There are seven steps on the wide staircase outside the west portal of Notre-Dame Cathedral, an impressive Gothic edifice constructed in the 17th century. With powerful panache, Ornello takes a run-up on his skateboard, rolls up the steps, jumps off, switches the board under his feet mid-flight and lands at the base of the steps with both feet on the board, before doing coasting in a wide arc. He grins: trick nailed. It’s as though the steps, along with the square in front of the cathedral, were made for skateboarding. This is the go-to place for Luxembourg’s skaters.
What started outside the cathedral 30 years ago can be found all over Luxembourg today: the skating scene is big, jovial and diverse. And the city is an ideal playground. Skaters are welcome in many places and even invited to outfit the spots. Kirchberg, for example, boasts benches equipped with metal edges to make skating them easier. Skaters also helped shape the Péitruss, one of the largest and most beautiful skateparks in Europe. No matter where they are, skaters love the appeal, architecture and beauty of Luxembourg. And they’re part of it.
Text: Fabian Teuber Photos: © Luxinnovation/Sabino Parente