Villa Vauban – Musée d’Art de la Ville de Luxembourg
City art museum in a villa from 1873, extended with a new building in the park, with a focus on Dutch and French painting from the 17th to the 19th century.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Villa Vauban is the City of Luxembourg’s art museum. It presents European art from the 17th to the 20th century and Luxembourgish art from the 19th to the 21st century, and it also looks after the municipal artworks in public space. The municipal collection goes back to three major donations in the 19th century: in 1855 from the Paris financier Jean-Pierre Pescatore, in 1878 from the Amsterdam banker Leo Lippmann, and in 1903 from Eugénie Dutreux-Pescatore.
The representative townhouse of 1873 was renovated and extended with a new building by the Luxembourg architects Philippe Schmit and Diane Heirend. The house takes its name from a fort of the former fortress, built by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, which served as the foundation when the residence was built; a section of the enclosure wall is visible in the basement. The building received the TECU Architecture Award in 2010 and the Luxembourg Architecture Prize in 2011. The villa and the new building sit in a park by the landscape gardener Édouard André, reconstructed in its original form.
The permanent exhibition “Ein Spaziergang durch die Kunst” presents more than 100 paintings and 14 sculptures, from 17th-century Dutch painting through views of Italy to French painting around 1850. These include Pescatore’s purchases at the 1850 auction of the collection of King Willem II of the Netherlands.
Highlights
- Dutch Golden Age painting, including works by Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruisdael and Gerrit Dou
- Italy room with views of Venice by Canaletto and marble sculptures
- 19th-century French painting, including Delacroix, Corot and Courbet
- Historic park by Édouard André and new building by Diane Heirend and Philippe Schmit
- Free admission on Fridays, 18:00–21:00
Permanent exhibition
- Ein Spaziergang durch die Kunst – European painting and sculpture from the 17th to the 19th century: more than 100 paintings and 14 sculptures, from the Netherlands of the 17th century through Italy to French painting around 1850.
- Founded
- 1873
- Operated by
- Stadt Luxemburg (Les 2 Musées de la Ville de Luxembourg)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | freeYoung people aged 21 to 26 (without a student card), holders of the Carte jeunes, people over 60 and people with disabilities (free admission in each case) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 20 · Young people under 21 enter free. |
| Seniors | freePeople over 60 enter free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freePeople with disabilities enter free. |
| Students & apprentices | freeStudents under 26 with a valid student card enter free. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personPer person; guided tour €100. Groups of people with special needs: free admission, guided tour €100. |
Free admission: Fridays 18:00–21:00
Free admission also with the muséeskaart, the Luxembourg Card, the Amis des Musées Luxembourg card, the Kulturpass, the ICOM card and for press. The muséeskaart is an annual pass valid for up to seven museums in the City of Luxembourg. Schools: free admission for primary schools in the City of Luxembourg (guided tour free); other primary and secondary schools from Luxembourg and abroad: free admission, guided tour €90, workshop with guided tour €100.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
All exhibition areas are wheelchair-accessible via ramp and lift. The museum holds the EureWelcome accessibility label. Visitors arriving by car are asked to let the museum know in advance. Guided tours for people with special needs are offered.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 20 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Workshops and tours for children and school classes, plus children’s birthday parties for ages 6 to 11 with a tour and workshop (booking via visites@2musees.vdl.lu).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Stäreplaz / Étoile
Tram T1, Stäreplaz / Étoile stop (from the railway station). Vel’oh! stations No. 16 Amélie and No. 11 Winston Churchill.
By car
Parking available
Monterey, Hamilius and Glacis parking garages.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Regular tours are listed in the events calendar; individual tours and workshops can be booked on request (visites@2musees.vdl.lu, +352 47 96 49 00). At the start of the permanent exhibition there is an immersive video projection. |
