Luxembourg: Fortress History, Castles and the Moselle

Luxembourg’s Old Town and fortifications preserve significant remains of a fortified European city. The Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Underground casemates carved into the rock are located at the Bock promontory.

City History and Architectural Traces

The exhibition The Luxembourg Story traces the history of Luxembourg City from its origins in the 10th century to the present day. The “Future Outlook” section includes a 1:2,500 scale 3D model and a multitouch table on urban planning. The exhibition thus focuses both on historical development and on concrete questions of urban planning.

Vianden Castle was built between the 11th and 14th centuries on the foundations of a Roman castle and a Carolingian refuge. Its construction history therefore extends beyond its medieval building period. The castle has a modern, interactive visitor centre in the entrance area.

Tradition and Photography

The Echternach Dancing Procession has been documented since 1100 and takes place every year on Whit Tuesday. Around 8,000 dancers are divided into 45 groups. In 2010, the procession was granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Its annual date is a clear point of reference if you would like to plan your trip around this tradition.

The Family of Man adds another form of cultural heritage. Curated by Edward Steichen, the photography exhibition is located in Clervaux and was included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme in 2003. The UNESCO connection is different here from that of the Old Town: it concerns the inclusion of the photography exhibition in Memory of the World.

On Foot, by Bike and on the Circular Route

Luxembourg has one of Europe’s densest networks of hiking trails. In addition, there are around 600 kilometres of cycle paths and 700 kilometres of mountain bike trails. These separate figures help you identify the type of activity you prefer: hiking, cycling and mountain biking offer distinct options for planning your trip.

The Grand Tour du Luxembourg is a 450-kilometre circular route linking Luxembourg’s scenic panoramic roads. The route is very well signposted and can be travelled independently. If you would like to include a circular tour in your plans, this offers a clearly defined route rather than a single excursion destination.

The Luxembourg Moselle is considered a flagship region for Luxembourg winegrowing. There are hiking or cycling tours through vineyards, with private wine tastings. The Moselle wine hikes combine outdoor activity with tastings at local wineries and run from Remich via Greiveldange to Ahn. They can be done independently, provided the tasting is booked.

Museums and Regional Specialities

The National Museum of Natural History presents a permanent exhibition as well as regularly changing special and themed exhibitions about plants, animals and the universe. You can reach the museum from the Plateau St. Esprit by lift; on foot, cobbled paths near the Corniche lead there.

Regional Luxembourgian food and drink includes still and sparkling wines from the Moselle, cheese from the Müllerthal and cider. Traditional dishes and specialities include Gromperekichelcher, Kachkéis, Rieslingspaschtéit, Bamkuch, Boxemännchen and Bretzel.

Discover more destinations: Luxembourg, Grevenmacher, Diekirch, San Marino, Serbia, Faroe Islands, Albania, Gibraltar.

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