Les Saltimbanques

IN A SMALL SQUARE CALLED Place du Théâtre, flanked by the Cinémathèque and the 17th-century Kapuzinertheater building, stand a set of statues representing Luxembourg’s longstanding tradition of celebrating the performing arts.

Created in 1987, the Saltimbanques, or “acrobats,” sculptures were designed by local artist Bénédicte Weis, who won the first prize at a national competition with the design a year prior. The bronze statues depict a group of street performers in medieval attire, including a clown and a fire-breather, as well as a whole troupe of dancers and musicians.

Traveling performers like these are believed to have been quite common in Luxembourg during the Middle Ages. The statues are both a tribute to the city’s history and the timeless nature of the arts.