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Luxembourg: High Culture

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Think for a moment: Can you name a Luxembourger actor, musician, or artist? You’re rare if you can; Luxembourg is not known for high culture. Many artists, such as Luxembourg’s actors, leave the country to pursue their art in France, Germany, or elsewhere. The country has roots in rural and folklore culture (which are, in many ways, more fascinating than high culture, and it is only in recent years that high culture has gained prominence.

The hub of Luxembourg high culture is Luxembourg City. In the capital, you can visit the country’s three top museums: the National Museum of History and Art, the Museum of the History of Luxembourg City, and the Musem of Modern Art Grand-Duc Jean. If you plan on visiting multiple museums anywhere in the country, purchase a Luxembourg Card or a Museum Card, both of which will give you reduced admission into many of the country’s attractions.

The cards will not, however, get you into concerts, and Luxembourg City often has excellent concerts. There are often outdoor concerts, and the bars and clubs offer other options, such as dance and techno music. On the other end of the spectrum, the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra has a solid reputation and a new building. Outside of the capital, you should check out the International Music Festival in Echternach.

If you prefer painting or literature to music, Luxembourg is just beginning to get a name for itself in those areas. Joseph Kutter is considered the first great Luxembourger painter; his expressionist work appeared in the early twentieth century. In literature, Roger Mandersheid and Guy Rewenig are two of the more prominent authors, and the country also has a partial claim to the French author Victor Hugo. Hugo’s home and museum are preserved in Vianden as a tourist attraction.

Vianden and another town, Clervaux, offer two of the best chateaus in the country, which are Luxembourg’s main claim to architectural distinction. If you visit the Clervaux castle, make sure you see “The Family of Man,” a photography exhibit by Edward Steichen. Steichen, who has an international reputation because of the work, was from Luxembourg.

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