Despite the epithet “great” in its name, the Duchy of Luxembourg belongs to the list of the smallest states in the Old World. Its area barely exceeds 2500 sq. km, and therefore you do not have to spend a lot of time visiting what you can see in Luxembourg. All the capital's attractions are located within a few minutes of walking, and you can get to the national parks and admire the delightful landscapes in a couple of hours.
Luxembourgers speak their own language, but those who speak German and French are easily understood. The best time to travel to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is the second half of spring and early autumn.
TOP 15 sights of Luxembourg
Palace of the Grand Dukes
Like any self-respecting monarch, the Duke of Luxembourg, Henri, who succeeded his father in 2000, has his own palace. He inherited Henri.
The building, built in 1572, became the residence of the ruling family only in the middle of the last century. Before that, the palace was the town hall, the residence of foreign governors, and during the German occupation of Luxembourg during the Second World War, even a tavern.
Useful information:
- The exact address of the palace is 17, Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes, Luxembourg.
- Visitors have access to the palace only in the second half of the summer. For exact dates and hours of visits, contact the Duchy's tourist information office.
- The best photos of the palace can be taken from the coffee located in front of the mansion.
Once in Luxembourg on the eve of Catholic Christmas, you can look at the Duke Henri in person. On Christmas Eve, he addresses his subjects from the Yellow Room of his palace.
Bock casemates
In the depths of the Bock cliff in the capital of the duchy in the 17th century, casemates appeared, stretching for more than 20 km under the fortress that existed at that time. A whole system of underground passages, strongpoints, windows and narrow manholes once served for defensive purposes, and today it is a great attraction for male tourists. Women go to inspect the underground passages with less enthusiasm, but still remain impressed by what they see.
The price of an adult ticket is 4 euros, a child ticket is 2 euros.
Adolphe bridge
Power and grace merged in this beautiful structure of stone, which has adorned the capital of Luxembourg since 1903. The bridge is named after the duke who ruled the country at the beginning of the 20th century and laid the first stone in its
construction:
- The Adolf Bridge connects the banks of the Petrus River and the Upper and Lower Towns.
- Its length is 153 meters, and at the time of construction it was the absolute world record holder among stone arched bridges.
- The height of the bridge is 42 meters and it offers a magnificent view of the river valley.
The prototype of the bridge was its "colleague" from Philadelphia, and the architect was a Frenchman. Is it any wonder why the Adolf Bridge turned out to be so graceful and masculine at the same time?
Golden Lady
Immediately after the end of the First World War, a stele appeared in the capital of Luxembourg, which became a monument in honor of the heroes who died on the battlefield. The sculpture of the Golden Lady, mounted on a 20-meter granite pedestal, is visible from many points of the city. She holds a wreath over her head, and at her feet a soldier mourns the death of a comrade.
The fascist invaders dismantled the monument, and the Golden Lady was accidentally discovered under the stands of the stadium several decades after the end of the Second World War. The sculpture took its place again and became the personification of all the recent wars in which the Luxembourgers participated.
Notre Dame de Luxembourg
Notre Dame Cathedral was built in the first third of the 17th century by the Jesuit order. It has all the characteristic features of the late Gothic, slightly enlivened by the presence of Renaissance elements. Check out the elaborate Moorish-style crypts and choirs. The cathedral houses the tomb of the royal family and the sarcophagus of John the Blind, who ruled Luxembourg in the first half of the 14th century.
Important days in the life of the cathedral and its parishioners come every year at the end of the third, fourth and fifth weeks after Easter. At this time, the patroness of the duchy, the Holy Virgin Comforter, is worshiped.
Beaufort Castle
A powerful fortress in the east of the country appeared in the 11th century. In the best traditions of defensive construction, its walls were surrounded by a moat with water, and then a watchtower was erected.
The modern look of Beaufort Castle is far from ideal, but the picturesque ruins are visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists who come to Luxembourg. What to see in the ancient fortress? Climb the Main Tower and admire the surrounding views, look into the torture chamber with an eerie arsenal of tools and gadgets, appreciate the interiors of the palace, built much later in the Renaissance.
The main souvenir from the Beaufort fortress is a bottle of black currant liqueur, the recipe of which has been strictly preserved for many centuries.
Ticket price - 10 euros for viewing the entire complex. Open from Easter until the end of October every day, except Mon. and Tue
Wine trail
The Moselle Valley is where grapes grow, from which great European wines are produced. In the duchy, there is a route through the wineries where the world famous Rieslings are born.
The trail starts in the village of Schengen and goes through the most famous vineyards in the country all the way to Wasserbilich. Its length is about 40 km, and therefore it is worth taking at least a couple of days for an excursion.
You can travel by bike or a rented car, and spend the night in hotels in old castles that are open along the Wine Trail.
Clairvaux
The small Luxembourgish commune is home to less than 2,000 people, but its fame has long stepped over the borders of the country. A photo exhibition "The Family of a Man", known for its scale, has been opened in the town. This is the largest personal exhibition of photographs in the world. And Clairvaux is also famous for the castle of the same name, within the walls of which there is an exposition of all two dozen castles of the duchy, made on a miniature scale.
The city is located in the north of the country on the border with Germany and Belgium.
Vianden
The architectural dominant of the city of Vianden, located in the northern part of the duchy, is a medieval castle on a hill. Its construction began in the 11th century, and some parts of the structure appeared three centuries later. Another local celebrity is the chairlift leading to the castle entrance. He is the only one in the entire duchy. Works from Easter to mid-autumn. The cost of lifting is about 5 euros.
In Vianden, the house-museum of Victor Hugo and the 13th century church built by the monks of the Order of the Trinity are also noteworthy. The Indian Forest Vianden amusement park is located not far from the town. Its main feature is the rope system of "walks" along the tree crowns. The ticket price for adults is 18 euros.
Three acorns
Part of the defensive fortifications of the capital of Luxembourg, presumably preserved from the 11th century and reconstructed at the end of the 20th century, is located in a park area in the southeast of the city. The fortress bears the official name Tungen in honor of its first commandant, but from the Luxembourgers themselves you will hear the name "Three acorns".
In the fortress, museum expositions are open and historical exhibitions are held.
Opening hours: from 10.00 to 18.00 daily, except Mon. The ticket price is 5 euros. To get there: buses NN1, 13 and 16, stop "Philharmonic".
Mudam
The Museum of Contemporary Art on the territory of "Three Acorns" was opened in 2006. The collection is an extensive collection of various art objects - from sculpture and modern installations to photographic works of famous masters of world renown. The most valuable and popular exhibits are works by Andy Warhol, Thomas Strut and Richard Long.
The ticket price is 7 euros.
Neumünster Abbey
Neumünster Abbey was built in the middle of the 16th century by monks and since then has served not only religious but also very practical purposes. For a long time, the building was used as a prison for political prisoners.
After reconstruction in 2004, the abbey functions as a cultural center, hosting exhibitions, musical evenings, conferences and concerts.
Esternach and Little Switzerland
In the east of Luxembourg, there is something to see for fans of beautiful natural landscapes. The Little Switzerland region is full of similarities with its namesake: the same rocky mountains, green valleys, dense forests and pristine mountain rivers.
There are no large cities on the territory of the region, but one of the available ones is a real pearl of old Europe.
Esternach appeared on maps a thousand years ago and is considered today the oldest in the duchy. Its sights are also of a very venerable age. For example, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul is one of the oldest in Europe, and the Basilica of St. Villibor on the territory of the abbey of the same name, dates back to the XII century. The Bible was produced here, each copy of which was decorated with precious stones.
History museum
The restored mansions of the 17th and 19th centuries house the exposition of the Museum of the History of the Duchy. The collection contains evidence of the development of the city and the country, and the technological level of the exposition is the pride of its organizers. For example, a panoramic glass elevator that allows you to view the historic center of Luxembourg and a multimedia system that gives access to thousands of audio and video documents.
Grund
The quarter in the center of the capital of the duchy is replete with nightclubs, cafes and restaurants with cuisine of all known types - from Japanese to Swedish. Gourmets will find a Michelin-starred restaurant here, while exotic lovers will find authentic Thai fried noodles with scallops.
