Culture secretary Guy Arendt and Luxembourg City mayor Lydia Polfer were among those present for the inauguration of the new Parc Mansfeld in Clausen on Tuesday evening Charles Soubry / Photothèque de la VDL

Culture secretary Guy Arendt and Luxembourg City mayor Lydia Polfer were among those present for the inauguration of the new Parc Mansfeld in Clausen on Tuesday evening Charles Soubry / Photothèque de la VDL

The occasion marked the 500th anniversary of the Count Pierre-Ernest de Mansfeld, former owner of what was once one of the most renowned estates in the Benelux. Mansfeld owned an enviable collection of hardbound books and an impressive art collection. The grounds of his castle are, in fact, where the new park is established.

The park, situated between Place Sainte-Cunégonde and rue de Clausen, has a petanque pitch, benches, public toilets, a drinking fountain, and benches. Visitors to the park will also be able to learn more about the history of the castle and the area, from the Middle Ages to modern times, through a timeline.

Archaeological excavations and analyses of the area began in 2015, carried out by the City of Luxembourg and the National Archaeological Research Centre and the Friends of Mansfeld Castle, and two public consultations invited residents to give their ideas about the park. According to the City of Luxembourg, plans for future additions, taking some of these ideas into account, will be integrated later.

Former Mansfeld Castle 
Ruins of Mansfeld Castle Photo: MNHA

The park will be open over the summer months (April-September) from 7am-10pm. Hours are reduced for the rest of the year as follows: October (7:30-8pm), November through February (7:30am-6pm), and March (7:30am-8pm).