UERGELFABRIK
Luxembourg's historical industrial heritage
In 1923, the Cologne entrepreneur Klotz built the main buildings, including a high assembly hall at 75, Route de Diekirch in Lintgen.
In 1924, the master organ builder Georg Haupt and his partner Josef Fieth moved into the building to take advantage of the high assembly hall which was necessary for the assembly of the organs. They found a subsidiary of the firm Stahlhut (Aachen).
Josef Fieth left the Luxembourg company in 1932 to take over the management of the parent company in Aachen.
At the same time, the company changed its name to "Manufacture d'Orgues Luxembourgeoise succ. G. Haupt".
The founder Georg Haupt died in June 1952.
Until 1963, the company was managed by his son Charles Haupt, but he had to stop his activity due to economic difficulties.
The industrialist Auguste Mreches bought the company out of insolvency, initially to use the buildings for storage purposes.
He then decided not to change the use of the premises and to continue the organ building activity. As he had no technical expertise in the field, he took over the general management and entrusted the technical management to the organ builder Nic Loewen from Lintgen.
In 1964, the technical management was handed over first to Herbert Schmidt and then in 1969 to Georg Westenfelder, both master organ builders.
In 1979, Auguste Mreches retired from the company and the company was renamed "Manufacture d'Orgues Luxembourgeoise Westenfelder S.A.R.L".
Under the management of Mr Westenfelder, the Manufacture d'Orgues Luxembourgeoise extended its national and international reputation with works in many European countries, as well as in the United States and Japan. In Luxembourg, the organ of the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Luxembourg is certainly one of the most emblematic achievements.
Since 2011, the company is managed by Andreas Westenfelder, son of Georg Westenfelder.
On 18 November 2011, the buildings of the Westenfelder organ factory were classified as a national monument by a decree of the Government Council and remain one of the jewels of Luxembourg's historical industrial heritage. Indeed, the building with its high red brick manufacturing tower is an atypical industrial building, proof of the diversity of Luxembourg's industrial and craft fabric.
Besides the construction of new organs, an activity that has been in decline for decades, the maintenance and renovation of organs is the main activity. The activity remains highly exciting and artisanal, requiring numerous qualifications as well as a proven musical sensitivity.
In order to preserve the history of the artisanal craft and the building, it was decided to build one last organ on the occasion of the renovation and reopening of the Uergelfabrik. After renovations will be completed in 2025, it will be the heart of UERGELFABRIK, and it's pipes will vibrate for concerts, events and organ enthusiasts.