The Abbey of Echternach is a Benedictine monastery founded in the 7th century by the patron saint of Luxembourg, St Willibrord. The first single-nave Merovingian church was built around 706. Its basilica was rebuilt in a neo-roman style between 1862 and 1868 to plans by August Othmar Essenwein. After heavy damage during World War II, it was rebuilt until 1953 under the direction of State architects Hubert Schumacher and Michel Heintz.
The basilica's western facade was entirely rebuilt after World War II. It is inspired by the architecture of the former abbey church of Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy.
basilica
western facade
The high altar was designed by Luxembourg artist Auguste Trémont in 1952. The organ was built by Johannes Klais between 1952 and 1953 and counts more than 6,000 pipes.
high altar designed by Auguste Trémont in 1952
organ built in 1952/1953
The basilica is particularly noted for its beautiful stained glass windows, which depict scenes from the life of St. Willibrord and fill the interior with vibrant light, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere of the space. They were created by artists from Luxembourg and France, such as Jacques Le Chevallier, Paul Bony and Jean Barillet.
new with pillars and columns connected by arches
stained glass windows
The crypt dates from the second church built around 800. It contains five barrel-vaulted naves. The Romanesque frescoes are from the 11th century and represent scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.
crypt with Romanesque frescoes from the 11th century
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