A piece of Italy in the north

The Lorettokapelle in Clervaux is a strange little building with a very long name. It is officially known as the Chapelle Notre Dame de Lorette and it belongs to the state domain. It was built in 1761 to honour Our Lady of Loreto which is a famous pilgrimage site in Italy. Apparently the Count Adrien Jean Baptiste de Lannoy decided that Clervaux needed a bit of Italian flair. He was the Baron of Clervaux and clearly had enough money to build monuments to his favourite saints.

Built on old foundations

The Count did not just pick a random spot in the woods for his project. The chapel was constructed on the exact site of a much older sanctuary. This is a classic move in religious architecture where people just keep building on top of each other for centuries. It is now looked after by the national service for sites and monuments. They make sure the walls do not fall down and that the history is preserved for people who accidentally wander uphill.

A very small apartment

The most interesting part of the chapel is the tower. It was not just built for bells or for looking pretty. The design actually included a living space for a hermit. Being a hermit in the 18th century was a legitimate career choice for people who hated their neighbours. This poor soul lived in the tower to look after the chapel and pray in total isolation. It was probably very cold and lacked any modern amenities like a kitchen or running water.

Baroque bits and pieces

If you manage to get inside you will find some very nice baroque furniture. The interior is much more decorative than the simple stone exterior suggests. It is full of fancy carvings and dramatic details that were very popular at the time. It is a bit like a miniature museum that nobody really visits.