Luxembourg: Attractions (route with description and photo). Top attractions in Luxembourg Top attractions in Luxembourg
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (the name comes from "lucilinburch" - "small town") is a small state located in Western Europe and bordering Belgium, Germany and France. The head of state is the Grand Duke and the form of government is a constitutional monarchy. Luxembourg is divided into districts, which are subdivided into cantons, and cantons into communes. The small duchy has an unusually picturesque landscape and is simply replete with various historical and architectural monuments.
The Palace of the Grand Dukes is the official residence of the head of state of Luxembourg. The building, erected in the 15th century, was built in the Renaissance style. Over the years, the building has been restored and renovated several times, especially after the Second World War. The interior of the palace is constantly being updated. The Grand Duke uses the residence to carry out his duties of government. It also hosts various official and ceremonial receptions. It is from the palace that the Christmas television broadcast of the speech of the head of Luxembourg is conducted. The residence is guarded by ceremonial guards. Some rooms of the Palace of the Grand Dukes are open to tourists.
The House Museum of Victor Hugo is located on the banks of the Ur River in the small village of Viandene, located on the territory of the commune of the same name in Luxembourg. The great writer lived in this three-storey house during his infrequent visits to Vianden. Hugo liked the place for its natural landscape and picturesque surroundings. The author of famous works lived there during his exile. The house was noticeably damaged during the Second World War, but was subsequently partially restored. Half a century after the death of the writer, a museum was opened in his home, which contains documents, letters and books of Victor Hugo, as well as paintings painted by him. Furniture and furnishings in the house are chosen appropriately to create the necessary impressions of the time in which the writer lived.
Bourshed Castle is located in the central part of Luxembourg in the village of Esch-sur-Sur, towering on a hill above the valley of the river Sur. It is the largest castle in the state. The original building was erected in the 10th century, and over the following centuries the castle was expanded, completed and modified. The castle complex consists of Stolzemburger Palace, a chapel next to it and outbuildings surrounded by a powerful wall with observation towers. In the 19th century, Bourshed was abandoned, as a result of which it lost its former appearance - some of its parts were destroyed. However, in the 20th century, the authorities took up the restoration of this architectural landmark, and now Bourshed Castle is open to the public: a museum operates under it, and various official and solemn events are held in the palace.
Vianden Castle is the main attraction of the Luxembourg commune of the same name. It is located on a rock overlooking the settlement and the valley of the river Ur. The construction with residential buildings, a reliable wall, towers and gates was founded in the 13th century as a reliable fortress of the counts of Vianden. To get inside, you had to go through 5 gates behind the drawbridge and portcullis. The power of the castle was confirmed several centuries later - its walls even withstood the onslaught of Nazi troops during the Second World War. In the 90s of the XX century, this historical and architectural monument was restored, and now it hosts tours for curious visitors.
Chapel Saint-Cyrin (Chapel of St. Quirin) is a small Catholic chapel carved into the rock by the knights of the Teutonic Order in the XIV century. The chapel is located in Luxembourg's Petrus Valley. This cozy chapel for many years was a place of constant worship of St. Quirinus, as well as the virgins: Faith, Hope and Love. At present, it is very rarely used for services, but believers still make pilgrimages to it. Inside the chapel are a stone altar, several statues of saints and pews. At the foot of the Saint-Cyrin chapel, a spring flows, which is considered healing, relieving skin diseases.
The Beaufort fortress (the name translates as "beautiful fortress") is a historical monument of Luxembourg, located in the commune of the same name on a high hill. This defensive structure was built in the XI century and regularly served its owners for many years, gradually being completed and strengthened. However, by the 17th century, the castle was abandoned, as the new owner preferred to build a Renaissance palace next door. Beaufort began to collapse and deteriorate, and in the 19th century, its stones began to be dismantled for the construction of city buildings. Fortunately, in 1850 the ancient fortress was declared a historical monument, and later it was restored. Now the castle is open to the public, and during the tourist season, various fairs and holidays are held on its territory.
Luxembourg is a city located in Western Europe at the confluence of the Alzette and Petrus rivers. It is the capital of the state of Luxembourg. The first settlements on this site date back to 963, but Luxembourg received the status of a city only in 1244. The Alzet River divides its territory into two parts - the Upper and Lower City. Ancient architectural monuments are located in the Upper part, and the Lower part is something like a business center with banks, factories and offices of various companies, but in both parts you can walk along the old narrow streets. Luxembourg is rich in picturesque landscapes, parks, squares - it is a very quiet, beautiful and cozy city. In addition to architectural sights in the capital of the Grand Duchy, you can get acquainted with interesting expositions in various museums: "National", "Historical", "People's Life", "Post and Telecommunications", "Urban Transport" and others.
The Luxembourg Wine Museum is located in the small town of Henin, located on the banks of the Moselle River. It was opened not so long ago, in 1978, in the former house of a wine merchant. Museum visitors can get acquainted with the history and detailed technology of winemaking, as well as admire the exhibits of old equipment and a collection of various bottles. Next to the museum - in the next room - there is a grape press (XIX century) and a cooperage (or cooperage - a workshop in which barrels are made). Outside the walls of the museum there is a rich vineyard in which grapes of various varieties are grown. The place for the Luxembourg wine museum was not chosen by chance - the city of Henin has long been famous for its wine production, which is the main occupation of the local population.
Remich is a settlement located on the territory of the commune of the same name in Luxembourg on the banks of the Moselle River. It is also called the "Pearl of the Moselle". It is a small, quiet town known for its luxurious vineyards. Here are the National Center for Wine Quality and the Research Institute of Winemaking, as well as many wine cellars (the most famous cellars of St. Martin), where you can taste the best local wines. Walking along the winding streets of the town, you can get acquainted with its centuries-old history - Remich and its surroundings are rich in museums and monuments of architecture and culture.
Schengen is an old Luxembourgish village, famous for the Schengen Agreement. The village is located on the territory of the commune of the same name on the left bank of the Moselle River near the junction of the borders of three states: Luxembourg, Germany and France. It was close to the point of convergence of the three borders - on the pleasure ship "Princess Maria Astrid" on the Moselle River, an agreement known to the whole world was concluded. However, Schengen deserves attention not only in connection with this fact, but also as a historical area - according to records from discovered documents, the village existed already in 877. The sights of the town include: the remains of a fortress with a moat (XIII century), the Schengen castle (erected in the XIV century, later destroyed and restored), the Koch house (XVIII century), the Wallreich house (XIX century), other architectural structures, as well as gardens, parks and vineyards.
How to see the city of Luxembourg and its main attractions in 1 day. Map of historical places and walking route.
Luxembourg is a city and at the same time a state, its area is 2,586 km². I have already had to be in such miniature states, this and. But in size they are significantly inferior to Luxembourg.
Before this trip, I already had ideas about Luxembourg, since the first acquaintance with the city was in 2014. Then I spent only a couple of hours here, but this turned out to be catastrophically insufficient. Perhaps someone will say that the city can be seen in just 2-3 hours, but I did not succeed.
How to get to Luxembourg City
- : from Luxembourg Airport to the city you can take public transport 16 and 29 for 2€ to the central station or for 45€ and come straight to the hotel.
- : budget option - buses for 15-25 € and a comfortable option - trains for 42 €, tickets on the site.
- From other neighboring capitals (Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin) tickets are purchased similarly to item 2.
Where to stay in Luxembourg
Both hotels and apartments in the city are very expensive. For example, the most budget hostel costs 25€, while the cheapest hotels on the outskirts of the city start from 70€.
All my advice when looking for budget housing resulted in a separate article -. Briefly about the housing found, it is a separate room in a guesthouse 5-10 minutes from the central station at a price of 56 € per day for 2 people.
Landmarks of Luxembourg
Arrival in Luxembourg was at 4 am, when it was still dark, dark. The situation on the streets was peaceful despite the companies of drunken youth near nightclubs. And since the housing was located next to the station, we will start the walk from it.
Who does not like to walk in fluff can buy for 15 € and comfortably visit all the sights of the city.
Parish of the Sacred Heart
Directly from the station, we will continue our walk along Liberte Avenue, but to see the next attraction, we will have to turn off it onto Dick Street, where we will find Sacred Heart Parish, which translates as the parish of the Sacred Heart.
In Luxembourg, bright colored houses are unlikely to be found, so we will look for colors in small things.
Martyrs Square
Let's go back to the avenue and go to the small square Place des Martyrs - Martyrs' Square. The most interesting here will be the tunnel that connects two museums - the modern art gallery Am Tunnel and the Bank Museum. If you do not go along the tunnel, then the bank museum will be a little further along the avenue.
The entrance to the underground tunnel is in a long building with a turret in the corner. If you decide to visit both museums and want to go through the underground tunnel, then I’ll tell you what you don’t have to do. When you enter the building with the turret, you can ignore the reception desk, otherwise you will be forced to register in the journal, take away your bags and remind you that you cannot take pictures in the museum. This is not a big problem, except for the fact that you will have to return for things.
Both the tunnel and the bank museum are free to visit. Due to the fact that we handed over things to the bank, we had to walk down the street to the main entrance. Photography is also prohibited in the bank museum.
Across the street from the Bank Museum will be another spectacular building - Plateau Bourbon.
And now attention. We cross the bridge, which is already more than a century old - the Adolf Bridge. Below it is the Petrus River. And look how much greenery, beautiful, right? Imagine how it will all look in the golden age.
After the bridge, on the right will be the building of the Museum of Modern Art.
Parks of Luxembourg
Although we are not tired yet, we go to the parks of Luxembourg, if not for relaxation, then at least for the soul. To do this, after the bridge, turn left. Here is the first Edith Klein park for you. Here you can admire the beauty, dream. Here we will find a piece of history - the remains of a fort from the 17th century.
Do you want to forget about your age for a moment? Ride on a swing, feel like a carefree child? Then let's look at the next Parc de Monterey park with a playground. The most interesting here will be a huge wooden ship.
And who said that there are no tickets to childhood! I spent more than an hour here, climbed the ship up and down.
The parks of Luxembourg do not end there, there is another one ahead, but at first you can see a beautiful cemetery. It may not be a place to walk, but it is unusual. For the first time I saw such a cemetery in, and then in. In Luxembourg, of course, not so luxurious, but also beautiful. And you decide to go there or not to go, decide for yourself.
Nearby is the Russian Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
Tired of parks yet? Then we go to another Parc municipal d'Edouard Andre. He may be interested in Villa Vauban. In its cellars are the remains of defensive walls. The villa was built in the 19th century as a private residence, and now there is an art museum. Ticket price 5 €, on Friday admission is free from 18:00 to 21:00.
District Kirchberg
If you want to learn more about Luxembourg, then you should go to, about which I wrote a separate story.
On the way to the area, before crossing the bridge, you will meet the Chapelle du Glacis and the Grand Theatre.
Area Vauban
Such a bridge will lead from the Kirchberg district to the old town.
Luxembourg is divided into two levels - the upper city and the lower. Let's start with the bottom, continue with the top and return to the bottom again. Vauban Towers.
Many notice that Luxembourg is a city of bridges and footbridges. Just on the bridge we will now go. To do this, let's go back to Vauban Towers. The river Alzet flows under the bridge, and this area is called Grund.
Do you want to walk through the narrow streets? Then we will cross this bridge and through another turret of Eich Gate we will go out to the streets.
Panoramic lift
If you are in Luxembourg, then be prepared for picturesque views here at every turn. They can be observed not only from bridges, but also from the elevator cab. Not so long ago, a panoramic elevator was launched in Luxembourg. With its help, we will rise to the upper city, but we will not say goodbye to the lower one, we will return.
To get to the elevator, you need to turn somewhere here on one of the streets. The elevator entrance is on the right.
The elevator is called Pfaffenthal. Inside there is a board where the height is displayed. Most of the elevator is completely made of glass. The glass floor may seem a little extreme here, but not the whole, but the part that is closer to the edge. But it’s scary only at first, then, when you step on it, you understand that the glass is very dense and there is nothing to be afraid of. By the way, do you know what's down there? We were just there.
And here we are in the upper city. On the way to the historical streets, we will meet a beautiful building, which will be a nursing home or Fondation J.P. Pescatore, and then the Eglise Saint-Alphonse church and the Capuchin Theater.
Place d'Armes
We exit to Place d'Armes, where the former government building Cercle Cité will be. The building is now used for exhibitions and events. Opposite the Monument to Dicks et Lentz in honor of the authors of the national anthem.
If you are a fan of all sorts of flea markets, then there is an interesting place for you on this square - a flea market. For example, I was never interested in such markets, did not even notice them and bypassed them. But then I started paying attention to them.
Over some of the tourist streets of Luxembourg, such a sky hangs.
Constitution Square
Nearby will be the main temple of Luxembourg - the Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg or Cathédrale Notre-Dame. It appeared in the 17th century. The library adjoins the cathedral.
Plaza Clairefontaine
If you go around the cathedral, you will see Clairefontaine Square with a monument to Duchess Charlotte. She ruled the country from 1919 to 1964.
Luxembourg is a city where you don't have to waste time looking for an observation deck. Here she is everywhere. From the place where we will go now there will be beautiful views. The photo shows a large complex of white buildings, one of these buildings is the palace of justice.
Below the Alzet River, in the distance above the city, the skyscrapers of the Kirchberg district are visible, on the left is the Bok rock, which I will talk about later. Gray roofs are one of the hallmarks of Luxembourg.
Place Guillaum
Place Guillaume is located next to the cathedral. In its center is a monument to Wilhelm II, Duke of Luxembourg since 1840. On the day of my visit, that part of the square where the monument stands was under reconstruction. Here is the town hall building, and in front of it is the tourist center. Behind the town hall on the left are the spiers of the cathedral. See, everything is close.
To the left of the town hall is a monument-fountain to Michel Rodange, a Luxembourgish poet of the 19th century. The fox sits on the monument here for a reason. It has something to do with Rodange's poem "Renert-Lis".
If you wander through the narrow streets, you will notice the Dreifaltigkeitskirche church, which is quite inconvenient to photograph. Let's go inside and see the interior.
Palace of the Grand Dukes
The head of state in Luxembourg is the Grand Duke, in the photo below his official residence is the Palace of the Grand Dukes or Palais Grand-Ducal.
In the 16th century, there was a town hall on this site. The palace is located next to Place Guillaume. A bit of a fabulous building because of the turrets. The same building houses the Luxembourg Parliament.
If you are a museum lover, there is a Luxembourg History Museum nearby. And if your visit falls on a Thursday, then you can go for free from 18:00 to 20:00. On other days the ticket costs 5€. Opening hours from 10:00 to 18:00.
At the beginning of the article, I said that I managed to get acquainted with Luxembourg long before this trip, three years ago. So, I decided to find the street where I took the photo for the first time and take a picture there again.
Nearby will be the Eglise Saint-Michel church. She is considered the oldest in Luxembourg. The history of the church began in the 10th century, when it was a palace chapel. And what we see today was formed already in the 17th century.
Rock Bok
Do you know how Luxembourg came into being? Back in the 10th century, Count Siegfried built a castle on the Bok rock. It was called Lucilinburh. A little later, a city began to grow around this castle. Today, Bok rock is not only a trace of history, but also a large observation platform from where you can see the lower city and the Alzet River.
And here are the remains of that mighty fortress of the 10th century. Inside the rock there are casemates, labyrinths, former defensive corridors. All this can be seen and wandered inside the rock. Paid entrance. They say that you can even get into these labyrinths from the basements of some residential buildings, of course old ones.
Neumünster Abbey
The building with the pointed turret is the St Jean du Grund church and Neumünster Abbey nearby. The abbey appeared here in the 16th century. It also managed to visit a prison, into which it was converted in the 19th century. Events are currently taking place at this location. Let's go down to it and look from a different angle.
Near the abbey there will be an old bridge of the 16th century. We will go through it as well.
The multi-tiered castle bridge of the 18th century will continue the theme of bridges. You can go under a large arch below, under four arches and along the road above the bridge. Somewhere else there should be a spiral staircase and an entrance to a tunnel through which you can get to the casemates.
From the Bock cliff, you can see the skyscrapers of the Kirchberg district and the railway bridge. The picture will be more complete if you wait for the train.
We go down to the Grund area, where the same river Alzet flows. Here is peace, nature, inspiration. When you really like a city, they say about it - a city for the soul.
St Jeandu Grund Church, Neumünster Abbey and old bridge. We viewed all this from the Bok cliff.
On the shore, the Luxembourg mermaid Melusina sits lonely and sad, and for some reason in the fence.
And here is a view of the Bok rock with casemates and labyrinths. Rock Bok reminded me of the Czech city of Cesky Krumlov.
The day is coming to an end and so is our walk. Let's finish it with three towers - Echauguette espagnole.
It took me a whole day to explore Luxembourg, but it seemed to me that this was not enough. After all, I did not visit the casemates, and they would have taken extra time. And if Luxembourg was not so expensive, then I would come back here again, to this green city with gray roofs, with fabulous turrets and a kind soul.
Luxembourg is the eponymous capital of one of the smallest independent states in Europe. But this is exactly the case when size does not matter. Despite its compactness (both the main city and the country itself, which can be crossed from north to south in just an hour or an hour and a half), Luxembourg has a unique architectural “face” and color, stands out against the background of neighboring countries and, most likely, from a tourist point view will give you a lot of pleasure.
For centuries, Luxembourg has been under the rule of one or the other conquerors, but neighboring Germany and France had the greatest influence on the Grand Duchy.
Luxembourg is always included in routes around Europe or the Benelux countries for organized tourists: huge buses stop at a couple of points in the city on observation decks so that people can take pictures against the backdrop of the “Luxembourg postcard”, and then take the wanderers tired of the road and an abundance of impressions to the next European country.
In this article you will find a detailed (and not for show) itinerary around the capital of the Grand Duchy - Luxembourg - for independent tourists. Depending on how much time you have in the city (from a couple of hours to two days), I will tell you how to spend them in the most optimal and interesting way, what you must see and do, and also how to save some money if it is relevant.
More than 100 thousand people live in the city of Luxembourg and its suburbs, which is almost a quarter of the population of the entire state. Luxembourg, which first emerged as an independent entity in 963 (then it was just a small fortified castle on top of the steep Bock cliff), today, due to its economic policy, ranks 4th in the world in terms of income of the indigenous population. This very standard of living, when you find yourself in Luxembourg, is immediately visible to the naked eye: a huge number of offices of the largest international banks and companies, an abundance of expensive and super-expensive cars on the streets, elegant villas - almost Monaco, only in the very center of Europe and without access to the sea.
Where to stay in Luxembourg
So, you have arrived in the center of Luxembourg (for nothing that you are not a Chinese tourist, who usually only has 10-15 minutes for a photo).
Details about (in many ways) read here.
Where to go now?
The starting point for a walking route in Luxembourg is traditionally considered Constitution Square. There is also a stop here, from where green or red Luxembourg tourist busesHopon, hopoff(in-out). In the center of the Constitution Square is located monument entitled "Golden Lady". This is a military monument in honor of the Luxembourger volunteers who went to the front and died during the First World War. "Golden Lady" - a 21-meter granite obelisk with a gilded statue of a woman on its top, with a laurel wreath in her hands, at the foot of which there are two figures - a lying dead person and a sitting one, mourning him. Near here is Casino Luxembourg, and from the observation deck you can see the Most Adolf ( built between 1900 and 1903 and named after the Grand Duke Adolf), as well as the valley of the Petrus River, which flows through the city. It was at the time when I ended up in Luxembourg that a mobile attraction was installed in the city on Constitution Square - City Skyliner observation deck. Since this is not a permanent observation deck (it will stay in Luxembourg from June 28 to August 6, 2017), alas, I cannot recommend it. But I will show in the article panoramic views of the capital of Luxembourg from a height of 81 meters and a 360-degree view.
Constitution Square
Adolf Bridge
Foot of the obelisk "Golden Lady"
View of the Constitution Square from the observation deck
Next to the Constitution Square is an impressive Notre Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg- This is the main Roman Catholic cathedral of the city, erected on the site of a Jesuit church from the beginning of the 17th century. This is a very interesting from an architectural point of view building in the late Gothic style with elements and details of the Renaissance. Be sure to go inside and pay attention to the statue of the Virgin, to whom the temple is dedicated and which is especially revered by the townspeople, as well as the amazing stained glass windows. In the crypt of the cathedral is the tomb of the rulers of Luxembourg - the Grand Dukes.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg
Leaving the Cathedral, turning left and walking down the wide Roosevelt Boulevard for another 100-150 meters, you will come to the so-called justice quarter. On the square is Constitutional Court of Luxembourg and other administrative buildings that were built relatively recently, in the early 2000s. They are not particularly interesting, but the observation deck located here overlooking the Old (lower) city is part Boulevard de la Corniche, Luxembourg's main and most popular attraction. Almost all guidebooks mention the name of this place as "one of the most beautiful balconies in Europe." This comparison belongs to Batty Weber, a well-known Luxembourgish writer and journalist.
The entire Old Town, located at the foot of the Bok cliff, through which the Alzet River flows, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the recognizable views of the duchy, which are usually printed on postcards, opens precisely from this part of the pedestrian "balcony".
In the "Quarter of Justice"
After that, leaving the square in front of the Constitutional Court and turning right, go deeper into the Upper Old Town along the street of the Holy Spirit (Rue de Saint Esprit). She will take you to Palace of the Grand Dukes, which to this day remains the official residence of the head of Luxembourg. The “public” part of the Palace of the Dukes can be viewed as part of an organized tour (in Russian, alas, not available), and part of the entrance fee is sent to a special charitable foundation established by the Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg. Near the entrance to the Palace there is a guard of soldiers of the Luxembourg army - only one or two people. Luxembourg is considered one of the safest places in Europe, so the protection here is purely symbolic.
Palace of the Grand Dukes with its formidable guard
After the Palace, walk around the Old City in the direction you want. Cafes, restaurants and a variety of shops are concentrated on the streets - expensive boutiques and an average price category. Surprisingly, there are almost no bakeries and small private food stalls in this quarter. So if your hotel is located in this part of the city, you will also have to look for a croissant for breakfast or snacks. main squares- it Place d'Armes and Place Guiliame II where is the city hall and Luxembourg Tourist Office. I personally liked the first square more - the cozy and green Place d`Armes, it is here that it is most pleasant to sit in a cafe (albeit tourist ones).
One of the main shopping streets in the Old Town of Luxembourg
However, the minimum program for Luxembourg will not be complete if you do not see the Old Lower Town from another viewing point of the "balcony" - opposite the one opposite the Constitutional Court. Here is another major attraction - casemates rocks Bock- a network of underground passages in the rocks under the Luxembourg fortress, once stretching for 23 kilometers (now - "only" about 17). Today it is a popular Luxembourg museum, where weapons and rarities found during the dismantling of the fortress of Luxembourg are exhibited. Exact address: Montee de Clausen, 10.
Having got out of the casemates into the fresh air, take a deep breath and enjoy the most beautiful views (for those who are afraid of heights, it’s better not to bend down too much, it’s really scary). At the foot of the Bock cliff at the bottom of the gorge, the Alzet River runs and foams, on the stone terraces located in tiers below, local residents grow corn, tomatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables, sometimes planes are seen taking off into the sky from Luxembourg Airport ... Very beautiful!
The route that I described above fits perfectly in 2.5-3 hours. If you have a full day left from morning to evening, or you stayed in Luxembourg overnight, you can devote the second day museums and parks Luxembourg. Chief among them - Modern Art MuseumMUDAM, located in the European quarter of the city at a distance of about 2-3 kilometers from the historical center. You can get there on foot (the modern business quarter is visible from the Old Town), but the most convenient way is by car or local bus (No. 1 and No. 16 & Eurobus, stop - Philharmonie / Mudam). Next to the MUDAM Museum is the most beautiful building of the main concert hall of Luxembourg - Philharmonic.
European Quarter and Museum of Contemporary Art MUDAM
Another interesting museum Villa Vauban- a couple of hundred meters from the Old Town (18, avenue Emile Reuter). In the building of the Villa, in the middle of a large green park stretching across several blocks, there is a collection of the Luxembourg Museum of Art with works of the 18th-19th centuries.
Helpful information:
If you are traveling by car, please be aware that many outdoor public car parks are free on weekends. It is better to park a little further from the Old Town, for example, here (Fouerplaatz). In general, there are several such "intercepting" parking lots along the perimeter of the historical center.
On weekdays, parking is paid, but there are always enough places, and it’s nice to walk to the center a few minutes on foot.
You can choose a rental car for traveling around Europe through this form:
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This is not particularly mentioned on tourist and official websites, but on Saturdays, travel in almost all city buses in Luxembourg is free (from 2015 to the end of 2017, at least in the form of an experiment). This was done to encourage people to leave their cars at home on weekends and go shopping on public transport. Tourists, of course, are also pleased with such a city initiative. And from the summer of 2019, all public transport in Luxembourg is promised to be free.
Entrance to the Museum of Contemporary Art MUDAM turned out to be free for us. However, this was rather an exceptional case, on one Sunday the Luxembourgers, who knew about it, went en masse to the Museum to see the works of contemporary authors. A ticket to MUDAM for adults costs 7 euros, but if you happen to be in Luxembourg on a Wednesday, admission to MUDAM is free from 18.00 to 23.00 on a permanent basis.
Elena Kurylenko
The Art Gallery of Luxembourg, better known as the Gallery of Contemporary Art "In the Tunnel", is a place where you can see the artwork of contemporary Luxembourgish masters.
The gallery is located in one of the city's tunnels, under the building of the central bank, in the south of Luxembourg. It occupies part of the underground casemates of the city's ancient fortress. In 1987, it was decided to restore the catacombs and properly use their premises, and everyone liked the idea of opening a gallery here. In 1992, repair work began, and a year later, in 1993, the gallery "In the Tunnel" was opened. Although it exhibits most of the work of Luxembourgish artists, it often hosts retrospectives of other painters. The main place in it is occupied by the work of photographer Edward Steichen.
On weekdays the gallery is open from 9.00 to 17.30, and only after lunch on Sundays from 14.00 to 18.00. Free admission.
Moselle river
The Moselle River flows through France, Luxembourg and Germany. Its length is 544 km., the basin area is 28286 square kilometers. It originates on the western slopes of Mount Ballon de Alsace, then flows through Lorraine, flows into the Rhine, forming the German corner
The Moselle River is the main river of the Duchy of Luxembourg. It flows mainly through a narrow low valley. On this river you can take a boat trip around the city of Luxembourg. The Moselle is a natural border between Germany and Luxembourg. The main tributaries of the Moselle are the Saar, Ruwer, Aviera. Several hydroelectric power plants have been built on the Moselle, there are many locks. The name of the river comes from the Latin Mosella, which means "Little Meuse".
The valley of the Moselle River is known as an area of winemaking and viticulture. In 2007, the vineyard area was 9,000 hectares. Here lies the tourist route "wine trail", along which you can see the sights, visit distilleries, wine cellars and taste wine. There are many castles and picturesque towns in the Moselle valley.
What sights of Luxembourg did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Church of the Holy Trinity
The Church of the Holy Trinity is part of the complex of castles; it is one of the most famous in the country. Located in the Duchy of Luxembourg, the city of Vianden. In the aisle of the church there is a huge marble tomb, there is also a gilded altar.
The castle, on the territory of which the church is located, was built in the 9th century. It belonged to the counts of Vianden. In the 17th century, the castle was partially destroyed by fire. Then it was restored and Duke Adolf began to own it. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in the Gothic style and has a very beautiful courtyard, a baroque altar. The church was built in 1248 by the monks of the order. Inside you can see the graves of the Comtes de Vianden and the reliquary of St. Anthony.
Vianden Castle is the main attraction of Vianden, a town in the northern part of Luxembourg. Its building was built in the Romanesque style between the 11th and 14th centuries, on the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress for the counts of Vianden. Although they tried to destroy the castle in the 19th century, in 1977 it was completely renovated when it was handed over to the state by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Vianden Castle is located in the northeast of the Grand Duchy, in the small town of Vianden, 40 kilometers from the capital. It is reliably protected by the Ardennes mountains and the river Ur. The castle was built as an impregnable fortress - in the northeast it is guarded by the White Tower, and in the northwest by the Black Tower. Five gates led into it, the main one was with a suspension bridge. There are several halls in the building itself: the Weapons of the Small Palace, the Knights' Hall of the Grand Palace, which house restored originals of crossbows, muskets and other weapons. The historical era has been restored in the premises with the help of wax figures made in the likeness of the people who lived here. Vianden Castle is the pride of Luxembourg, all honored guests of the country traditionally visit it.
Palace of Justice
The Palace of Justice is one of the beautiful buildings of the Renaissance in the city of Luxembourg, which was decided to be built in 1545 as a modest mansion of the king's adviser. Over the years, the building was rebuilt and passed from hand to hand: it was the residence of the rulers of the state and a judicial institution.
The Palace of Justice is located in the central part of the capital of the Grand Duchy. This three-story building with three towers dates back to 1556-1572, it was renovated more than once, in the 19th century its facade was completely redone. Today it was again decided to make a complete reconstruction of the building. The interior of the palace is extremely rich in diverse decorations on the walls, cassette ceilings, wooden floors and elegant tapestries. The Palace of Justice is one of the main attractions of Luxembourg; its visit is included in many excursion programs.
upper town
The Upper Town is the historical center of Luxembourg. The city is located at an altitude of 334 m above sea level, at the confluence of two rivers - Alzet and Petrus. The upper or old town consists of a labyrinth of narrow gothic streets that are impassable by car.
In the very center of the Upper City, next to Place Guillaume, which is named after the ruling ducal dynasty, is the residence of the Grand Duke. The palace with delightful turrets and a bizarre facade is made in the Moorish style. The main city square is decorated with the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which was built in the 17th century by the architect J. du Block. Among the most important sights of the Upper City there are others: the building of the city court, the casemates of Petryuss, which are dug into the limestone rock, the Jesuit College. The graceful Gothic church of St. Michael, which was built in the 15th century, as well as the ancient chapel of St. Quirinus, carved into the rock in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 15th century. In the upper city, it will be interesting to see the ruins of the Roman watchtower, the Gothic Saint-Michel Cathedral, the House of Radio and the National Theatre.
Are you curious to know how well you know the sights of Luxembourg? .
Notre Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg
Notre Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg is located in the south of the small and cozy city of Luxembourg, the capital of the state of the same name. The cathedral was built at the beginning of the 17th century and was used as a church for the Jesuits. Due to the fact that the building was erected at the intersection of two eras, the cathedral has features and details of both strict Gothic style and soft Renaissance architecture.
The interweaving of two historical milestones gave the cathedral an amazing variety of architectural elements, including powerful echors, magnificent sculptures and grandiose crypt-tombs made in the Moorish style.
Today, Notre Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg is a place of prayer, confession and pilgrimage for Roman Catholics. The main object of pilgrimage since the 18th century is the image of the Mother of God - the Comforter of the Sorrowful.
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More attractions in Luxembourg
The first day in any city is very important. If you have a good action plan, you can see a lot of things, and most importantly, set the right mode for a further trip. Nothing to say about situations when you have only one day in the city. This is exactly what I had with Luxembourg - all the readers vying with each other, and I, the fool, obeyed. As a result, I liked the city, and I would gladly spend another day there.
"You will see such portraits in all the businesses of the city," the attendant assured me at the time of registration. However, during my stay in Luxembourg, I did not notice more than one such portrait.
Not quite knowing how to spend a day in the city, I asked my friends who connected their friend, Olga. She then sent me a tip on this excellent route. I'm quoting it almost verbatim as a good way to sum up this entire post to the size of one paragraph:
We start from Constitution Square, where there is a gorgeous view of the main attraction - Adolf Bridge (this is the first duke, if anything). Then we go to Notre Dame, and from it to Corniche Street - this is French "balcony" - throughout the street - a gorgeous view of Luxembourg, considered one of the most beautiful views in Europe. On it we come to the ruins of the castle, from which Luxembourg began and the Bock casemates. This is in the rock of the cave, where the garrisons used to be. Inside go 6 euros. From the casemates we go to the center of the old city, to the palace of the Grand Duke, we walk there in zigzags, and then to the Perscatore foundation. There is a very beautiful building - this is a nursing home. And next to it is a new elevator. We descend on it to the lower city. We go along the river Alzette. We're going for a long time. We pass by the abbey, but on the other side of the river. We go up, and we are at the starting point.
2. So, we start with the Constitution Square (Place de la Constitution). The area can be recognized by the golden statue of a woman erected on a granite obelisk. (The monument is called so - "Golden Aunt", this is a monument to the fallen in world wars.)
3. From the square you have a beautiful view of the Adolfo Bridge. This beautiful bridge over the Petrus River was built at the very beginning of the 20th century. He was named after the first Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Despite its more than a thousand years of history (we will talk about it a little more), Luxembourg acquired the Grand Dukes relatively recently, in 1890. For most of the 19th century, the territory of the duchy, being formally an independent state, was subordinate to the king of the Netherlands. That is, one person concurrently ruled both Holland and Luxembourg, while they remained different states. (Also for a hundred years, England and Scotland shared a king, but not sovereignty. This situation ended after .)
So, in 1890, the king of the Netherlands, Willem III, died, leaving only his daughter from the heirs. Under Dutch law, she became queen, but Luxembourg did not recognize then female monarchs, and Willem's closest relative, Adolf, became the ruler of a tiny territory.
4. The bridge named after him is being repaired.
By the way, the Petrus River, through which this bridge is thrown, looks like this:
I will have some pictures of trains on this bridge. Don't think it's just luck. Each time I saw him from a new angle, I stood for about ten minutes, aiming, waiting for the next train.
13. The Corniche takes us to the place where the Alzet loop creates a high natural cliff above the valley. This place is called Bok. It was here that Count Siegfried built the first castle in the 10th century, calling it Lisilinburg (Little Fortress). From this moment, Luxembourg counts its history. Later, this place was one of the most impregnable fortresses in Europe. At the end of the 18th century, the French army besieged Luxembourg for seven months before taking it. After that, they declared the fortress of Luxembourg the second after Gibraltar. After that, the city began to be called "northern Gibraltar".
14. At the end of the 18th century, the Austrians built just such a bridge that connected the elevated cliff with the rest of the city. Curiously, the bridge provides as many as four options to go from one cliff to another! A wide road runs along its top; under the upper series of arches there is also a passage, it can be seen in the photograph; there is also a special staircase crossing the main arch inside the bridge; and finally, under the bridge there is a narrow underground tunnel connecting both sides!
15. But the most interesting is inside the cliff. After all, it was all pitted with tunnels to create an even more effective defense. In the dungeons of Bok there are casemates available to tourists for six euros. Walking through these artificial caves is very interesting, especially since they are the only thing left of the once mighty fortress.
The fact is that in the 19th century, the French tried to buy Luxembourg from the Dutch crown. Prussia also encroached on the territory, whose authorities were then in the process of reunifying the German Empire. But none of the great powers could allow the most powerful fortress in the north of Europe to go to someone else. In the end, a compromise was reached: Luxembourg would remain neutral, and in order to assure this neutrality, Boca's fortifications had to be destroyed. After the signing of this agreement, the overground buildings were dismantled for 16 years!
16. Well, the underground remained for us, tourists. Here you can still stumble upon the military weapons of bygone times. The coolest thing is that in many places these caves rest against "windows" carved into the cliff.
17. The casemates were dug at many levels, often the tunnels are raised and lowered using spiral staircases.
18. And here is a well with which the garrison could get water from the river below. According to legend, there is a mermaid at its bottom!
19. Through one of the "windows" in the walls you can see the roof of the church of St. John, in Neumünster Abbey.
20. After the casemates we will head to the old "high city". He is at the top of the cliff. There are many shops and cafes here.
21. Here is the palace of the Grand Duke. It is guarded by a guard of honor with machine guns.
22. The flag of Luxembourg is similar to the Dutch one - an echo of the time when the same person ruled both countries.
23. The old building of the Central Bank of Luxembourg.
24. A new building stands next to it - on its facade there is a social advertisement about the new 50 euro banknotes, which were put into circulation in early April.
25. This is behind the bank. The Iron Egg is another work of contemporary art. In general, there are many such things in Luxembourg, there is something to stare at.
26. This beautiful building is the Pescatore Foundation, named after a famous businessman from the first half of the 19th century. After his death, he left a huge amount of money to the city to build a nursing home.
27. His will was carried out, and today this palace belongs to grandparents who proudly walk around its territory, leaning on sticks and walkers.
29. There is also a "lower city". How would you get there?
30. Fortunately, there is a free street elevator.
Let's go down!
31. The lower city is also old. Here, too, stone turrets, walls, and houses, like in fairy tales!
32. We will continue our walk along the banks of the Alzet River, skirting the Bok cliff, from which we have just descended.
33. It's beautiful here. Sometimes there are dams.
34. The banks of the river are covered with greenery.
35. We pass under the high supports of the railway bridge. Or is it another bridge? There seem to be several of these in Luxembourg.
36. Another embankment - along the river you have to go quite a long time.
37. And so, we come out to the place that we used to see from the street-balcony of the Corniche.
38. To the left of us is the abbey, to the right is the Bok cliff. We've seen it all before!
39. At this point, an old fortress bridge is thrown across the river.
40. On it you can go straight to the abbey itself, and climb to the other side of the river valley.
41. View back to the cliffs cut by casemates. Just an hour ago, I was peeking out of these holes, and looking to where I stand now!
42. Here you can climb the Rum Plateau, where a half-ruined fortress also stands. However, now it seems to be restored. I hope this does not jeopardize Luxembourgish neutrality!
43. Railway tracks pass through the towers and fortifications of this fortress.
44. It is from here that trains leave for a beautiful bridge! Here, too, it is worth guarding the red composition.
45. But let's go back across the river. Between Corniche Street and its shore there are several more roads in the middle, from where you can clearly see the valley and the old city in it.
46. This area is called Grund. Oh, the train again!
47. While walking, I constantly noticed how low the planes come in for landing. Luxembourg Airport is located very close to the city.
48. We will continue walking along the Alzet River. Here is the lower city, and there on the cliff - the upper one, from where we started.
49. But now, I returned to the Adolphus bridge again. From below, it looks even more imposing. For some reason, from here he reminded me of a fabulous one. It is hard to believe that such a steep bridge spans such a tiny stream.
There is a staircase next to the Adolf Bridge that you can climb back to the Constitution Square, where we started our walk.
How do you like the tour? After it, I regretted that I had only one day in Luxembourg, because in many of these places I wanted to spend more time, and I had not even looked at the new areas of the city. I will definitely come back here sometime.
Many thanks to Olga for this route. By the way, she leads Instagram, @rhythmofs, in which she talks about Luxembourg, and other places in northern Europe. Subscribe to it if you like old spiky towns! (Well, subscribe to my Instagram at the same time. This is the best way to follow me while traveling).
