Monuments to visit The Eislek Ardennes

Taking place inside the Château de Clervaux, this exhibition presents an exceptional collection of 22 1:100 scale models of ancient Luxembourg castles and a diorama of Clervaux at 1:35 scale. The works are accompanied by sound and visual information to plunge the visitor into another time. Of the 109 castles listed in the Middle Ages, 76 of them are still there, either in ruins or magnificently restored.

Located in the heart of the town, this feudal castle was founded in the 12th^century by the Counts of Clervaux, who first enlarged it in the 13th^century . At the beginning of the 15th^century , to protect the southern flank, Frederick ^I had the enormous Burgundy Tower built. In 1634, Count Claude de Lannoy ordered the construction of reception halls in the northern part, including the Spanish-Flemish Salle des Chevaliers. Barns, stables and administrative buildings were added by Albert Eugène de Lannoy in 1660 and, almost ten years later, the concierge's quarters (now occupied by a restaurant). In 1721, new stables were added to the complex. But in 1887, Albert Eugène de Lannoy's work was demolished and the stones reused to build a seigniorial residence for the Count of Berlaymont. The château was set on fire during the Battle of the Bulge and remains in ruins. At the end of the war, it became the property of the State, which undertook its restoration. Today, it houses the Clervaux town hall and several museums: the Luxembourg Castle Model Exhibition, the Battle of the Bulge Museum, featuring weapons and memorabilia from the Ardennes offensive (1944-1945), and the UNESCO World Heritage photographic exhibition "The Family of Man" by Edward Steichen.

Count Gérard de Sponheim: brother of the Count of Vianden, the Count of Sponheim was the first to appear in written texts dating back to 1129.

Count Simon de Clairval : in 1157, the count became head of the castle. His name (de Clairval) clearly evokes the Clervaux appellation.

The Meysembourg dynasty (1315-1406).

The Brandenbourg d ynasty (1406-1538).

The Heu dynasty (1538-1567): originally from Metz, they ruled over Clervaux castle until the middle of the ^16th century, before the arrival of the Lords of Eltz.

The Comtes de Lannoy (1631-1874): for almost two centuries, the Comtes de Lannoy, a powerful family from the Spanish Netherlands, watched over Clervaux.

Count Adrien de Berlaymont: in 1888, Count Adriende Berlaymont reclaimed the castle as a seigniorial residence, but unfortunately ended up abandoning this function, leaving the castle in a sad state of neglect. In 1894, he sold the Clervaux archives to the city of Metz, which fortunately retained them. When he died in 1914, his heir, heavily in debt, was unable to ensure the succession of such a fine estate begun in the ^12th century. Thus ended the line of the Lords of Clervaux.

Built on a rocky outcrop, like many castles in the region, the present building dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, although its origin probably dates back to the 13th century. The first fortress did not offer sufficient security, and in 1631 Count Jan VI ordered the construction of the castle we see today. The former castle chapel was built in 1722 and the monumental external staircase, which led to the gardens, in 1727.

Driven out of the castle by French revolutionary troops, the last Count de Wiltz had to flee in 1793 and died abroad. All his properties were then confiscated and sold. Ceded by the French state in the mid-19th century, the castle was subsequently used as a boarding school for young girls from 1851 to 1950. It has been the property of the Luxembourg state since 1951 and was initially used as a centre for the elderly, run by the nuns of the Carmelite order until 1985. Today, the State symbolically rents it to the municipality.

In addition to the town's museums (the National Museum of Brewing and Tannery Art with its micro-brewery and the one devoted to the Battle of the Bulge from 1944-1945), it houses the office of the International Scout Centre, an international management school for the hotel and tourism industry, as well as the town's Tourist Office. Every year, the castle park hosts the Wiltz International Music and Theatre Festival.

It was in Vianden, which he had already visited three times, that the author of Les Misérables came to seek asylum after being expelled from Belgium on May 30, 1871. He stayed in a room on the second floor of this house "at the corner of the bridge" from June 8 to August 22, 1871. What remains of his stay in this three-story house is the original furniture as well as numerous drawings, notebooks, souvenirs and original letters written to Juliette Drouet, his 18-year-old mistress.

If only a few ruins remain of the 10th century fortified castle, its monumental keep and its small Romanesque chapel, clinging to the rocks, are nevertheless worth the detour! Both give right on the Sûre river. It is therefore a pleasant picturesque walk through romantic ruins and history on the heights of Esch-sur-Sûre... This walk is always very much appreciated by families: children are the first to love climbing the steps leading them to the keep. From up there, the panorama is superb: photography enthusiasts will be served.

The name of the lord Bertram von Bourscheid is first mentioned in 1095, but the construction of the castle would have taken place around the year 1000 on the basis of remains from earlier periods. Situated on a rocky outcrop at a height of 150 m and surrounded by rivers, the castle had a view over the entire Sûre valley and was surrounded by a wall with 11 towers. It remained impregnable.

It has been extended many times and the styles of different periods can be found in its architecture. The outer wall dates from 1350-1384. The Stolzembourg house was built in 1384 and the bailey in 1477. The keeps on the south and east sides date from 1498, and the artillery bastions were added in the 16th century. Only the gatekeeper's house and the Stolzembourg house were rebuilt according to the old model, a striking building located in a green setting, which must be visited. The aerial views of the castle are also quite remarkable, do not hesitate to consult them on the site.

Victor Hugo, in love with the castle of Boursheid.The famous 19th century French writer visited Boursheid Castle on 20 September 1865 and quickly fell under its spell. In his travel diary he wrote down his first impressions: "An old woman receives us. Her home is in a tower [...]. She lives there with her young daughter. We wander through the ruin. I draw her. It is admirable. It is an enormous tear-off of walls and towers [...], the view is splendid."

Château de Bettendorf belongs to this category of private buildings and estates, very common in Luxembourg. Construction of the castle began in the ^13th century, and it has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries. Its first function was to manage the surrounding land, but it later became a holiday resort for the lower nobility and then the bourgeoisie. Its small moat, towers and thick walls are typical of Luxembourg castle architecture. Now privately owned, it is not open to the public.

Located in a wood near the village and marked "Bunker" or "B", this bunker can only be reached on foot. During the Nazi occupation, the resistance built underground bunkers in which resistance fighters hid. Five bunkers were inhabited during the German occupation in Kaundorf. The bunker An der Runschelt was restored and listed in 1987. A memorial plaque is affixed to the bunker in honor of all the patriots who succeeded in rescuing the draft dodgers from the Germans.

Built in the 9th and 13th centuries, there are still very beautiful ruins of Brandenburg Castle (name of its first known owner, Godfrey of Brandenburg - 1244-1284). After extensive archaeological excavations, some dangerous parts were consolidated and a secure route was built. The wooden route with explanatory panels starts at the tunnel that connects the main castle with the farmyard of the original castle keep. The path makes a detour through the spacious chapel of the original castle and also allows you to admire the beautiful cellars.

The Diekirch brewery was founded in 1871 and is today part of the Brasserie de Luxembourg group, which has been part of the Belgian-Brazilian group Anheuser-Busch InBev since 2005. The latter has introduced into the company a whole range of major international brands: Leffe, Hoegaarden, Belle-Vue, Stella Artois, Jupiler, Franziskaner, Beck's and Super-Bock. Three Diekirch beers are brewed on the site (Reserve, Premium and Grand Cru) as well as the Mousel beer.