Travel itinerary of attractions online in luxembourg. The main attractions of Luxembourg. Old quarters and fortifications of the city of Luxembourg
A country that has existed since the first millennium of our era cannot but have a rich historical and cultural heritage. Luxembourg, and in particular its capital of the same name, sacredly preserves the monuments of its centuries-old existence. Of particular delight are castles and bridges built in the Gothic style, as well as parks that amaze with the severity of lines and clarity of organization.
The capital of the state occupies only 52 kilometers squared. It seems that everything is concentrated here history of Luxembourg. Most of the memorial sites are located on its territory. concentrated at a small distance from each other, so they are easy to inspect. A small country could not fit many such places, but they are all protected and guarded by the administration. All excursions take place in a pleasant atmosphere, as the small principality is surrounded by greenery and is surrounded not only by natural, but also by man-made forests and parks.
Unique natural attractions Luxembourg are collected in the area of "Little Switzerland". There are several small towns and the medium-sized Esternach, which has a history of more than a thousand years and is the oldest. The attraction of this city is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Basilica of Vellibror. In a small distance from the city there is a unique natural monument - the Wolf's mouth canyon.
In the category "Attractions of Luxembourg" the main place is occupied by the Grand Palace, the patrimony of the dukes. It is characterized by clear lines with some stucco elements and hidden columns.
During the Second World War, when the country's government, which disagreed with the fascist regime, left its borders, a tavern was located within the walls of the ducal palace. This caused damage to the interior decoration of the chambers, furniture and interior were damaged. Then the palace was restored and is currently used for various international events. Outside, the building is surrounded by green spaces and flowering flower beds.
While seeing the sights of Luxembourg, one cannot pass by the Adolf Bridge, which is the only stone structure of its kind in Europe. It has been operating for more than a hundred years and connects the two parts of the capital.
One of the main attractions is the Notre Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg, which dates back to the seventeenth century. It was built in the style of late Gothic and early Renaissance. The cathedral is the tomb of the Dukes of Luxembourg.
Tourists are offered to inspect the Petrus casemates, which hid thirty-five thousand people from the Nazis within their walls. The Museum of Art is also not left without attention.
Things to Do in Luxembourg
Can't name entertainment in Luxembourg varied and numerous. At night, there is nothing much to do in the country, as reserved Luxembourgers are not interested in noisy fun. The favorite place of the population are theaters: Bolshoy and Capuchin. People come here to feel the cultural traditions of the country.
To see the torchlight procession and folk celebrations, you must visit Luxembourg 23 June is the birthday of the Grand Duke. On Easter, handicraft fairs are held. The country also hosts music and dance festivals, a beer festival and much more.
In the town of Veanden, there is the Victor Hugo House Museum, which has preserved the interior and things of its famous inhabitant. Category " Interesting places in Luxembourg» also includes numerous castles of the Middle Ages. It is possible to visit numerous small villages and their surrounding vineyards, which are the source of the wine-growing business.
Excursions in Luxembourg
Begin Luxembourg tours from Constitution Square, which is located in the center of the capital. Next is a tour of the Petrus casemates, and then the sights of the old historical part of the city. In the capital, you must see the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady and the Museum. The excursion program also includes a trip to the area of "Little Switzerland". Tours of Luxembourg in the metropolitan area take place in one day. A week will be enough to see all the sights.
Monuments of Luxembourg
remembering monuments of Luxembourg, not to mention the Golden Lady. This monument is erected in memory of the victims of the First World War. Its author is Nicolas Sito. The height of the monument with a pedestal is twenty-one meters. At the moment it is considered a memorial to the victims of three wars.
In the city of Welz, on the central square, there is a monument to the goddess of victory. There is also a sculpture park by Michel Rodange, which was a product of his imagination, printed on paper. There are a lot of monuments in Welz that keep the memory of the great people of Luxembourg.
Museums in Luxembourg
In the category " Museums in Luxembourg» The National Museum is in the first place. It contains bit by bit everything that indicates the independence of the country's culture. The Museum of Brewing Art is located in Welz. Here you can not only get acquainted with the ancient history of this craft, but also take part in the process of making a foamy drink. The last stage of the visit to the museum is beer tasting.
The Bank Museum of Luxembourg tells the history of money and banking in the country. The main museums of Luxembourg are located in the capital. Their inspection will not take much time, but it will help to learn more about the smallest European country.
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 website.
- 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
Right from the station, we will continue our walk along Liberte Avenue, but in order 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 a picturesque and safe duchy with a temperate climate. Comfortable hotels will open their doors to guests from anywhere in the world, and cafes and restaurants will delight you with delicious dishes. The sights of Luxembourg will not disappoint tourists either.
Historical sights of Luxembourg
Despite the abundance of ancient palaces and churches, the Bock casemates should become a must-see attraction in Luxembourg. They settled down under the fortress at 23 km. Mysterious passages with dark chambers, barely penetrating rays of the sun, illuminating the "exits" to the surface will attract the attention of adventurers. During military periods, casemates served as protection against enemy air attacks and saved more than one hundred lives. It will not be difficult to find casemates, and there will be enough adventures in full.
The castle turned into ruins, but a romantic atmosphere reigns there even today. You can walk not only along the overgrown paths, but also by the lake. And there is also the opportunity to look inside the Renaissance castle and immerse yourself in the atmosphere even more. But not only nature attracts the attention of the castle. There used to be a prison there, so tourists are looking forward to a tour of the torture chambers, where tools and devices are on display. In the evening, the walls are beautifully illuminated by lanterns.
The building occupies the heart of the country, and two rivers merge nearby - Atert and Alzet. From the very foundation, the castle and its territories belonged to the landowners, until King William II turned it into the official residence of the governors. Restoration work was carried out after the ruin of the castle by the Germans. The Grand Duke to this day goes from here to work in the city. It is impossible to visit this attraction of Luxembourg due to the increased level of security. The surrounding areas are also closed.
The sights of Luxembourg are very ancient. Vianden Castle is no exception. It was destroyed more than once, built, destroyed again, and again work was carried out to revive it. Its walls are impregnable, getting inside is quite problematic, because it is surrounded by mountains and a river. However, the hall with exhibits of weapons is worth it to still get inside. All items have been so carefully restored that they cannot be distinguished from the original.
Today, the building houses administrative offices. The castle consists of several parts, which together represent the town hall. Once it was destroyed by the French, piles of stones lay for a long time until a new castle was erected by the chief of police. The administration of the commune, after buying the territory, also decided to carry out restoration, and now tourists can admire the modern building on Independence Square. At the entrance is a statue of Nicolas Franz.
The sights of Luxembourg are very picturesque. This hidden town began to develop actively after the advice of the master Ledur to build a resort here. Tourists reached out one by one, among whom was Victor Hugo. He explored the surroundings and at the same time was treated with mineral waters against rheumatism. Healing springs and climate are the main reasons for the huge flow of visitors. If you walk a couple of kilometers, you can admire the sights in the surroundings.
Wealthy kings donated more than once for the construction and development of the building. An interesting case, included in the list of intangible heritage of UNESCO, is connected with the abbey. Many believers were drawn to the relics of the founder. The peculiarity of the procession is that it is dancing. The authorities can't do anything about it, despite the fact that it's all pagan. Patients with paralysis did not have smooth movements, so their movements eventually became part of the process.
What to see in Luxembourg - the biggest castle! You can get to it by car, admiring the foothills along the way. Rising above the river Sauer, the castle has the shape of a triangle. Over the centuries, the structure was expanded and rebuilt until it reached its current size. The owners changed one after another, but this did not prevent the castle from dilapidating. Soon it began to be restored thanks to the help of the state, and it became the national treasure of the country.
The place has a modern appearance and houses a large number of banks, shops, breweries and other buildings. Walking around the neighborhood, you can notice the contrast between skyscrapers and old quarters, walls of fortresses. Arm Square is a central place where you can taste delicious food in one of the cafes. The main attraction is the Church of St. John and the former New Monastery, which was previously both a barracks and a prison.
10. Upper City
The Gothic streets of the historical part of the city will amaze with the atmosphere and inspire you for long walks. The old residence of the duke is a mansion with an unusual Moorish-style facade. Decoration of the square - Notre Dame Cathedral. Gothic lovers should definitely visit the Church of St. Michael. If walking around the city quickly gets bored, you can find a shop and admire the beautiful views. There is an opportunity to admire the Lower Town from the observation deck in order to lay the route of a new walk.
Luxembourg is the smallest European state with half a million inhabitants, which is less than in many European cities, not to mention countries.
Due to the compactness of Luxembourg, which occupies a little more than 2.5 thousand km 2, all attractions are located close to each other. The capital is called the same as the country, which often causes confusion, but the area of the city, unlike the entire state, is only 52 km 2. Luxembourg is considered the safest city in Europe, ahead of Bern, Helsinki and Zurich in this indicator.
Of course, due to the small area of the state - there are not so many sights here, but there is also the other side of the coin - they are all maintained in perfect condition. In addition, the entire state is replete with green spaces, parks and recreation areas, so that even without planning any specific cultural and educational program, you can have a good and calm time and relax here.
For example, in the eastern part of Luxembourg there is a natural area, called by the common people "Little Switzerland", due to its geographical similarity with the real, "full-sized" Switzerland, dominated by rocky terrain, dense forests and many small streams. Little Switzerland occupies only about 7% of the territory of Luxembourg and there is not a single large city here - only small Beaufort, Berdorf and Konsdorf, and one medium-sized Esternach, which is also the oldest city in the country - it is over a thousand years old. Here is one of the oldest churches in Europe - the Church of St. Peter and Paul, as well as the beautiful ancient Basilica of St. Willibror. Not far from the city is the Wolf's Mouth Canyon - the most famous natural attraction of "Little Switzerland".
The main attraction of Luxembourg is the Grand Ducal Palace, built in the style of the Spanish Revival and originally a town hall - only in 1890 the ruler of the country and his family settled here. During the Second World War, the palace was turned into a tavern, which led to the damage of antique furniture and valuable works of art. Today, the most important official ceremonies and political conferences are held in the palace with the direct participation of the head of state. In addition to the ducal one, many more castles and palaces of amazing beauty are scattered across the country.
The symbol of the capital and the entire state is the Golden Lady - a monument to the victims of the First World War, which over time gradually turned into a monument to the victims of three wars - both World Wars and the Korean. A 21-meter statue of a golden woman on a pedestal, created by the famous sculptor of the early 20th century - Nicolas Sito - holds a crown over two male figures at her feet - a dead soldier and his grieving comrade.
Another symbol of Luxembourg is the Adolf Bridge, named after the duke who ruled Luxembourg in the early years of the 20th century and laid the first stone of this bridge in 1900 with his own hands. Upon completion of construction, in 1903, the 153-meter Adolf Bridge became practically the only stone bridge in Europe. The construction still connects the Lower and Upper Towns - the two main regions of Luxembourg.
In the southern part of the capital is the famous Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg of the XVII century, which is a mixture of late Gothic and Renaissance. In the southern part of the temple, the image of Our Lady of Comfort of the Sorrows is kept, which is the object of an annual pilgrimage on the fifth Sunday after Easter. There are also many interesting sculptures here, including two bronze lions guarding the entrance to the tomb of the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg. In addition to this crypt in the cathedral, there is also the tomb of the King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg John the Blind.
On the main square of the capital is the entrance to the casemates of Petrus, which hid more than 35 thousand people from the Nazis during the Second World War. Almost the entire system of underground passages with windows, corridors and stairs, dug here by the Spaniards in 1644 and expanded by the Austrians in the middle of the 18th century, has survived to our time. Previously, the ducal palace towered over the casemates of Petrus, but time razed it to the ground.
Another city of Luxembourg deserves a separate visit - Welz, which, like the capital, is divided into upper and lower parts. In the center of the city, on Constitution Square, there is a statue of the goddess of victory, and the city itself is literally lined with monuments to all kinds of cultural figures and enlighteners of the past. The inhabitants of the city deeply revere their predecessor, the satirist poet Michel Rodange, who created images of forest dwellers in the face of his contemporaries. Today, these same images, along with their author, are in the sculpture park of Michel Rodange. In addition to this park, the city has many green walking areas, including the forested area of the nature reserve in the northern part of the city, part of which lies on the territory of Germany.
In addition, there are many interesting museums in Welz, the most visited of which is the Museum of Brewing and Leathercraft, or the Tannery Museum, next to the famous Simone brewery, which is still functioning and is the main supplier of beer to the ducal castle. The museum is located in the former stable of the castle - here you can get acquainted with the history of the brewery, see how beer is brewed and directly participate in this process by taking a special "young brewer's course", tasting different types of beer and finding out which types of yeast and hops are used in its brewing . The tasting takes place in a specially equipped pub at the museum, the main decoration of which is a wooden sculpture of the legendary Gambrinus, sitting on a beer barrel with a mug of foamy drink in his hand. The statue was created back in the 18th century, which did not affect its functionality in any way - Gambrinus can still move his arms and legs, despite the past centuries.
