Grund

The complete guide to the Grund

Population and area: district figures of the City of Luxembourg, end of 2025.

History in brief

The Grund, whose name simply means "the bottom", is the lower town on the banks of the Alzette, directly below the old town's cliffs and fortifications. For centuries it was a quarter of craftsmen, millers, tanners and brewers who used the river. Its heart is the Neumünster Abbey, today called Neimënster. Benedictine monks began building it in 1606, after their earlier abbey on the plateau was destroyed in 1542. It was destroyed again in the siege of 1684, rebuilt between 1688 and 1720, secularised after the French Revolution, and then served as a prison, barracks, military hospital and, from 1869 to 1985, a prison again. During the Second World War, the Nazi occupiers imprisoned members of the resistance there, including the sculptor Lucien Wercollier. After a major restoration, it reopened in 2004 as a cultural centre.

The Grund is part of the old quarters and fortifications of Luxembourg City, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Streets and landmarks

• Neimënster, with its cloister, concerts, exhibitions and terrace on the river.
• The church of Saint John (Saint-Jean du Grund), next to the abbey.
• The Alzette, crossed by old stone bridges, with riverside walks.
• The Wenzel Walk, a circular walking route through the fortifications between the old town and the Grund, one of the finest walks in the city.
• The Grund lift, which carries residents and visitors through the rock between the valley and the plateau.

Who lives here

Fewer than 1,000 people live in the Grund, on around 30 hectares. It is one of the smallest quarters of the capital, and one of the few where Luxembourgers represent a large share of residents. That small size explains the scarcity of homes.

Housing and the rental market

Housing in the Grund is historic, small in number and highly sought after. Old stone houses, often narrow and on several levels, protected facades and irregular layouts are the norm. Homes rarely come to the market, and when they do, they go quickly, at prices that reflect the setting rather than the square metres. Renovation is complex because of protection rules and old structures. See our guide to the valley quarters.

Shopping, food and daily services

The Grund is a place for restaurants, bars and cafés rather than shops. Daily shopping means going up to the old town or to neighbouring quarters. The Grund's restaurants range from traditional taverns to fine dining; the quarter is also one of the city's main nightlife areas.

Families, schools and green space

The river, the valley's green slopes and the walks through the fortifications give the Grund a beautiful natural setting. For families, the constraints are space, parking and stairs rather than safety or environment.

Getting around in practice

The lift connects the Grund to the old town in moments, and bus lines serve the valley. The tram and the station are a short ride away. All public transport is free. Parking is very limited, and many streets are narrow.

Before you sign: what to check in the Grund

• Damp. Ground floors and cellars near the river can be humid.
• Winter light. Houses near the cliffs see less sun.
• Noise. Visitors by day and bars by night on some streets.
• Access. Stairs, steep lanes and parking.

Who lives in Grund

Grund is home to about 983 residents on 0.30 km², a density of roughly 3,273 people per km², which makes it the 10th most densely populated of the 23 quarters in our guides. Around 44% of residents hold Luxembourgish nationality, higher than the city-wide share of about 31% (137,696 residents at the end of 2025, according to the City of Luxembourg). That gives it a more settled, local character than most of the capital.

A walk through Grund

The Grund is best entered by the lift that descends through the cliff from the old town, a short ride from the plateau to the valley floor. Below, the Alzette runs between stone houses, and the great complex of Neimënster Abbey, today a cultural centre, stands by the river. From there, paths lead along the water towards Clausen in one direction and the Pétrusse valley in the other, beneath the fortifications that make the old quarters and fortress part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The streets are narrow and the district is tiny: about 30 hectares and fewer than a thousand residents, which is part of what makes it feel like a village inside the capital.

Grund through the year

The Grund is lively in summer, with visitors by day and restaurants and bars in the evening, and it is spectacular under snow in winter. Cultural events at Neimënster add concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. Residents live with the visitors; the reward is one of the most beautiful settings in Europe.

Advantages and trade-offs

Grund compared with its neighbours

Population and area: City of Luxembourg district figures, end of 2025. Luxembourgish share rounded.

Practical tips for your first weeks in Grund

• Check the lift's operating hours if you plan to use it late at night.
• Look carefully at cellars and ground floors for humidity.
• Budget for small floor plans; you pay for the setting.
• Tell us early if you want a home in the Grund; they go quickly.

The Aura view

The Grund is one of the most beautiful places to live in Europe. It rewards people who want a historic setting and walk everywhere, and asks them to accept small spaces, visitors and stairs in return.