VILLUX X
Histoire des villes luxembourgeoises 10
The research project VILLUX addresses to the historical research of Luxembourgish cities. It is in its tenth funding phase.
VILLUX X consists of two parts:
1. A historical atlas of the city of Luxembourg (https://www.luxatlas.lu/)
Luxatlas is a digital and interactive historical town atlas of Luxembourg, based on open-source technology and in accordance with the guidelines of the CIHV (International Commission for the History of Towns). It is published on the website “Luxatlas.lu” since 2019 and has since then been continuously expanded in terms of content and technically developed further. The atlas shows the urban development of the town since the mid-16th century in the form of digital and interactive maps, historical images and photos, and explanatory texts. Multiple, freely selectable map layers can be combined with each other when using the atlas; a total of 64 maps are available for this purpose. The digitised and georeferenced maps have been extensively rectified, in part by means of thousands of digital pinpoints (GCPs), so that they can be superimposed on each other in a precisely fitting manner. Story maps were developed for individual thematic focal points, which guide users virtually through the historical urban space in a guided or freely selectable sequence.
Luxatlas.lu documents historical processes of change diachronically for research purposes, for people interested in history (public history) and for municipal departments (supporting preparations for urban development projects). But the pure visualisation of research results is not the main focus of the project. The town atlas itself serves as an important tool for the acquisition of new knowledge. It is only by means of cartographic representations that comparisons can be made of various historical development processes in Luxembourg City. The superimposition of different cartographic time layers enables users to visualise and analyse specific questions individually. The town atlas therefore offers a basis for further research on urban development. this historical information is scientifically grounded and enables time travel from past to present using a visual interface over the internet.
2. The edition of the medieval account books of the city of Luxembourg from 1388 to 1500.
For the city of Luxembourg, most of the municipal account books from the year 1388 onwards have survived – a unique source for historical and linguistic research. This comprehensive source material, providing both insights into historical language use and practical information on the management of the city as well as its topographic, economic and social development, is unique, both in terms of its content and its form.
The research project has been realised from 2007 to 2023 by the Institute of History at the University of Luxembourg (Prof. em Michel Pauly and Asst.-Prof. Dr. Martin Uhrmacher) and the Chair of German Studies/ Historical Linguistics at the University of Trier (Prof. Dr. Claudine Moulin) in cooperation with the Luxembourg Municipal Archives. The roughly 70 revenue and expenditure registers preserved in the Municipal Archives were transcribed and edited in twelve volumes. While the realisation of the project was financially supported by both universities, the City of Luxembourg took over the financing of the printing costs.
The 12 volumes can be ordered via www.cludem.lu.