Place Guillaume II is the large paved square in Luxembourg City's upper town, with the City Hall on one side and a bronze king on horseback in the middle. Everyone in Luxembourg calls it the Knuedler, a name that goes back to the knotted rope belts of the Franciscan friars who lived here for more than five centuries.
Place Guillaume II at a glance
- Where: in the Ville Haute (upper town), between the Grand Ducal Palace, Place d'Armes and the main shopping streets.
- Created: a Franciscan monastery stood here from the 13th century; the square took shape after the monastery was demolished in 1829, and the City Hall was completed in 1838.
- By: City Hall designed by the Liège architect Justin Rémont; equestrian statue by the French sculptor Antonin Mercié, with the horse by Victor Peter.
- What it is today: the city's main square for markets, concerts and festivals, and home of the City Hall and the mayor's office.
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes, longer on a market morning.
From friary garden to city square
In the middle of the 13th century the Franciscans built a church and monastery here, and the square still carries their memory in its nickname: Knuedler comes from the Luxembourgish word for knot, after the knots in the cord the friars wore around their waists. During the French Revolutionary Wars, French troops seized the monastery in 1797, and in 1804 Napoleon gave the site to the city. The buildings were pulled down by 1829, and much of the stone went into the new City Hall.
The City Hall was designed by Justin Rémont, approved in 1828 and built from 1830. Work went on through the Belgian Revolution and finished in 1838, but the official inauguration had to wait until 15 July 1844, when it was opened by King William II of the Netherlands, who was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The square is named after him. His equestrian statue, unveiled in 1884, remembers the ruler who gave the Grand Duchy its first parliamentary constitution. The two lions at the City Hall entrance came later, in 1938, by the Luxembourg sculptor Auguste Trémont.
What to look for
- William II on horseback: the bronze rider is by Antonin Mercié, the horse by Victor Peter. The pedestal carries the arms of the House of Orange-Nassau, of Luxembourg and of the country's 12 cantons.
- The City Hall facade: a sober neoclassical front, built partly with stone from the old monastery.
- The lions by Auguste Trémont guarding the City Hall steps, added in 1938.
- The fox monument: a bronze fox sits above a memorial to Michel Rodange (1827–1876), whose satirical epic 'Renert' retold the tale of Reynard the Fox in Luxembourgish. It was unveiled in 1932 and reinstalled after restoration in 2024, now with a push-button drinking fountain marked 'Drénkwaasser'.
- The square itself: after a long redevelopment it has new pale granite paving, more trees and a bigger playground, while cars park out of sight underground.
A square for the whole city
The Knuedler is where Luxembourg City gathers. The Stater Maart, the city-centre market, sets up its stalls here on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, with fruit, vegetables, cheese and flowers. For almost three decades, from 1991 to 2019, the free Rock um Knuedler concert filled the square every summer, drawing crowds of up to 10,000 people. In winter the square is used for seasonal events, and on national occasions it is often the stage for public celebrations.
Tips for your visit
- Come on a Wednesday or Saturday morning to see the square at its liveliest, when the market is on.
- For a photo of the statue with the City Hall behind it, stand on the side of the square closest to the shopping streets and wait for a gap in the crowd.
- Try the fox fountain: press the button on the restored Rodange monument for a drink of water on a hot day.
Nearby
- Place d'Armes: the smaller, tree-shaded square just north of the Knuedler, lined with café terraces and home to a bandstand.
- Grand Ducal Palace: the Grand Duke's official town residence, with its ornate 16th-century facade, a few minutes' walk away.
- Cathedral of Notre-Dame: Luxembourg's cathedral, with its slender spires and the crypt of the grand ducal family, a short walk south-east.
- Chemin de la Corniche: the walkway along the old fortress walls, with views over the Grund quarter and the Alzette valley.
See Luxembourg with World City Trail
Our Luxembourg scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 30 minutes of walking. Place Guillaume II is one of the stops, along with Place d'Armes and the Monument to Dicks and Lentz.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Luxembourg.
Play the Luxembourg scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Luxembourg →
Play the outdoor escape game in Luxembourg →
Facts checked in October 2026.