Discover Luxembourg: Old Town, fortress and museums

Luxembourg can be planned for a stay from two specific perspectives: museums put the city’s and fortress’s history into context, while historic paths lead through old districts and along fortifications. The Old Town lies at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers on a very steep rocky promontory, which partly served as a natural fortification. The riverside setting, rock and fortress together shape the image of the historic city. When looking for a hotel in Luxembourg, these themes can provide a framework: you can decide whether exhibitions, fortress history or routes through the urban fabric will be the focus of your trip planning.

Old Town, green spaces and fortress walls

The Chemin de la Corniche runs along the fortress walls built by the Spanish and French in the 17th century, from the Bock promontory to the lower part of the Citadelle du Saint-Esprit, the Rondelles. The path offers views of the Alzette Valley, the lower town of Grund and the Plateau du Rham. The Pétrusse Valley offers a different view of the landscape: a park lies in the green valley between Luxembourg City centre and the Gare station district. At least a quarter of Luxembourg City’s 5,173-hectare area consists of green spaces.

City and fortress history in the museums

The Casemates du Bock could accommodate around 50 cannons and 1,200 soldiers. They were expanded by the Austrians from the mid-18th century onwards. The permanent exhibition “History of Luxembourg and of the fortress” presents the fortress’s history in nine casemates—from the capture of the city by the Burgundians in 1443 to the construction of the Adolphe Bridge in 1903.

At the Lëtzebuerg City Museum, the UNESCO Visitor Centre provides an introduction to exploring the urban cultural heritage classified by UNESCO. The permanent exhibition “The Luxembourg Story” tells the eventful history of Luxembourg City, from its origins in the 10th century to the present day. It covers a total of 2,200 m² and is arranged chronologically into four major periods and 17 themes. The distinction is clear when choosing based on your historical interests: “The Luxembourg Story” covers the city’s history from its origins to the present day, while “History of Luxembourg and of the fortress” focuses on the fortress and the period from 1443 to 1903.

Historic districts and routes

The Wenzel Circuit runs through the city’s oldest districts along the third fortress wall, built in the 14th century under Duke Wenceslas II. Its route leads from the Bock promontory along the Chemin de la Corniche panoramic path to Grund and on to the Plateau du Rham. The Corniche runs along the fortress walls and offers views; the Wenzel Circuit also passes through the city’s oldest districts. The path conditions are also important when choosing a route: the Wenzel Circuit is steep, includes stairs and climbs, and is partly inaccessible to strollers and wheelchairs. Bear this restriction in mind when including the route in your trip planning.

Discover more destinations: Niederanven, Weiler-la-Tour, Itzig, Bertrange, Hesperange, Strassen, Walferdange, Senningerberg

Go to the main travel overview: Luxembourg.