British-Luxembourg Society

30/04/2026

30/04/2026

Hidden beneath our feet — quite literally.

As part of our “Guided Tour: Hidden Luxembourg”, could one imagine that just under one of the most central arteries of Luxembourg City — Boulevard Royal — there lies an entire underground world? And yet, this is precisely what our BLS group discovered during last Saturday’s guided tour.

We descended into the remarkable Luxembourg Casemates — a vast network of tunnels carved into the rock, once forming part of one of Europe’s strongest fortresses. At its peak in the 17th century, Luxembourg was regarded as one of the most strategically important and heavily fortified cities in Europe, with layers of defences making it exceptionally difficult to capture.

The casemates served as protected artillery positions, movement corridors for troops, storage areas, and shelters — all integrated into the rock itself. During World War II, they once again proved their value, offering refuge to thousands of civilians during air raids.

We also made a stop at Fort Louvigny, where we explored how this historic site later became home to the RTL Group studios — a place from which radio broadcasts reached millions across Europe.

Our journey then continued to Fort Lambert, built in 1685 under the direction of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban.

Today, history and modern engineering intersect in a particularly interesting way: the Parking Monterey extends across multiple levels beneath and above the former fortifications.

Next time you park there, take a moment to look at the detailed model on display — it offers a clear view of how centuries-old military structures and modern infrastructure are layered together.

Following the Treaty of London, the dismantling of the fortress began in 1867 and continued over the following 16 years, largely completed by 1883, as Luxembourg became a neutral state. What remains today is a testament to its past — now widely recognised and admired as a masterpiece of military defence engineering.

A heartfelt thank you to our VP of Events, Jacqueline Spence, for organising this exciting experience.
Gratitude also to Barclay Lorraine for guiding and supporting the group throughout the tour.
And special thanks to our guide Patrick Schaul, Deputy Chief Guide of Friends of the Fortress History Luxembourg, and a friend of the BLS, for bringing the history of the fortress to life with such depth and clarity.

It is always refreshing to pause and look again at the familiar — and realise how much history lies just beneath our feet.

If you enjoy discoveries like this — cultural, historical, and a little unexpected — become a BLS member and enjoy many more enriching experiences. Visit our website b-l-s.lu and, if you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line at contact[@]b-l-s.lu

08/04/2026

06/04/2026

Wishing all our BLS members a pleasant Easter

18/03/2026

The new BLS council 2026

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 18:30
Our friends at the LSE Alumni Luxembourg have extended an invitation to the Members of the British-Luxembourg Society with H.E Joanne Olivier, British Ambassador to Luxembourg as the keynote speaker for an insightful discussion on how diplomacy is portrayed on screen versus the lived realities of diplomatic life.

Dear LSE Alumni, dear friends, We are delighted to invite you to a unique evening on 15 April 2026 for our Spring Dinner that will delve into the reality of international relations. The Diplomat: Fiction vs. Reality From Netflix Narratives to the High-Stakes Reality of the Diplomatic Profession

05/03/2026

📍 University of Luxembourg, Campus Limpertsberg – 3 March 2026

Members of the British-Luxembourg Society enjoyed an inspiring evening co-hosting a fascinating discussion with the Conférence Saint-Yves (CSY) on “Baden-Powell: Legacy and Perspectives” at the University of Luxembourg.

The panel brought together H.E. Ms Joanne Olivier, Ambassador of the United Kingdom; Mr Philippe Maxence, author and biographer of Baden-Powell; and Mr Jean-Marie Weber, researcher at the University of Luxembourg, psychoanalyst, and member of the Luxembourg Guides and Scouts.

The conversation explored Baden-Powell’s influence, the enduring values of scouting, and how these principles continue to shape youth development today.

Our thanks to William Lindsay SIMPSON and the CSY and the Luxembourg scouting movements for organising such a thought-provoking evening of exchange and friendship.

04/03/2026

Ghosts of the Villa
An Immersive Sound Experience

You define your own personal interactive journey through Villa Louvigny, composed of archival footage, spatialised audio and different historical contexts. Discover how a tiny country’s radio signal changed the media and musical landscape and continues to resonate today.

02/03/2026

UniverCITY Talks: multilingual schooling in Luxembourg – what are the challenges and benefits?

Wednesday, 25 March 2026
18:00–19:15
Tero House 17, L-2229 Ville-Haute, Luxembourg
Free of charge
The event will be held in English.

Children in Luxembourg grow up in a school system where the language of instruction changes several times, from Luxembourgish in kindergarten to German in primary school and later to French in secondary school. How do these transitions affect learning and development?

In this talk, we explore both the opportunities and the challenges of multilingual education. We also discuss how learning difficulties and developmental language disorders can be recognised in children who are growing up with several languages and how to distinguish between normal multilingual development and the need for additional support.

Children in Luxembourg grow up in a school system where the language of instruction changes several times — from Luxembourgish in kindergarten to German