By the end of the year, . This is a welcome update for those who wander the streets of the country, plan a trip or simply want to locate a place before visiting it.
In 2009, the American tech giant sent its cars, packed with electronics and cameras, to map the grand duchy from every angle. Since then, apart from a few passes here and there in 2019 and 2021, the country views have remained digitally stuck in a more recent past on Google Maps.
Over the course of the past 12 to 13 years, many areas of the capital have undergone a profound transformation. We therefore chose 10 symbolic places in the capital, captured their Street View on Google Maps and compared the evolution with a recent snapshot. It is striking!
Place de la Gare
Since 2009, the Gare area has undergone a facelift , although the arrival of the tram at the central train station in December 2020 has brought the district into a new era. Naturally, this has led to the disappearance of the bus station and, at the same time, hundreds of daily bus journeys. The road system has therefore evolved, but so has the building. A was opened in 2020, as was the new ING headquarters (2017).
At the moment, Post is building its future headquarters a few steps away. from 2023, the year in which work on is due to be completed.
Place de Paris
Completed in June 2021, the nwas naturally transformed by the passage of the tramway, inaugurated in December 2020. Cars are now less common and the terraces are very popular in fine weather. The site is now the scene of regular events: merry-go-rounds, Christmas market and ...
Hamilius
The destruction of the Hamilius bus station in 2015 greatly changed the habits of public transport users in the capital. Instead, after several years of construction, has taken over almost the entire area around the Post Office (currently being renovated), between commercial spaces, offices and residences.
Top of the Kirchberg
The area around the Serra roundabout, at the end of the Kirchberg plateau, is unrecognisable, to say the least. A few luxury buildings have of course been erected along Avenue John F. Kennedy (BGL BNP Paribas and Natixis have their headquarters there), Utopolis has become Kinepolis, the Serra Interchange Centre has been inaugurated (2022), while the Tramsschapp now houses the tram's storage centre, ends at the Luxexpo stop since 2017. Until towards Findel, operational in 2024.
Boulevard de Kockelscheuer
The Boulevard de Kockelscheuer alone tells the story of the Cloche d’Or, a district that has emerged from nowhere over the past decade. Company headquarters (PwC, Deloitte, Intesa Sanpaolo, Alter Domus, etc.), the shopping centre and residential buildings are among the dozens of constructions that have been completed in recent years, almost as many as new ones. The entrance to the district is along the boulevard, between the brand new national fire and rescue centre (2022) and the (2024).
Route d’Esch
Since 2009, Gasperich has changed a lot. Just a stone’s throw from the Croix de Gasperich, the iconic Helios building (IQ-EQ, Technopolis) no longer forms the border with Kockelscheuer. Beyond the bridge over the A6 motorway, the new has been built. Opposite, workers are busy building the future Cloche d’Or transport hub. Beyond Bonnevoie and Howald, the tramway will complete its journey there, before starting its route in the future.
Rue de Hollerich
The Rue de Hollerich crosses the eponymous district from one side to the other, which will be completely reconverted in the coming years. From the main station, the new Cité de la Securité foreshadows this development. A new tram line will eventually connect the Hollerich district to the station.
Gare-Rocade
Along the Rocade and Rue de Bonnevoie, the changes are clearly visible if you visit the area on Google Maps. Since then, the footbridge linking the Gare district to the Bonnevoie district has been destroyed and then rebuilt twice (in 2013 and 2021). The platforms, which have become more numerous over the years, have replaced buildings that now belong to ancient history. The Chamber of Employees (CSL) inaugurated its building on the other side of the road in 2018.
Quartier de l’Europe
The emblematic Porte de l’Europe and Place de l’Europe by architect Ricardo Bofill have seen buildings spring up like mushrooms. The most iconic being of course the , completed in 2021, which struggles to conceal the very tall towers of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the third of which--the tallest building in the grand duchy--opened in 2019. Along Avenue John F. Kennedy, the transformation of the main artery of Kirchberg is, of course, punctuated by the attraction of the tramway, which came into service in 2017.
Place de l'Étoile
Even before the completion of the ambitious project that will give the a complete makeover over the next few years, it has already changed a lot thanks to the arrival of the tramway in July 2018. The Nova building, adjacent to the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, will also contribute to this. Opposite, the Axa headquarters, inaugurated 10 years ago.
This article was originally published on and has been translated and edited for Delano.