Annual Grand Exhibition
Each summer, the Photothèque of the City of Luxembourg organises a major exhibition exploring a different topic each year. Drawing on its extensive collections, a selection of photographs invites visitors to rediscover the history, daily life, and evolution of the city from a variety of perspectives.
This exhibition is open to the public from July to September at the Ratskeller of Cercle Cité (entrance on Rue du Curé).
More than a Postcard. Le Luxembourg entre arrivée et départ
Since the 19th century, Luxembourg has emerged as a captivating travel destination. From the earliest visits by travellers from neighbouring countries, a rich and multifaceted tourist image gradually took shape, centred on Luxembourg City. As the country’s political, economic, and cultural heart, the city has shaped both the itineraries and perceptions of its visitors. In the 20th century, it evolved into a European crossroads, giving rise to new forms of travel that combined urban tourism, business and cultural exchange.
The Photothèque of the City of Luxembourg traces these journeys through images: from arrival and leisurely strolls to sightseeing and capturing fleeting moments. The photographs bear witness to the movements of travel, social change, and the remarkable continuity of tourist motifs and perspectives.
For the first time, photographs taken abroad by Luxembourg photographers broaden this perspective, opening a window onto Europe, North Africa, and overseas destinations. Travel thus emerges not only as an arrival, but also as a departure.
In July and August, additional photographs will be on display on the pedestrian walkway connecting Place de la Gare with the Bonnevoie district—a place where paths cross, people arrive and pass through, and where the theme of the exhibition is directly reflected in the city’s daily life.
The exhibition creates a dialogue between arrivals and departures, showcasing Luxembourg as both a destination and a starting point. Between journeys begun and journeys completed, the exhibition brings together a mosaic of travel narratives that chart the evolution of travel while celebrating the enduring curiosity that drives us to explore the world and record our experiences.
Past exhibitions
- 1988: La ville de Luxembourg et son passé récent
- 1989: La ville de Luxembourg et son passé récent: Boulevard Royal
- 1990: La ville de Luxembourg et son passé récent: Grand-Rue
- 1991: La ville de Luxembourg et son passé récent: Place d'Armes
- 1992: La ville de Luxembourg et son passé récent: Place de la Gare
- 1993: La ville de Luxembourg et son passé récent: Avenue de la Liberté
- 1994: La Photothèque se présente
- 1995: Luxembourg de 1944 1945 by Tony Vaccaro
- 1996: 100 Joër Grande-Duchesse Charlotte
- 1997: Sur les traces de Vauban et Wenceslas
- 1998: Edward Steichen à l'Hôtel de ville
- 1999: Au tournant du siècle
- 2000: Pol Aschman
- 2001: La famille princière
- 2002: Théo Mey "Chasseur d'images"
- 2003: Les femmes dans la photographie luxembourgeoise
- 2004: Marcel Schroeder "Le clic qui transfigure"
- 2005: La mobilité sous tous ses angles
- 2006: Tony Krier "Vivre sa passion"
- 2007: Schueberfouer
- 2008: "D'Stad bewegt sech" 80 photos 1910–2008
- 2008: D'Badanstalt kritt 100 Joër
- 2009: Pol Aschman "Il n'y a pas si longtemps"
- 2010: Quand l'Europe emménageait à Luxembourg
- 2011: Edouard Kutter: Lëtzeburg – Stad a Leit
- 2015: Le Kirchberg – Porte de l'Europe
- 2016: La Place d'Armes et le Cercle
- 2017: Métiers d'antan et travail manuel
- 2018: Jochen Herling
- 2019: Jean Weyrich, gentleman photojournaliste
- 2020: Luxembourg-ville, de la forteresse au patrimoine mondial UNESCO
- 2021: Des gens et des rues. 100 ans Pol Aschman
- 2022: Luxembourg 360° – la capitale à travers des collections photographiques inédites
- 2023: Not human. Luxembourg's other inhabitants.
- 2024: Put it on! Le Luxembourg s'habille
- 2025: Nature, captured and framed
