Things to see and do Echternach

The Wollefsschlucht is one of the most visited natural sites in Luxembourg's Little Switzerland. It is a 10 m wide, 150 m long canyon with 50 m high walls. It is located on the route of several hiking trails, including the Mullerthal Trail (Route 2), but especially on the beautiful E1 hiking trail which forms a 15 km loop (12.5 km with shortcut) Echternach-Berforf-Echternach. A unique site that impresses young and old!

Beaufort Fort Castle was built in four periods between the th and th centuries. The oldest part of 1150. A true square fortress with the solid towers, built on a massive rock, it was surrounded by a wide ditch and two walls of enclosure.
According to a document of 1192, the castle belonged to Walter de Wiltz, first seigneur of Beaufort, in the 1930 th century, to Jean Baron de Beck in the th century, who built the Renaissance castle in the north-West (separate or combined visit) and to Edmond Linckels who, after the consolidation work in, opened the first site to the public. The two castles have since 1981 been owned by the Grand Duchy.

The Lords of Larochette, thought to have descended from the House of Ouren, appeared towards the end of the 12th^century . They quickly became influential and the most loyal vassals of the Count of Luxembourg. The ruins of Larochette castle, situated on a promontory of Luxembourg sandstone, tower some 150 m above the valley of the Ernz Blanche, a confluence of the Sûre. Access to the spur passes through a vast bailey protected by an earthen fortification. The main castle, built of ashlar, is surrounded by an enclosure, now largely destroyed. A deep moat, partly of natural origin, divides the château into two parts. At the end of the 16th^century , a fire destroyed the castle, which has been in ruins ever since. However, two of the fortress's five manor houses (in addition to those of the ten families responsible for its upkeep) are still visible: the maison de Hombourg and the maison de Créhange. The House of Hombourg was built in 1350, as a result of the alliance between brothers Frédéric and Conrad, Lords of Hombourg, and sisters Irmgard and Mathilde de Larochette. It was consolidated and its cellar restored in 1987 and 1988. The Créhange house was built around 1385 and completely restored between 1983 and 1987.

The château has been owned by the Luxembourg state since 1979, and hosts temporary exhibitions, as well as concerts for special events. Various restoration projects are still underway.

The town of Beaufort has not one, but two castles nestled in the heart of Luxembourg's Little Switzerland. They are both the property of the Grand Duchy since 1981

.the medieval castle in ruins.

The old castle of Beaufort was built in several periods, between the 12th and 16th centuries. The oldest part dates back to 1150. A real square fortress with solid towers, built on a massive rock, it was surrounded by a large ditch and two surrounding walls. We will take the time to observe the architectural details of the guard room: ogives and visible keystones... The ruin being relatively well preserved. According to a document of 1192, the castle belonged successively to Walter de Wiltz, first lord of Beaufort, in the 12th century, to Jean Baron de Beck in the 17th century, who built the Renaissance-style castle in the northwest (visit separately or combined), and to Edmond Linckels who, after consolidation work carried out in 1930, was the first to open the site to the public.

We suggest that you pay attention to the following elements:

The water stone

: placed in the kitchen of the castle, the water stone is a moving witness of past times... One cannot help but think of the person who washed himself or herself in it to prepare his or her meal.

The torture room:

the sinister devices presented in the torture room are nevertheless worth a look, if only to realize the terrible conditions reserved for captives at the time. Among them, a table with rollers bristling with spikes in order to plough the backs of prisoners who did not want to speak... the mere mention of it makes one feel cold!

The Cassero:

the unavoidable tasting at the end of the visit! You will have understood it: the Cassero of the castle! Made on the spot, this fruity liqueur, ideal for making kirs, can also be drunk plain. Among the three existing flavors: raspberry, blackcurrant and blackcurrant-cherry... Possible purchases of bottles or mignonettes (small sizes).

The Renaissance castle. Built upstream of the medieval castle, in the Haupeschbach valley. Since its construction in 1649, the new castle has always been a residence of the owners. Upon the death in 2012 of its last occupant, the Ministry of Culture took the initiative to open the castle to the public for guided tours, with the help of the Service des sites et monuments nationaux and the Friends of the Beaufort Castles.

The Abbey Museum, housed in the vaulted cellars of the former abbey, is a must in Echternach. You will admire the magnificently illuminated manuscripts from the scriptorium of the abbey of Echternach, one of the most famous in Europe from the 8th to the 11th century. These are facsimiles which are presented because the original works were scattered throughout Europe. For example, the evangeliary of St Willibrord is in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. A second part of the museum evokes the work of Saint Willibrord, his time and his provenance.

It is one of the largest Roman villas in Central Europe! The Villa of Echternach was discovered in 1975, during the earthworks of the artificial lake in the place called Schwarzuecht: vestiges of walls are touched by excavators. Excavation work then began. It is the original name of this house, the Villa Epternacum, which would have given the name of the city of Echternach.

The museum.Located at the entrance of the site, it exhibits reconstructed scenes of Gallo-Roman daily life with life-size models and models, which give a glimpse of the luxurious interior of the house.

The Hortus Amoenus, the adjoining garden, contains no less than 70 species of medicinal and ornamental plants grown in Roman times. A pergola covered with vines is also accessible.

The Roman villa.The main buildings were 118 m long and 62 m wide and had nearly seventy rooms on the first floor. The villa, extremely luxurious, was composed of rich materials and perfectly decorated: frescos on the walls, marble and mosaics for the ground, bathrooms heated by hypocaust, fountain and large ornamental basin. The 10 hectares of land also included ten annex buildings. The villa was modified and enlarged several times between the 1st and^5th centuries AD before falling into ruin and being used as a "quarry" for reused stones.

This 17th century watermill, formerly operated by the Waldbillig stream, was superbly restored in 2007. It houses a wheel still in use (you can still turn it!), as well as an old oven used to make bread during group visits. It houses the Müllerthal village information point and the mill museum, where visitors to the museum can learn about the machines used for milling in the past. Many children's activities are also organised here.

The Aquatower tower dominates the Berdorf plateau. Standing 50 meters high, this formidable edifice boasts a 360° observation deck at its summit. This provides a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Inside the tower is a permanent exhibition on the region's water and geology, featuring various interactive stations. There's also a souvenir store and children's play area at the foot of the tower. Several events are also organized here, including gastronomic evenings.

The Notre-Dame Chapel was built in 1654 and consecrated in 1658. It served as a place of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. Above the portal is a beautiful polychrome Virgin and Child. The interior, with its cruciform plan, is in late Gothic style. The keystones represent the Marian monogram, the coat of arms of the abbey and those of Abbot Fisch, founder of the chapel, and the monogram of Jesus with the nails of the Passion. Inside there is also a Dutch portable organ from 1845.

Of the original fortified castle first mentioned in the second half of the 12th century, only the chapel, the moat and part of the surrounding wall remain. It has indeed been destroyed several times. The present building dates from 1880 and was erected in neo-Renaissance style by the Count of Arenberg according to the plans of the architect Charles Arendt. Today it is a private residence that cannot be visited. However, the local path L2 along the brook "Manzebaach" allows you to take a look.

The garden pavilion, or parlodrome, is a small building of a few square meters that originally proposed the listening of historical texts, thanks to a fixed audioguide system. Although the system is out of order, the place deserves a detour because three historical maps and an explanatory text allow a better understanding of the evolution of the city. At the entrance, you can see one of the 12 steles that were erected in Luxembourg to commemorate the new millennium.

The Tourist Center, located inside a restored mill, organizes guided tours and walks in the area. It has a Test Center of the Best of Wandern association which lends free of charge all the individual equipment (shoes, jacket, backpack...) that you would need for a trip in the region, for a maximum of 4 days. To do so, you just have to fill in the loan application form on the spot and leave a piece of ID as a deposit.

This abbot's palace was built from 1727, according to the plans of the Lorraine Benedictine Léopold Durand. The monumental buildings were intended above all to express the position and importance of the imperial abbey of Echternach. Founded in 698, the monastery was abolished in 1796. Inside, only the monks' refectory has largely retained its original decoration. The former abbey is now occupied by the classical and technical high school of Echternach. Part of the vaulted cellars have housed the abbey museum since 1987.

If you come to Echternach, don't forget to visit the tourist office to learn more about the destination and to get some good ideas for excursions. You will find good advice, but also various brochures, including the cultural tour "Via Epternacensis Echternach". The tourist office also manages the official camping site, a gothic house for rent, as well as two medieval towers of the old city wall that have been transformed into lodging. The latter can accommodate between 4 and 6 people.

Erected in 1830 according to plans by the architect Schaar de Grevenmacher, the parish church of Berdorf was consecrated in 1847. Its centrepiece is the stone with four deities, which serves as a base for the altar, discovered during excavations in the villa Beronis (300 m to the south-west). It is believed to have formed the base of a Roman Jupiter column and depicts Hercules with a lion's skin and a club, Apollo with a lyre, Juno with a peacock and Minerva with a shield.

The Breechkaul amphitheater was built in 1979 in a strange cavity in an ancient rock. The rock dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was used to extract rocks and make millstones. This atypical place is now the object of concerts in summer and of cultural or religious events. The mass of Saint Hubert (patron saint of hunters), whose musical accompaniment is produced by hunting horns, is celebrated there every year on the Sunday following November 2. The place is accessible via the Berdorf self-pedestrian route.

The Berdorf Tourist Office can provide you with information on a multitude of hiking trails, ranging from 3 to 33 kilometres, as well as on the rock formations to be discovered and on all the activities in the region. Their brochures are available on the spot but also on their website. A good point of information on the spot on local, regional, national and cross-border tourism. The tourist office also offers a wide range of regional products (cider, jam, apple juice, vinegar...). A smiling and professional welcome!

The city walls, built between the 10th and 13th centuries, were 2 km long and had four gates and 20 towers. Damaged in the 19th century, only a much shorter part remains today (count 500 metres when following the cultural circuit). Most of the towers were also destroyed, while those in good condition were sold at public auction in 1813 and converted into apartments, three of which are now available for rent as charming accommodation.