Constructed in the 1950s as one of the largest and most modern auditoriums, the Villa Louvigny was the permanent home of the RTL Symphony Orchestra, which in later years merged to form the OPL.

It was used to broadcast and record television programmes and hosted many international artists over the years, including the Eurovision Song Contests in 1962 and 1966. The villa itself was constructed in the 1920s on the ruins of the fortress and rented to the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion, which preceded RTL.

It remained an important media hub until RTL moved to offices in Kirchberg in the 1990s. The orchestra remained at the facilities until 2005 when construction on the Philharmonie was completed. Since 2000, the villa has housed the Luxembourg health ministry.

After the first steps were taken in 2017 to gain listed status, on Friday secretary of state for culture Guy Arendt announced that the building had been classified as a national monument at a cabinet meeting on 6 September.

“We are dealing with a real jewel, whether in terms of architecture or acoustics. The reputation of this audience extended far beyond the country's borders and an important chapter in the country's history was written here,” Arendt said on Friday.

In the intervening years, the health ministry has received several requests to host events in the auditorium.

A feasibility study has been mooted to consider converting the auditorium into a permanent living cultural space.