Luxembourg City Guide
Luxembourg, known as the Gibraltar of the North, is one of Europe's smallest sovereign states, only 85 km from top to bottom. The cosmopolitan capital is perched high on top of a rocky hill, overlooking the Rivers Pétrusse and Alzette, offering stunning views from the city's terraces and parks both day and night. Luxembourg City was originally a Habsburg fortress and parts of the original walls and fortifications remain. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Luxembourg is a lively city with gourmet restaurants, outdoor bars and cafés and excellent nightlife.
Luxembourg is 5½ hours from London by train.
What to do and see in and around Luxembourg
Place d'Armes
Place d'Armes is the square at the centre of Luxembourg's old town area. The tree-lined square is lined with cafés, and during in the summer there are frequent free concerts taking place in the open-air. Relax and watch the world go by whilst enjoying coffee and cakes.
Luxembourg Old Town
Museums, cobbled streets and historical buildings blend with modern shopping boutiques, and outdoor cafés, giving the area a unique charm. Luxembourg's green parks and gardens spill out from the Old Town, making it an ideal walking city, combining nature with a modern and traditional feel.
Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art
The Museum is housed in a group of Gothic, renaissance and baroque houses in the Marché aux Poissons area (Fish Market). There are over 120 rooms including collections of paintings, artifacts, sculptures from medieval to the present day. The Museum includes work by Turner, Rubens, Rembrandt and Breughel.
Cathedral
The 17th century Notre-Dame Cathedral is south of the Place d'Armes. There is a Baroque gallery carved in 1622 by Daniel Muller. The apse contains "The Comforter of the Afflicted", a wooden icon of Madonna and the Child. The tomb of John the Blind (one of Luxembourg's medieval rulers) is in the crypt.
Casemates de la Petrusse
The casemates are tunnels running for 13 miles under the Luxembourg's fortifications, which were used to house men, horses and armour from 1644 onwards. You can now visit the tunnels from March to October, an audio-visual show displays the history of the casemates.
Palace of the Grand Dukes
The Palace was originally built as the Town Hall in the 16th century, but was adopted by the Luxembourg royal family in the 19th century. You can now take a tour around the rooms and admire the opulent chandeliers, tapestries and wood panelling.
Bock and the Chateau of the Counts of Luxembourg
The Chateau of the Counts of Luxembourg dates back to 936, and is built on a rock known as the Bock. All that remains now is the base of a stone tower and a belfry. However archaeological excavations revealed the extent of the Chateau and there is now a museum on the site displaying its history.
Echternach
Echternach is a small picturesque town 35 km northeast of Luxembourg city. The medieval Abbey dominates the town, it was founded in 936 by St Willibrord, whose coffin is now in the Abbey crypt. There is an annual dancing procession on Whit Sunday to commemorate St Willibrord. There is a museum under the Abbot's Palace.
Vianden
Vianden is a medieval town on the German border, north of Luxembourg. It is famous for its hilltop castle which was restored to its former glory in the 1970s and contains antique weapons, furniture, and drawings. Victor Hugo often visited Vianden, and the house he stayed in is now a Victor Hugo museum, containing a bust of Hugo by Rodin, and Hugo's furniture, documents and drawings.
Petrusse Express
Don't miss a ride on the Petrusse Express miniature train which allows you to discover the valleys and ramparts of the city, offering an exciting insight into the city's spectacular views. The Petrusse Express runs May-October.
CitySightseeing Bus
Another excellent way to see the city is on the hop on hop off City Sightseeing bus. Routes go through the old and the new areas of the city, and are a great way to get to know the city.
Kirchberg
Kirchberg is home to the European and Banking Institutions. The area is divided from Old Luxembourg by the famous Charlotte Bridge (known locally as Red Bridge). The modern buildings and architecture styles make this area a must for architecture fans. Also in the area is Auchan shopping mall.
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