Kirchberg

The complete guide to Kirchberg

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

History in brief

Kirchberg is first mentioned in records in 1222, and a Roman road from Reims to Trier once crossed the plateau near today's Kiem. In 1732, the Austrian rulers of the fortress built Fort Thüngen and Fort Olizy here to defend the approaches to the city. For most of its history, though, the plateau was farmland.

Everything changed after 1952, when Luxembourg became the provisional seat of the European Coal and Steel Community. The government created the Fonds Kirchberg to urbanise the plateau, and from the 1960s the European institutions, then the banks, funds and technology companies that followed them, turned Kirchberg into the country's modern business district. Residential building has grown substantially since the 2000s.

Streets and landmarks

The Avenue John F. Kennedy, about 3.5 kilometres long, is Kirchberg's spine, carrying the tram and the buses. Along and around it stand:

• the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors, the European Investment Bank, parts of the European Commission, the Secretariat of the European Parliament, Eurostat and the European Public Prosecutor's Office;
• the Philharmonie Luxembourg, whose main auditorium seats more than 1,500 people;
• MUDAM, the museum of modern art designed by I. M. Pei, opened in 2006 next to the reconstructed Fort Thüngen, part of the UNESCO-listed former fortress;
• d'Coque, the national sports and culture centre, with an Olympic-size pool and an arena for around 8,300 spectators;
• the National Library of Luxembourg, open here since 2019, and a University of Luxembourg campus;
• Luxexpo The Box, the national exhibition centre, and the Kinepolis cinema.

Housing and the rental market

Kirchberg's residential areas include the Grünewald side near the forest and newer neighbourhoods such as the Kiem. The housing is modern: apartment buildings with lifts, underground parking and good energy performance. Studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments are well represented, reflecting a population that is more than 70% non-Luxembourgish.

Prices are high, set by the professional market that works on the plateau. For people who work here, the short commute often justifies them. Our article on living in Kirchberg looks at the trade-offs.

Shopping, food and daily services

The Kirchberg shopping centre with its hypermarket covers daily needs, and restaurants and cafés serve the office population on weekdays. The Hôpital Kirchberg is in the north-east of the quarter. In the evening and at weekends, office areas are quiet; life concentrates around the residential blocks, the shopping centre, the cinema and the cultural venues.

Families, schools and green space

The European School Luxembourg I is here, which makes Kirchberg the natural choice for many families working for the EU institutions. The Grünewald forest borders the plateau to the north-east, and parks run between the office and residential blocks. The Coque's pool and sports facilities are a major asset for families. See our guide to schools in Luxembourg.

Getting around in practice

The T1 tram runs the length of the Avenue John F. Kennedy, linking Kirchberg to the old town, the station, Bonnevoie and Cloche d'Or, and since 2025 to the airport. The Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg railway station, opened in December 2017, is connected to the plateau by a funicular. A bus interchange serves regional and cross-border lines. All public transport is free.

Kirchberg sits slightly higher than the city centre and can be a degree cooler, with more fog and snow in winter.

Before you sign: what to check in Kirchberg

• Where exactly. Streets near the avenue are busy in the day; residential enclaves are calmer.
• Construction. Kirchberg is still being built. Ask what is planned opposite.
• Charges. Modern buildings with lifts and car parks can have higher monthly charges. Ask for last year's figures.

Who lives in Kirchberg

Kirchberg is home to about 10,982 residents on 3.37 km², a density of roughly 3,260 people per km², which makes it the 11th most densely populated of the 23 quarters in our guides. Around 26% of residents hold Luxembourgish nationality, lower than the city-wide share of about 31% (137,696 residents at the end of 2025, according to the City of Luxembourg). Like the capital as a whole, it is a genuinely international place to live.

A walk through Kirchberg

Start at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, the red bridge that leaps from Limpertsberg across the Pfaffenthal valley onto the plateau. On the Kirchberg side, Fort Thüngen, rebuilt as part of the old fortress, stands beside MUDAM, the museum of modern art designed by I. M. Pei, and the white colonnade of the Philharmonie on Place de l'Europe. From there, the Avenue John F. Kennedy carries the tram past the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Court of Auditors and the offices of banks and funds, towards the Kirchberg shopping centre, d'Coque sports centre, the National Library and, at the far end, Luxexpo The Box and the Grünewald forest. The whole plateau was farmland until the 1960s.

Kirchberg through the year

Kirchberg's calendar follows the working week: busy weekdays, quiet weekends in the office areas, and cultural life at the Philharmonie, MUDAM and d'Coque all year round. Trade fairs at Luxexpo bring visitors. In summer, the parks between the office blocks and the edge of the forest become places to walk and run.

Advantages and trade-offs

Kirchberg 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 Kirchberg

• If you work on the plateau, prioritise walking distance to your office over everything else.
• Compare co-ownership charges in new buildings.
• Use the funicular to Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg station for trains.
• Families working for the EU should look at the journey to the European School Luxembourg I.

The Aura view

Kirchberg is efficient, modern and superbly connected. It suits people who work there, families at the European School, and anyone who values new-build comfort. For character and evening life, the old town is fifteen minutes away by tram.