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Welcome To St. Donatus, a little bit of Luxembourg in Iowa

luxembourg.jpg (25971 bytes) Here we are in scenic St. Donatus, Iowa (population 150+), just south of Dubuque along the Mississippi River.  The village of St. Donatus has been preserved as a historic Luxembourg village.  Scroll down to see some of the sights of St. Donatus.
bedandbreakfast.jpg (27245 bytes) The U. S. and Luxembourg flags fly proudly outside the Gehlen House Bed and Breakfast.  This house, constructed in the Quereinhaus style of Luxembourg architecture, was built by Peter Gehlen in 1847, shortly after his arrival in Iowa from his native village of Olm, Luxembourg.  In 1997, a group of Luxembourg artisans and builders, led by Guy Thomas, came to St. Donatus to replaster and repaint the Gehlen House.
window.jpg (15544 bytes) An early-morning scene from the window of one of the bedrooms in the Gehlen House in St. Donatus.
building.jpg (26680 bytes) The exterior of the Gehlen House in late August 1997, just after the Luxembourg restoration crew had completed most of its work.  This project was funded by the Luxembourg government and the Luxembourg Heritage in America Association.
kalmesstore.jpg (29273 bytes) The Kalmes General Store, a central meeting place in St. Donatus, IA.

 

 

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