How to: Experience Underground

After years of closure and extensive renovation, the Luxembourg City Tourist Office was preparing to reopen the Petrusse Casemates, one of the city’s most iconic heritage sites. But bringing visitors back underground is not just a matter of unlocking gates. How can the casemates operate safely while delivering a compelling visitor experience? What kind of business models work for complex, historic sites like these? And how have other cities made similar places thrive?

Group NAO was commissioned to support the Luxembourg City Tourist Office (LCTO) in, firstly, mapping and identifying casemates and similar attractions, and, secondly, understanding best practices in terms of their operations and business models. How to organise these intricate sites for the best possible visitor experience, whilst also developing a sustainable business model as an attraction, and maintaining a high level of safety and preservation? The purpose of this research was to provide the Luxembourg City Tourist Office with insights, experiences, and inspiration from casemates and similar attractions in other European destinations. The resulting report points to the value of flexible tour formats, mixed revenue models, and strong coordination between site owners and operators. It also highlights opportunities for Luxembourg City to experiment with digital storytelling, seasonal programming, and partnerships that balance preservation with public access, charting a path for success in Luxembourg's case of casemates.