If you are thinking of traveling to Luxembourg, Luxembourg, you are in the right place. The City of Luxembourg, or the city referred to as Luxembourg, is the capital of the country of the same name, Luxembourg. To the north of the city is the Alzette River, to the south the Pétrusse River, and in the middle is the Luxembourg Castle, built by the Franks in the Middle Ages. This is exactly why this small city is like a fairyland for tourists.
Thanks to its central location, it is like a frequent destination for tourists. It is 188 km from Brussels, 289 km from Paris and 190 km from Cologne. However, this central location has also caused the dominance to change hands many times in the past. The historical neighborhoods and fortification systems of the city, which was built on the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers surrounded by walls in the 10th century, and the historical values of the city, were protected by the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
Luxembourg is considered one of the richest cities in the world; therefore, it has become a banking center over the years. The three official institutions of the European Union, the European Court, the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank are located in Luxembourg.
Where Is Luxembourg?
Let us share with you some of the things you need to know when traveling to Luxembourg. Luxembourg is the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is located in the south of the country. Luxembourg is a Western European city. The country where the city is located and bears the same name is bordered by Belgium in the west and north, the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland in the east, and the Lorraine region of France in the south.
When To Go To Luxembourg?
Since Luxembourg is located in Western Europe, oceanic climate features are observed. For this reason, it is rainy in every season. Humidity is high and annual temperature difference is small. You can visit Luxembourg in the summer when the precipitation is relatively less, although there is precipitation even in the driest months.
In Luxembourg, the National Day of 23 June is celebrated in a very colorful way. Having a summer season will also be an advantage. If you coincide your travel plan with this date, you can witness a great fun.
Best Places To Visit In Luxembourg
Luxembourg reflects one of the most organized and well-kept cities in the world. The city is divided into two parts, high and low. The section called Ville Haute covers the old town and Ville Basse covers the riverbank. You can start exploring the city from the old town. Many parks, gardens and restaurants will be waiting for you during the trip.
Adolphe Bridge
The Adolphe Bridge, which was built between 1900 and 1903 in order to provide safe passage over the Petrus River in Luxembourg and has an arched structure, connects the train station and the city center. It is a crossing bridge between Boulevard Royal in Ville Haute and Avenue de la Liberté in Gare.
The bridge, which is 153 meters long and 17.2 meters wide, has a total of four lanes for vehicles and buses. It also has two walking paths for pedestrians.
The Adolphe Bridge, which has become an unofficial national symbol, is believed to represent Luxembourg’s independence. The bridge has been attracting the attention of tourists for years, both for this reason and because it has a beautiful view and view.
Built between 1900 and 1903 by Frenchman Paul Sejourne and Luxembourgian Albert Rodange, the bridge’s design is so beautiful that it was reapplied on the Walnut Lane Bridge in Philadelphia, USA.
This beautiful tourist bridge takes its name from the Grand Duke Adolphe, who ruled Luxembourg from 1890-1905. Although the construction year of the bridge has exceeded 100 years, it is still called “New Bridge” by the local people because it is the last bridge to be used in the city.
Bock Casemates
Bock Casemates are one of Luxembourg’s most visited tourist destinations. There are many underground tunnels and caves in the structure, which can also be called the Bock Fortification in Turkish.
The oldest history of this place actually dates back to 963. Count Siegfried, who thinks that the hill, which is a rocky area, is a good defense point, builds his castle here. Around it, the city of what is now Luxembourg begins to develop.
The tunnels of the building, which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were built for the first time in 1644 during the Spanish rule. The 23-kilometer-long tunnels were expanded 40 years later by the French military engineer and castle architect Vauban, and by the Austrians in the 18th century. These underground and very secure passages are built on different floors.
After the castle was destroyed in 1867, 17 kilometers of it was preserved. These sections were opened to the public in 1933. In 1994, UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List.
After visiting the galleries and tunnels under the hill, which accelerated the establishment of the city with the security it provides, you can go to the top and watch the unique view of the Petrus Valley.
Grand Duke Palace
The Grand Duke Palace (Palais grand-ducal), which was built as the town hall between 1572 and 1795, began to be used by the Luxembourg Government after 1817. Prince Henry was the first to use the palace in this sense.
Grand Duke III. Prior to the visit of William and his wife, Grand Duchess Emma, the palace underwent a major renovation in 1883. During the reign of Grand Duke Adolphe, new areas were added to the structure. Family rooms and guest rooms were added during this period by Belgian Architect Gedeon Bordiau and Luxembourgish Architect Charles Arendt.
The building where the Grand Duke and Duchess resided was occupied by the Nazis in World War II and converted into a tavern. And unfortunately, the furniture, art collection and jewelery of the palace were damaged during this period. The swastika flag was hoisted on the door of the palace. After the return of Grand Duchess Charlotte from exile in 1945, the palace became the Grand Duke’s Palace again.
During the Charlotte period, the decoration of the palace was redone in the 1960s. It was completely renovated between 1991-1996. After that, the decoration of the palace started to be changed periodically in order to catch up to date, modern tastes and comfort.
Apart from being a residence and conducting state affairs, the palace, where official invitations are held, can be visited with guided tours at certain times of the year.
Bank Museum
The Bank Museum, which was opened in 1995 within the General Directorate of the State and Savings Bank and underwent an important renovation in 2015, provides you with detailed information about the country’s 140-year banking tradition.
Originally named Musée de la Banque and occupying an area of 650 square meters, the museum includes sections such as money, investment, architecture, library, chamber of commerce and electronic banking. Those who wonder about the development of banking are explained in detail on computers that can be used with interactive areas and touch screens.
Grand Duke Jean Museum Of Modern Art
Located in the Clausen district of the city, the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Arts is known as “Mudam” for short. The architectural design of the museum, which draws attention with its architecture before its collection, bears the signature of Ming Pei, who also designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris.
The opening of the museum, of which the preparatory works were started as of 1989, found the date of 1 July 2006. Its official opening was made by the Grand Duke Jean, who also gave the museum its name. More than $100 million was spent to build the museum. However, the visit of 115 thousand people in the year it was opened gave the right to these expenses. This figure is considered a record among Luxembourg museums.
The museum focused on contemporary art, as Luxembourg does not have a collection that can be collected for museum exhibitions and the museum’s budget is not sufficient to create a modernist collection. In this way, the permanent collection of the museum includes the works of nearly 100 artists such as Andy Warhol, Bruce Nauman, Julian Schnabel, Thomas Struth and Daniel Buren.
The museum collection, which can be seen on three different floors, contains the works of both artists and designers. These names are: Alvar Aalto, Marina Abramović, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Pierre Bismuth, Sophie Calle, Hussein Chalayan, Claude Closky, James Coleman, Tony Cragg, Richard Deacon, Mark Dean, Stan Douglas, Jan Fabre, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Roland Fischer, Günther Förg, Gilbert & George, Nan Goldin, Andreas Gursky, Thomas Hirschhorn, Fabrice Hybert, William Kentridge, Mark Lewis, Richard Long, Michel Majerus.
Luxembourg Notre-Dame Cathedral
The gothic-style Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame), which was enlarged in the first half of the 20th century and gained its present appearance, was built between 1613 and 1621 by clergy from Belgium. It is the largest religious building in the country with its 3 towers and the Renaissance style architectural details added to its design. The most striking point of the cathedral, where the tombs of historical figures who had a say in the administration, are located, is the “Political Prisoners” monument made by the sculptor Lucien Wercollier.
Originally built between 163 and 1621, the cathedral was structurally expanded at the turn of the 20th century between 1935 and 1938. These works were carried out under the direction of Luxembourg architect Hubert Schumacher.
There are 3 towers in the cathedral. The tower in the western part was built during the Jesuit period and there are bells in this tower. The eastern and central towers are located on the transept. These two towers were added to the cathedral during the expansion period between 1935 and 1938. The roof of the cathedral is made of steel frame.
Another reason why the cathedral is important is the tombs in it. The tombs of the Grand Dukes are located here: John (1296–1346), Marie-Adélaïde (1894–1924), Marie Anne (1861–1942), Charlotte (1896–1985), Joséphine Charlotte (1927–2005).
National Museum Of History And Art
The National Museum of History and Art of Luxembourg (Musée national d’histoire et d’art) was established in 1854 by the Historic Monuments Preservation Authority of the Duchy of Luxembourg. It is also called MNHA for short. The museum is located on Fishmarket Street in the Villa Haute area.
As its name suggests, it has a structure that sheds light on the history of Luxembourg with all its details. Telling the history of Luxembourg, which became independent in 1839 in accordance with the 1st London Treaty, became an important issue for the people of Luxembourg.
In 1845, historians and archaeologists established the Archaeological Institution of the Duchy of Luxembourg (Société pour la recherche et la conservation des monuments historiques dans le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg), more commonly known as the Archaeological Institution. This institution took on the task of preserving historical assets in Luxembourg. In 1868, it was also praised by the Crown for protecting archaeological assets.
The five-floor museum displays items from the Roman and Medieval period, as well as sculptures and paintings created by Luxembourgian artists between the 18th and 20th centuries. You can also see contemporary art works by local and foreign artists.
Vianden Castle
Vianden Castle is a huge castle seen at the top of the medieval town of Vianden, in the north of Luxembourg, between the German border and Luxembourg, about 1 hour away from the city.
The structure, one of the largest castles in the West Rhine region, was built between the 11th and 14th centuries. It was built between centuries. Originally Romanesque in style, areas with Gothic features were added to the castle over time. The castle, which is located on a rocky area 310 meters above the town, has a total length of 90 meters with its external structures. The beautiful part, apart from touring the castle, is the beautiful medieval streets of the town, which you pass through on your way to the castle.
Tapestries, armor and ornate furniture from the 11th century are worth seeing in the small museum inside the castle. The famous French writer Victor Hugo stayed in exile here for a while. And the house in the region where he lived while he was in exile is now the “Victor Hugo House”. It has been used as a museum since 1935. The personal documents, original works and furniture of the famous author are exhibited in this museum. In addition, a bust of Rodin is among the exhibits.
Vianden Castle, where guided tours are also made, can be visited every day throughout the year. Various festivals are also held here in order to keep the history alive.
Transportation In Luxembourg
When you travel to Luxembourg, you should also know how to get there. Since Luxembourg is quite small, you can easily explore the entire city on foot. There are still train and bus options available. Luxembourg railways (Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois) go to many regions, especially in the south; only one line goes to the north. For this reason, you can take advantage of buses when traveling to the northern region.
Since buses are very sparse on Saturday and Sunday, it is useful to pay attention to bus times when planning your weekend.
You can also use your private or rental car in Luxembourg, but it is very difficult to find a parking space in the city, especially on weekends. You may have to leave your sightseeing trip unfinished, as many car parks close early on the weekend.
As in many small European cities, cycling is quite comfortable in Luxembourg. You can enjoy the city all day long with your bike that you can easily rent.
The city center is 6 km from the airport and can be reached in 30 minutes by taxi or bus. The city center, Hamilus Square and the train station can be reached by buses numbered 9 and 16.
Luxembourg Cuisine
Your trip to Luxembourg continues, if you can’t decide what to eat, then it’s time to talk about what to eat in Luxembourg. Since Luxembourg is located between the three big European cities, its cuisine was also influenced by these countries. In particular, you can observe the French influence in Luxembourg dishes. In Luxembourg, you can encounter different presentations of smoked meat and sausages, and taste local fish such as trout, pike and crayfish. The main ingredients of the city’s cuisine are beans, potatoes, ham, cabbage, onions and other root crops.
With the influence of German culture, dishes made from pork and potatoes served with it are a couple that you can come across in almost every restaurant. Smoked pork called “Judd mat gaardebounen” is served with boiled green beans and is one of the specialties of Luxembourg. You should also try the snack called “Gromperekichelchen”, which is a potato biscuit in Turkish.
In recent years, Portuguese and Italian cuisine has also been very popular in Luxembourg due to immigration. That’s why you can discover world cuisine in Luxembourg.
In Luxembourg, it is possible to enjoy a variety of chocolates and wines. You should not go back without tasting wines such as Pinot Gris and Gewürtztraminer. You can taste not only wine but also the local beer called “Diekirch”. Diekirch, whose name comes from the town of the same name, is also preferred by Luxembourgers alongside their meals.
After the meal, they consume a drink made from plums, which they call “eau-de-vie”, that is, “water of life”. This drink, which you can find with the names “Mirabelle” or “Quetsch”, is quite strong, so you can choose to consume it by mixing it into your coffee.
Popular restaurants
Alfa Brasserie
Restaurant Centser Roud Hous
Restaurant Le Bistrot By Parc Bleair
Tip: Tips are usually included in Luxembourg. However, a 10% tip should be left in large and luxury restaurants.
Shopping In Luxembourg
Wouldn’t you like to beautify your Luxembourg trip with shopping? In Luxembourg you can find the stores of Europe’s most popular and luxury brands. The long streets of the city, which are closed to traffic, make shopping much more enjoyable. “Esch-sur-Alzette Street” is the longest shopping street in the city and home to the most shops. If you want to see smaller boutiques, you can visit the “Grand Rue” and the small streets around it, and discover special design boutiques.
If you are an antique lover, you may be interested in the antique market held in Place d’Armes Square on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. If you want to discover local vegetables and fruits, you should visit the market held every Wednesday and Thursday at Place Guillaume.
Although the souvenir options are not very wide in Luxembourg, you can find shops selling hundreds of types of wine. The most preferred souvenir by tourists is a bottle of wine. You can also buy a few boxes of Luxembourg’s custom-made chocolates.
Luxembourg Nightlife
It is possible to find many places in the city center of Luxembourg. Apart from pubs, most of which are in the style of Irish Pubs, there are also many options in terms of nightclubs. In Luxembourg, home to many good local DJs, there are places where you can get your fill of music until the first light of the morning. You can find dozens of nightclubs, especially across the main train station.
One of the most preferred bars by local people and tourists is “Brauerei – Big Beer Company” where you can enjoy local beers. Also, “Coco Mango” and “Star’s Bar” are among the fun places to sip your drinks.
“Byblos Club”, “Liquid” and “Rock Solid” are just three of the most sought-after nightclubs. If you prefer a more luxurious venue, you can try “Den Atelier”, where famous singers and famous DJs take the stage from time to time, and enjoy quality music. When you travel to Luxembourg, do not leave without tasting the nightlife!
Luxembourg Festivals
- Luxembourg Film Festival (February-March)
- Duck Race (April)
- Luxembourg ING Night Marathon Run (May)
- Fête De La Musique (June)
- Summer In The City (June-September)
- Luxembourg National Day (23 June)
- Rock-A-Field (July)
- E-Lake Festival (August)
- Schueberfouer Fun Fair (August-September)
Useful Information For Luxembourg
- Emergency help: 112
- Fire: 112
- Police: 112
