Visitors to Luxembourg City will see many attractions and fascinating buildings, but few have the grandeur and history of the Citadelle du St-Esprit (Citadel of the Holy Spirit). The citadel was built in the 13th century, a fortified building that not only had ecclesiastical functions, but also occupied a prime defensive position. Like so many places in the city, it sits atop a large crag that placed it in a perfect position to hold out against attack – a little bit like a continental version of Edinburgh. Containing a monastery, it was completed in 1234 and the plateau it sits on was linked to the protected part of the city in the 14th century.
Image Credit- IpigottIts strategic location was an important one in the Spanish occupation and its defences were improved further between 1685 and 1687 as the site was extended by French military builder Vauban and the walls and bulwarks were strengthened to become bastions. In recent years the building has adopted a different function as the Cite Judiciare – the headquarters of the country’s justice system. The citadel is open for visits by members of the public and this offers a fascinating insight into the history of a country that, perhaps due to its tiny size and geography, has been conquered and occupied more than most. Visitors will have a little bit of a walk to get up to the plateau – as is common when visiting the various sandstone ridges that characterise the city – but the effort is worth it for the panorama over the surrounding townscape and valleys.
On top of the plateau, the walls and windows are in varying states of repair, with the centuries having inevitably taken their toll on the older parts. Even so, it is not hard to sense the feeling of defensive solidity that the citadel had in less peaceful times. Visiting usually works up a bit of an appetite, so after all that clambering up and down the slopes and steps to the citadel, enjoy a visit to one of the many fine cafes or restaurants nearby.
