Buildings
The Court of Justice of the European Union has been based in Luxembourg since its creation in 1952.
The first Palais was opened in 1973 on the Kirchberg Plateau. This was the first building purpose-built for the Court. It was extended throughout the 1980s and 1990s with the addition of the Erasmus, Thomas More and Themis buildings.
In the 2000s, the original Palais was completely renovated and four new structures were built: the Anneau, the Comenius and Montesquieu Towers, and the Gallery. The Rocca Tower, a third tower, was inaugurated in 2019.
Today, the Court’s real estate complex is made up of a group of buildings with a surface area of 177 661 m2. The Rocca Tower, standing at 118 metres high, is the tallest building in the country.
The complex houses the offices of the Members and all the services of the Court. It also contains 11 courtrooms where public hearings of the Court of Justice and General Court take place.
The Palais
The current Palais of the Court of Justice of the European Union has been the public face of EU justice since 2008. It features five courtrooms where hearings, Opinions, and judgments take place.
The Anneau
The Anneau, which surrounds the Palais, is the heart of the Court of Justice. It houses the Chambers of Judges and Advocates General, as well as the conference rooms where they deliberate.
Themis building
The Themis building at the Court of Justice of the European Union is named after Themis, the Greek goddess of Justice and symbol of law, balance and judicial authority, as well as the inspiration for ...
Thomas More building
The Thomas More building at the Court of Justice of the European Union is named after Sir Thomas More – a lawyer, judge and philosopher who advocated for justice and remained steadfast in his beliefs....
Erasmus building
The Erasmus building at the Court of Justice of the European Union is named after Renaissance humanist Desiderius Erasmus, honouring his legacy of education, cultural exchange and independent thought....
Comenius Tower
The Comenius Tower at the Court of Justice of the European Union is named after Jan Amos Komenský, a philosopher and educator who championed universal education and the promotion of languages as a gat...
Montesquieu Tower
The Montesquieu Tower of the Court of Justice of the European Union is named after Charles-Louis de Secondat de la Brède, baron de Montesquieu, whose work laid the foundations for the principle of sep...
Rocca Tower
The Rocca Tower at the Court of Justice of the European Union is named after Giustina Rocca, the first recorded female lawyer, to emphasise its commitment to equal access to law and justice, as well a...
The Gallery
The Gallery is an interior street that links all the buildings in the Court of Justice of the European Union, allowing quick and easy access throughout the complex.
History of the buildings
This page explores the development of the buildings of the Court of Justice of the European Union. It details key milestones, from its provisional establishment in Luxembourg in 1952, its move to the ...
