Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial | Luxembourg City

Information

Landmark: Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial
City: Luxembourg City
Country: Luxembourg
Continent: Europe

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, Europe

The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial is a United States military cemetery located in the Hamm district of Luxembourg City. It is administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and serves as the final resting place for 5,074 American service members.

Visual Characteristics

The cemetery is defined by its vast, manicured green lawns arranged in a fan shape, containing white Lasa marble headstones in the form of Latin crosses and Stars of David. The architecture is characterized by a white stone chapel featuring a large bronze door and a mosaic ceiling. Two massive stone pylons flank the entrance, engraved with maps and descriptions of the military operations in the region.

Location & Access Logistics

The site is located at 50 Val du Scheid, L-2517 Luxembourg.

Public Transport: Bus Line 15 stops at "Hamm, American Cemetery," located approximately 300 meters from the entrance.

Vehicle: Accessible via the N2 highway; follow signs for "Cimetière Militaire Américain."

Parking: A large, free private parking lot is located directly at the cemetery entrance.

Historical & Structural Origin

Established on December 29, 1944, by the 608th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company, the site was initially a temporary burial ground during the Battle of the Bulge. It was later selected as a permanent cemetery and inaugurated in 1960. The cemetery is situated on 50.5 acres of land granted in perpetuity to the United States by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Key Highlights & Activities

Grave of General George S. Patton Jr.: The commander of the Third U.S. Army is buried here at the head of the grave plots, facing his troops.

Tablets of the Missing: Two large stone pylons record the names of 371 missing service members whose remains were never recovered or identified.

The Chapel: Features stained glass windows depicting the insignia of the U.S. commands that operated in Northwest Europe.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The site includes a visitor center with staff available to assist with grave locations and historical information. It has stable 5G/4G coverage. Public restrooms are located in the visitor building. The entire site is designed for universal accessibility, featuring paved or firm grass paths suitable for wheelchairs and strollers.

Best Time to Visit

The cemetery is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00 (except December 25 and January 1). Late spring and summer are optimal for viewing the landscaped grounds. Formal ceremonies are held annually on Memorial Day (late May) and Veterans Day (November 11).

Facts & Legends

The cemetery is unique in that General Patton is buried here; he requested to be buried with his men following his death in December 1945. While most headstones are organized in 9 plots (A–I), Patton’s grave was moved to the front of the plots in 1947 to better accommodate the high volume of visitors. The site remains a powerful symbol of the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Luxembourg.