Minister for Culture and Tourism Eric Thill made a regional visit to eastern Luxembourg this week to highlight projects that illustrate the growing synergy between the cultural and tourism sectors.
The tour began in Echternach's historic city park, which suffered significant damage during floods five years ago. Much of the park has now been restored, with the full renovation set to conclude by 2028 at a projected cost of €3 million. A centrepiece, the Rococo Pavilion, has already undergone a complete restoration, a process that began in 2017.
Patrick Sanavia, Director of the National Institute for Architectural Heritage (INPA), explained that the original plan was to repair only the Pavilion’s roof. However, once work began, it became clear that the structure was so badly damaged that a full replacement was necessary.
The restoration eventually expanded to address water damage inside the walls, resulting in a comprehensive overhaul of the building. In the future, the Pavilion could host civil wedding ceremonies and other events.
The minister’s itinerary then moved to Berdorf, with a stop at Camping Martbusch, where a mid-season review of this year’s camping season was presented. The outlook is exceptionally positive: early figures indicate that last year’s record number of visitors may be surpassed. One possible factor is the preference for cooler climates, amidst recent heatwaves in southern Europe.
Florence Kirtz, president of Camprilux, pointed out that Luxembourg is not experiencing the same extreme temperatures as the south, and that families might not want to travel far with young children. Instead, they come just across the border, where they can enjoy nature and activities that might be impossible in 40-degree heat further south.
The final stop was Beaufort Castle, which, along with other historic castles, will serve as the site for the first edition of the Stones in Vibration festival on 22 August. The event will feature a diverse musical programme ranging from pop and electronic music to children’s rap, alongside a variety of other attractions.
David Galassi, one of the festival organisers, explained that there will be a Creators’ Market, a food village, activities for all ages, and immersive experiences such as augmented reality tours of the castle. The aim is to offer visitors both entertainment and cultural engagement, making use of innovative technology to bring history to life.
Organisers intend for the festival to rotate between different historic sites in the future, further linking tourism with cultural heritage across Luxembourg.
While the idea of uniting culture and tourism is not new, Minister Eric Thill said the government hopes to build on existing successes while introducing fresh perspectives. One area of focus is the growing interest in gravel biking, which complements the region’s traditional road cycling and mountain biking.
Thill emphasises that given Luxembourg’s landscape and its extensive network of rural paths, it has excellent opportunities to develop gravel cycling, which is attracting considerable interest abroad.
Ideally, the long-term goal is also to create stronger links between business tourism and cultural tourism, maximising the region’s appeal for a broad range of visitors.
