Castles to visit Luxembourg

The castle of Hollenfels was built in the 13th century on a hollow rock from which it takes its name (Hohler Fels). A habitable part was added to it in the 18th century in a neobaroque style. The residential keep, 39 m high, dates from the first period. It houses vaulted rooms heated by open fireplaces. The fortress also includes a curtain wall and an angular tower. A masonry bridge spans the moat and provides access to the castle. Since 1948, the Luxembourg state has owned the castle and has set up a youth hostel there

Septfontaines Castle, which is more of a beautiful residence than a castle in itself, dates from the 18th century and was the seigneurial residence of the Boch brothers. It is located on the former site of the porcelain factory, in a huge green park, a few minutes from the town centre. Numerous receptions and major events with wide media coverage are organised there throughout the year: concerts, meetings, rally stages, Christmas market..

Located in the center of the small town, the castle of Mersch has long since lost its ramparts and its moat. Of simple appearance, made of stone and slate roof, preceded by a rural outbuilding with a typical red-pink color, it has been the object of numerous restorations over the centuries. Today it is the first stop in the Valley of the Seven Castles. Its construction dates back to the Middle Ages, in 1232, when Theodoric I became the founder of the lordship of Mersch. However, the fortress was stormed by Burgundian troops and burned down. It was then rebuilt for the first time. In 1304, the first noble family of Mersch died out for lack of male lineage. Through successive marriages, the lordship passed into the hands of numerous families: Milberg, Kerpen-Manders-cheid, Brandenburg, Feltz, Autel, Mohr von Waldt, Reinach, Sonnenberg. The last noble owners, the Von Sonnenberg-Reinach, sold the castle in 1898 to a wholesale trader Charles Schwartz-Hallinger. In 1927 it became the property of a bailiff, Pierre Uhres-Fabritius.

Then, in 1957, the municipality acquired the castle, before selling it to the State just three years later. But thanks to an exchange contract signed in 1988, the commune regained ownership of the castle. In 1993, after extensive renovations, the castle became the seat of the municipal administration. Today it houses the administrative offices of the municipality. It is therefore not possible to visit the interior.

Schoenfels was first mentioned in 846. The name has evolved over the centuries, through a number of variants, but it probably derives from scindula (shingle, shingles, shingle-making...), Schindel or Schinder (squarers). Schoenfels Castle dates back to 1292. It was built before the era of artillery by Ferri, also known as Friedrich von Schoenfels. It was then passed down through marriage to the Ansembourg and Sanem lordly families. In the early ^16th century, Henri Schloeder de Lachen, lord of Schoenfels and Busbach, became the owner, marking the entrance to the keep with the Schloeder von Lachen coat of arms. Despite its lack of strategic value, the fortress was dismantled from its fortifications in 1683 by the French, and in 1690, it fell victim to fire. It changed ownership many more times until 1948. The industrialist Camille Weis then acquired the château, which was transferred to the Luxembourg state in 1971. The mansion adjacent to the keep was demolished in 1976. After renovation of the keep (21 m high, the tallest in the region), Schoenfels Castle was destined to become a visitor center and offices for the Eaux & Forêts administration, preserving its rich historical heritage for future generations. At present, only the grounds are accessible.

The Lords of Reckingen were first mentioned in documents in the 12th century. The castle was owned by the Fock von Hübingen family in the 16th century (Ernst Fock von Hübingen, who died in 1573, is buried in the parish church in a Renaissance vault) and later by Cavalry Captain Peter Blum in 1699. In 1870 the fortress was completely razed to the ground. The medieval keep, with dimensions of 9 x 9 m and 1.5 m thick walls, was preserved over a height of 3 m, before being integrated into a private dwelling.

This magnificent feudal castle, built on a rocky sandstone promontory, overlooks the village from a height of around 50 metres. It offers a panoramic view over the Vallée des Sept Châteaux, where you'll discover exceptional flora and fauna in a peaceful setting. Dating back to the 12th^century , the residence was remodeled in the 16th^and 17th^centuries . It was then transformed into a luxury hotel and is now a charming B&B, Le Temps d'Or.

Owned by the State since 1947, this former fortress is now in ruins. However, one of the towers and the walls are fairly well preserved. Its enclosure forms a square of 30 metres on each side, which was once surrounded by a moat fed by the Weillerbach stream. Its history dates back to the 10th century: the fortress was then known as Pittigero Mazini. The name Pettingen or Pittange was not given to it until the 13th century.

The Château de Septfontaines, built at the end of the 11th century, is now private property. The baroque gate dates from the 13th century and a Gothic part was added around 1400. The bridge over the entrance and the large square tower date from 1600. The predominant location of the castle at that time allowed it to watch over the entire Eisch Valley.This castle should not be confused with the seigneurial residence of the Boch brothers, located only a few minutes from the centre of Luxembourg, which dates from the 18th century.

The fortified castle, partially in ruins, is located on the top of a mound on the banks of the Attert. The communal administration moved there after extensive restoration work. The site can be discovered thanks to an interesting educational trail with many attractions: the two towers (linked by a contemporary steel bridge), the view of the 25 m high keep, the crypt or the story of Catherine Theis, victim of a witchcraft trial in Useldange. The trail is suitable for visually impaired people and consists of a total of 16 stations.

The romantic ruins of an ancient castle overlooking the charming village of Hesperange... a whole program! From this promontory, you can admire the Alzette valley, which is as green as one could wish for. According to the legend, it would have been built by the lords of Rodemack between 1190 and 1277. In reality, it was intended to serve as an outpost for the fortified castle of Rodemack. These ruins are now classified and protected as Historic Monuments.

Koerich Castle stands out for its imposing keep, its outer walls forming an almost perfect square, and its enchanting setting alongside Koerich's Baroque church and old houses.

Construction of the castle was undertaken in the late ^12th and early ^13th centuries by Lord Wiric of Koerich. The keep, also known as the "Hexenturm" (witches' tower), is an impressive example of late Romanesque architecture. Although only 11 meters high today, its original height is estimated at 25 to 30 meters. A spiral staircase built into the walls linked the various floors. Gothic modifications were made in the ^14th century, including the construction of a Gothic dwelling and two rectangular towers on the south façade. Today, only the southwest tower, housing the chapel dedicated to Saint Michael, remains. Over the centuries, it has also undergone Renaissance-style alterations, and in 1728, the southern wing was transformed into a Baroque building.

From the second half of the ^18th century onwards, Koerich Castle lost its seigniorial residency and its condition deteriorated. Since its classification as a historic monument in 1938, it has been the property of the Luxembourg state. It hosts the "Koerich Concerts", organized by the Käercher Schlassfrënn and the Jeunesses Musicales du Luxembourg. The decanal church offers exceptional acoustics for these concerts, creating a magical musical experience.

The first mention of a lord of Berg dates back to 1311. Passing from the hands of King William II of the Netherlands, to the Grand Duke Adolphe and then to the Grand Duke William IV, the castle underwent important transformations until it was demolished and completely rebuilt. In 1934, the fortress became the property of the Luxembourg State. Following the Second World War, the castle will need an important restoration. It was not until 1964 that the castle became the main residence of the grand-ducal family after a long period of rehabilitation.