User:Tom.zeimet/sandbox/Rotondes (Luxembourg)

The Southern Rotonde

The Rotondes (Luxembourgish:Rotonden, French: Rotondes) are two railway roundhouses with a diameter of 52 meters and a height of 15 meters, built by the CFL, located in Bonnevoie, Luxembourg City.

History

The Rotondes were built in the year 1877, for the storage of steam locomotives. Each Rotonde could hold 18 locomotives. A new engine shed in Howald was completed in the year 1907, and the Rotondes were therefore no longer needed for their original purpose.

The Rotondes were classified as national monuments in 1991.

The Southern Rotonde was used as a warehouse by the CFL until 1999, whereas the Northern Rotonde was used as a bus garage until 2006.

The Rotondes were transferred from the ownership of the CFL to the government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the year 2000, and the ministry of culture is responsible for their upkeep and development

In the year 2007, the two buildings were used for cultural activities as Luxembourg was selected as a European capital of culture, the southern building hosted a restaurant.

The buildings remained unoccupied until 2010 when the buildings administration of Luxembourg city was given a budget of 16 Million Euros and tasked with renovating the buildings to be used to host cultural activities. The renovation began in 2013.

The reopening of the Rotondes, following their renovation, was celebrated on the 13 July 2015.

Current Use

• The Southern Rotonde contains an open space designed to be used as an art gallery or indoor market
• The Northern Rotonde has only been partially renovated, and consists of a bar and concert hall within a wooden structure.
• The two Rotondes are connected by a so-called "container city" which contains an administrative building, the Radio Ara studios, bus and bike hire stations.