First skyscraper in Luxembourg

The Alcide de Gasperi Tower was inaugurated in 1966 and was the first building specifically built in the Grand Duchy to meet the requirements of the European institutions. It was the first high-rise building with 22-storeys in the Grand Duchy, hence its nickname of the ‘Skyscraper’ (Héichhaus in Luxembourgish). 

While the upper floors currently house the offices of various ministries, the lower section is now part of the European Conference Centre Luxembourg, where the European Union’s ministerial meetings are held in April, June and October and Council of the Europe. Before Schuman building was constructed it was main office space for the European Parliament and it continued to be until recently.

Alcide de Gasperi was an integral Italian politician who played a key role in building ECSC as an Italian prime minister from 1945 to 1953. In 20s briefly collaborated with Benito Mussolini in the government as the founder of Italian People’s Party, but then decided to take opposition position. In 1927 served a prison sentence under the dictatorship. He advocated Italy’s integration in the West and Italian accession to NATO. In 1954 he was elected a President of the Parliamentary Assembly. 

Walk to the New Hemicycle building