classification file in 2021, hoping it would lead to the building's preservation. "I had hoped it would be looked after then, but that wasn't the case", he said.
The incident has prompted urgent action from the National Institute for Architectural Heritage (INPA). Although the farm is classified as a protected heritage site, the INPA requires a court order to intervene on private property. The law allows the institute to commission and carry out essential stabilisation work at the owner's expense to prevent a total loss.
According to INPA Director Patrick Sanavia, that legal procedure is now underway. He expects more movement on similar cases in the "coming months and years" and confirmed that the INPA is processing its first such cases. "We at the INPA are ready to go in as soon as we're allowed", Sanavia stated, noting that this is one of several instances in Luxembourg where the institute is seeking court permission to secure neglected, protected properties whose owners refuse to act.
Officials at both the national and local levels have acknowledged the urgency of the situation. Sanavia confirmed that both the Minister for Culture and the mayor of Kiischpelt reacted immediately to the collapse, with a priority now being to implement preventive safety measures for residents.
However, Kiischpelt Mayor Yves Kaiser expressed clear frustration, stating that the municipality had repeatedly warned the Ministry about the building's deteriorating condition. "We have repeatedly told the Minister for Culture that the building's condition is getting worse", Kaiser said, "And if the wind really gets under it one day, it could fly into the street, or the gable could fall onto the street or the pavement, becoming a danger to passers-by or fall into the neighbour's house opposite."
As a temporary safety measure, the municipality has already placed round bales to prevent debris from falling onto the neighbouring property.
Mayor Kaiser emphasised the municipality's commitment to heritage preservation, noting that the farm has been protected under the local General Development Plan (PAG) since 2022. He pointed to other conservation efforts, including the unilateral protection of several buildings like the clergy house and an old warehouse. For the latter, the municipality is seeking quotes for a new roof to prevent further decay, a process complicated by the building's location in a Green Zone.
"The problem is that it lies in the Green Zone", Kaiser noted, adding, "We are looking for ideas, and once we find the right one, we will restore the building".
While proud of their record – with approximately 25% of the building stock protected and the village of Lellingen recognised as a model heritage village – Kaiser clarified that the municipality of Kiischpelt is not exceptionally wealthy and cannot single-handedly protect every historic structure.
Sanavia reiterated the established procedure for such cases, clarifying the roles of the municipality and his institute. He stated that when a protected building falls into disrepair, the municipality must report it to the INPA to trigger intervention.
"The institute then tells the owner: we are here to help and we also have the funds", Sanavia explained. If an owner remains uncooperative, the INPA now has legal means to enter the property and perform essential work to prevent further damage. "But this is only possible with the authorisation of the court", he stressed.
Meanwhile, Hubert Hollerich, a regular campaigner for heritage preservation, expressed scepticism about the municipality's commitment. He cited several other buildings he believes have been neglected, including a farm opposite the church that has been left to decay for years and the old school, which he says is also in poor condition.
Hollerich specifically highlighted the annexes of the latter, which include an old bakehouse. "That part is in the process of completely collapsing", he said, adding "It's actually sad that such buildings are simply left empty, that no initiatives are taken to make something more of them."
He noted that these derelict structures are municipal property. In his view, it is crucial for the local government to adopt a more proactive and comprehensive approach to historical preservation across the entire municipality, rather than focusing praise on the model heritage village of Lellingen alone. According to Hollerich, the state of these buildings is a source of frustration for other villagers as well.
