(Re)discover our city - Hôtel Molitor

Think you know our capital well? Well, let's see about that! Some of the buildings that you walk past on a regular basis have a special story behind them. Dr Robert L. Philippart is a true expert on the subject and will guide you through the city to uncover these hidden stories, making you look at some of our symbolic buildings in a new way.

Hôtel Central Molitor

The family-run Hôtel Central Molitor at 18 Avenue de la Liberté closed its doors on 31 December 2020 after 107 years. Projects that have been under way since 2017 will allow business to continue with more rooms.

The Hôtel Molitor dates back to 1913. Construction along this avenue began in 1904 between the station and Place de Paris but the stretch remained largely unoccupied. In 1904, the Luxembourg-Echternach (Charly) railway began circulating the avenue, followed by the electric tram in 1908.

Architect Jean Warken designed the hotel, and its architecture served as an advertising medium for both hospitality and trade. Its facade features classic decoration, with '1913' carved into a cartouche to mark the year it was constructed. The establishment was built on a reinforced concrete frame. The restaurant that originally seated 130 covers faced the street and was connected to a meeting and event room facing Rue Dicks. A 1938 hotel guide noted that it boasted 45 rooms serviced by a lift, and shared toilets and a bathroom with a bath could be found on the upper floor. In 1960, the introduction of a private telephone in each room provided more modern comforts. Major modernisation work was carried out in 1965/66 under the direction of architect Léonard Knaff, when seven rooms were removed to make way for private bathrooms. By 1979, the rooms were equipped with TV sets, radios and small private safes. In 2020, the rooms continued to offer a hairdryer, minibar, coffee machine and WLAN connection.

In 1973/74, the interior architect, Leslie Thomas Corke, redesigned the restaurant to give it a more contemporary style, reducing the number of covers to 105 in the process. The last changes to the restaurant took place around 1990, when the number of covers was further reduced down to 80.

The hotel, originally founded by Adam Molitor, was also run by his son Charles and daughter Irma. Charles learnt the profession of head chef and confectioner at the Grand Hôtel Brasseur in Luxembourg and completed internships with his sister in England and Scotland. He was a member of the 'Wirteverband' and 'Berufsverband der Kellner und Angestellten des Verpflegungsgewerbes' associations for professional caterers.

Irma Molitor left the management of the establishment to her nephew Erny Thill, who had studied at two hospitality schools — the Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern and the École hôtelière de Lausanne. Jean-Jacques Knaff took on the business before becoming Director of Luxembourg Congrès S.A. in 1997. Then, Colin Shepherd, who trained at the Glion Institute of Higher Education, assumed the management role, staying in his post until 2020.

Guests mainly consisted of tourists and businessmen, while head hunters rented rooms to hire staff and sales representatives offered their wares. Notable guests included Walentina Wladimirowna Tereschkowaes, the first woman to go on a solo mission to space (1963).

The Hôtel Central Molitor was the beating heart of life in the district: the Union Commerciale de Luxembourg-Gare-Hollerich et Bonnevoie met there so regularly that the hotel was nicknamed the trade union's clubhouse. From 1946 onwards, the Syndicat des Intérêts locaux de Luxembourg-Gare chose the room at the Molitor for its meetings voicing local concerns, as well as its annual general meetings. However, sports associations were less present. The restaurant hosted real estate auctions, wedding banquets, retirement parties, birthdays and New Year celebrations. The restaurant, with its daily set menu that was loved by employees and residents of the district, closed in 2012.

A new app for travelling back in time

On 16 May 2022, Ms Lydie Polfer, Mayor of Luxembourg City, and Mr Serge Wilmes, Chief Alderman responsible for trade, presented a new app called 'The Luxembourg Time Traveler' (VdL-AR). It allows users to travel through time and explore the capital at the turn of the 20^th century, at a time when the city's economic and commercial development was in full swing and smaller, artisan businesses were slowly giving way to department stores.

An unprecedented visit awaits residents and visitors to the capital who can now discover and rediscover Luxembourg City's commercial history at their own pace. The app (VdL-AR), compatible with iOS and Android, is available free of charge in French, English and German.

Pic: Hôtel central Molitor © inconnu