Walferdange Castle, a courtyard enchanted by roses

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Address: 28, route de Diekirch L-7220 Walferdange
Planting: 2016 Inauguration: 2017

The main courtyard of Walferdange Castle is home to a beautiful collection of Luxembourg roses. A geometric lawn, divided into four sections, surrounds a fountain basin. Each section is bordered by ninety rose bushes of the same variety. The varieties honoured here are “Grand-Duc Jean”, “Maria Teresa”, “Princesse Stéphanie Grande-Duchesse héritière de Luxembourg” and “Walferdange”. Two “Fräiheetsrous – Rosier de la Liberté” roses are located at the front of each flowerbed.

In 1817, William I of Orange-Nassau, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, had a luxury stud farm built in Walferdange. The Belgian Revolution of 1830 and poor management put an end to this project. From 1850, Prince Henri, appointed Lieutenant-Representative for Luxembourg by his brother William III, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg, resided there until his death in 1879. Grand Duke Adolphe, the first Luxembourg sovereign of the Nassau-Weilburg dynasty, made it his summer residence (1891-1905).
During the First World War, families from the City of Luxembourg were evacuated there. From 1945 to 1967, the castle was used by the Luxembourg army. Today, several departments of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth are located on the site.