Things to see and do Luxembourg

The church of St. Michael, called the decanal church, dates from the mid-19th century. It was built in the neoclassical style between 1844 and 1850. Its pediment is supported by four Doric columns. The interior is characterized by clear lines and volumes of the right proportions. A rounded apse completes the choir. From 1934 to 1939, the interior was repainted by the artist Notker Becker O.S.B. from the Benedictine Abbey of Maria Laach in the Eifel. The architecture and interior decoration make this church one of the most beautiful in the country.

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.

Initially located in the Schengen European Centre, the tourist information office moved to a remarkable building built on a pontoon in the course of 2015. It was designed by the Luxembourg architect Valentiny, who also designed most of the neighbouring monuments and buildings. Information about the European Centre and the region can be found here. The establishment also sells postcards and souvenirs. There is also a bicycle rental station.

On August 31, 1942, in response to the military obligation decreed by the German occupier, the inhabitants of Wiltz decided to start a general strike. 21 patriots (20 Luxembourgers and 1 German) who refused to submit were then shot in Hinzert. To pay tribute to the heroism of the population and its resistance, this monument was erected in 1956 by the Luxembourg architect Roger Wercollier and his brother, the famous sculptor Lucien Wercollier.

Bored in 1987 to link four buildings of the Banque et Caisse d'Épargne de l'Etat (BCEE), this tunnel was quickly transformed into an art gallery. Today, the BCEE owns some 120 works by 90 artists reflecting the contemporary artistic creation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. A part of the tunnel is dedicated to the photographer Edward Steichen (1879-1973), who is known worldwide for his UNESCO World Heritage exhibition "The Family of Man" (in Clervaux).

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.

Starting from the Church of Wellenstein, the Cremant educational tour links the three charming villages of Wellenstein, Bech-Kleinmacher and Schwebsange. On this easy-to-reach walk, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the way of life and work in the vineyards, and can enjoy a panoramic view of the Scheuerberg. Not to be missed: a stop at the unmissable Wellenstein cooperative cellar, the largest site of the Domaines Vinsmoselle.

Directly adjacent to the National Library of Luxembourg, the media library offers a wide range of multi-media information and entertainment documents. Here you will find books, newspapers, comic strips, CDs, etc. The documents are available for home loan or on-site consultation and can be freely consulted. A reference address in Luxembourg's cultural and educational life, located on the Kirchberg plateau.

This museum unveils about twenty carriages, among which are six vehicles of the Grand-Ducal Court. It also includes accessories such as harnesses, trunks, lanterns and travel utensils, which plunge visitors into an era when the horse-drawn carriage was the preferred means of transport for the wealthy. You can also admire a complete coachbuilder's workshop and follow an illustrated history of the evolution of horse-drawn vehicles.

The Cockerill mine is the only mine in Luxembourg with a shaft, since the minette was usually extracted through galleries. It was one of the country's main mines from 1881 to 1967, when it ceased to operate. The association Entente Mine Cockerill, which manages the site, brings together former miners who have rehabilitated the place and continue to guide the visits. One of the restored houses houses a mining museum where miners' tools are on display. The numerous photographs reveal the hard work of the miners..

The Espace Muséologique Lasauvage is located in a former priory which belonged to Count Fernand de Saintignon, master of the Lasauvage forges and important industrialist of Longwy. This museum is dedicated to the history of the village and to a group of young Luxembourgers who, in order to avoid being enlisted in the German army during the Second World War, hid in a mine (more precisely in the Hondsbësch gallery, near Niederkorn).

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.

The remains of these Roman baths were discovered in 1973. Unfortunately, they offer little to see and contain no historical indications. Restoration work has shown that the vicus on which Mamer is now established was reduced to ashes during the Germanic incursions in 275 and 276. If you are interested in the Gallo-Roman ruins, don't miss the Gallo-Roman kiln from the 4th century, which was part of an important tile factory in Capellen.

Bernard Massard is one of the brands that are no longer presented... During this stopover in the heart of the Wine Route, its cellars invite you to a visit that includes the projection of a film on the production and history of the Massard family, a guided tour of part of the cellars and several tasting formulas. If you are not very interested in visiting the site, opt directly for the wine-tasting formula. You can also visit the wine library, which offers all the vintages and wines of the different estates (Bernard-Massard, Clos des Rochers...).

The tourist information office of the town of Grevenmacher provides information on local, regional and cross-border tourist offers. In the Tourist Info building, you will find brochures on the walking trails, such as the cultural walk through the old town or the trail of tales and legends. The administration of the Wine Route campsite and the medieval tower, which has been converted into accommodation, are managed by the Tourist Info building.

Taking place in the Kulturhuef Museum, the permanent exhibition Gutenberg Revisited retraces the technological evolution of printing in Luxembourg, particularly between 1850 and 1950. To be seen among many other things: toggle presses, steam-operated letterpresses, cardboard cutters and cutters for bookbinding or platen presses. This is a whole world that disappeared with the advent of offset printing.

Since 1782, the belfry has served as the bell tower of the decanal church of Saint-Laurent. The old watchtower dates from the 12th century. It is 26 m high and the thickness of its walls varies from 1.50 to 1.80 m. It is located exactly in the middle of the old fortified enclosure. The nave, erected by the Cistercian abbey of Clairefontaine (in 1782), has undergone several transformations and renovations, in 1927-1928 by the architect Joseph Jentgen and in 1981 by the architect Jean Petit.

This beautiful manor house bears the name of its former owner, Pierre d'Osbourg. At the beginning of the th century, this gentleman donated all his property to the city and founded one of the first civil hospices in Luxembourg. On the wall of the perron, you can see the city's coat of arms. The building was housed in the Christian doctrine of the Christian Doctrine until 1980. There are also classrooms in the rooms. Today, the house houses the municipal music school.

Blannen Theis, who plays a tune on his violin, has become one of Grevenmacher's most legendary figures. Created in 1991 by the Luxembourg artist Will Lofy, the bronze statue depicts the singer Mathias Schou with his dog. Born in 1747 in Grevenmacher, this artist was either visually impaired or blind, and is said to have been the first to make the Luxembourg language known through the songs he performed at festivals and fairs, a practice that was not at all popular at the time. He died in 1824 in Eich.

This is the information point of the Robbesscheier nature centre. The Bureau Tourist Center provides, among other things, bike rentals for half or full days. You will find a list of the workshops on offer (weaving wool, forging a sculpture, making bread, making a candle...) as well as the opening hours and prices. You can book the activities on site or via their website. The Tourist Center also organizes tailor-made programs for groups.

This 37.6 km walking loop around the Haute-Sûre lake allows you to cross several picturesque villages that border the immense body of water, with a magnificent view of the dam from the cornice road. In addition to enjoying the calm of the lake, you will be able to admire the lush flora and fauna of the area. It is possible to eat and sleep in Esch-sur-Sûre, Kaundorf, Bavaria, Liefrange, Bavaria, Boulaide, Arsdorf, Insenborn and Lultzhausen.

This 6.5 km long walking route is signposted through nature, starting and finishing at the church car park in Hoscheid. Along the route, four artists from Luxembourg and abroad created a total of 17 sound points in order to present the region from a new angle, that of listening to nature and the sounds one makes oneself. The trail can be done alone or with a guide (on request at the tourist office).

The first objective of the Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg, founded in 1893, is to encourage artistic creation and promote artistic education in the Grand Duchy. It exhibits its members painters, engravers and sculptors in different places. Every year, it organises an important exhibition during which the Grand Duke Adolphe Prize is awarded to the best work of art. The circle is placed under the high patronage of Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess.

Discovered in 1985, this Gallo-Roman theater cut into the rock is extremely well preserved. Located south of Dalheim(Duelem), it is situated on the old Roman road from Metz(Divodurum Mediomatricorum) to Trier(Augusta Treverorum), in the heart of the Roman vicus . It would have been built around 50 AD and could hold up to 3,500 people.

In the past, crowds cheered here for the many entertainment shows offered, ranging from comedy to tragedy. The actors of that time knew how to adapt to all the theatrical registers. The theater was the main attraction of the ancient Roman camp. The site also housed a bathhouse, which had eight rooms for bathing as well as adjacent structures.

The major part of the theater building would have been destroyed during the 3rd century. Covered by a roof in order to protect it from the assaults of time, the place lost today somewhat of its magnificence..

The site was however revalued thanks to archaeological excavations undertaken in 2007. Among the objects found are coins, paintings, hairpins, jewelry, statuettes of Roman deities, as well as a complete system of harnesses and tools... some of which are now on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris!

Tofind out more: don't hesitate to ask for information at the documentation center of the nearby archaeological site.

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.

On 14 June 1985, the signing of the Schengen Agreement, abolishing border controls on people and goods, took place in the charming village of Schengen. The town commemorates this event with its monument located on the Esplanade de la Moselle and consisting of three steel stelae, each bearing a brass star. They represent the signatories of the 1985 agreement: the Benelux states (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), France and Germany.

In the past, a Roman bridge connected Stadtbredimus to Palzem, the German village on the other side of the Moselle. It no longer exists and some of the columns found in 1962 are in the Landesmuseum in Trier (Germany). It is thought that the Romans took advantage of the remains of a Celtic footbridge to build this bridge of at least 5 columns around 56 AD. The upper wooden construction could have carried a 6 to 6.50 m wide roadway.

With the Bike without Borders project, the Regional Tourist Office is offering several bike tours through the Moselle, Saar and Sûre valleys. One of the proposed tours is the Velo Romanum, a trail with a multitude of witnesses of an ancient Roman presence, such as the burial chamber in Bech-Kleinmacher and the Gallo-Roman city Vicus Ricciacus in Dalheim. The bike tour also takes you to the nature reserve Haff Réimech near Remerschen. It can be combined with the Roman Trail in the neighbouring Saarland.

Discovering Luxembourg City by bike is child's play! Four tours are detailed in the "Bike Promenade" brochure: the Tour Kirchberg (9.2 km), the Tour Vieille Ville & Gare (5 km), the Tour Parcs (12.3 km) and the Tour Vallée de l'Alzette (13.1 km). These itineraries, with different distances and difficulties, allow you to explore the different districts of the capital. They are available for free or, if you wish, accompanied by a guide.

The Gaalgebierg Municipal Park is a place of relaxation for all, in a preserved nature on the heights of the city. It is a unique ensemble of flowery gardens, formal gardens, forest paths and small, secluded paths. Ideal for walks or jogging, it also offers petanque tracks. The hill where it is located is home to a vast forest with numerous paths, a campsite, an animal park, a football stadium and a natural ice rink.

Since 1962, this small animal park has enabled the inhabitants of Esch and visitors to discover pets in their natural environment just a stone's throw from the town centre, thanks to a circuit designed primarily for children and families. This Esch Noah's Ark is home to roe deer, goats, geese, pheasants and many other species. Possibility to feed the animals thanks to a hay cube dispenser at the entrance. There is also an educational farm.

The need for a modern and perfectly adapted infrastructure was reflected in the construction of a cultural centre with a regional vocation, which opened its doors to the public in 2007. The opderschmelz regional cultural centre has a large modular auditorium with 460 seats, a small auditorium with 105 seats, rehearsal rooms for harmonies and various workshops. The venue is also home to the Dudelange Regional Music School, the National Audiovisual Centre, the Starlight cinema and the Amarcord restaurant.

The auditorium offers events of all kinds: jazz concerts, singer-songwriter festival, worldmusic, contemporary theatre, literary performances, dance and children's shows and conferences. Many new experiences and numerous exclusives reflect the organisers' desire to stand out from current productions and to act resolutely off the beaten track while remaining attentive to the public's expectations. The complete program is available on the structure's website.

The Regional Cultural Centre Opderschmelz also organises numerous events, such as the festival Like a Jazz Machine or the Touch of Noir festival, which consists of exhibitions, concerts and readings on black literature and cinema of yesterday and today. It also ensures the musical organisation of the Zeltik festival, the Fête de la musique and the Fête des cultures in Dudelange.

Station district, Kirchberg Plateau, European Institutions, Villa Vauban... Discover the main sites of the city on board a double-decker bus! You can get off and on as you wish at the 8 different stops: Avenue Monterey, Central Station Quay 106, Amalia, Pescatore Foundation, Quay 1 Mudam (Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art), Luxexpo Parvis Sud, Funicular / EIB (European Investment Bank) and Stäereplaz/Étoile Quay 4. An ideal means of transport to discover the must-see attractions of the capital of the Grand Duchy.

Installed in the Maison du parc, on the very site of the old drapery closed in 1975, this museum allows the visitor to discover the artisanal manufacture of sheets from sheep's wool. During guided tours (only on request), the carefully restored machines come into action and revive this once flourishing industry. The drapery regularly hosts textile art exhibitions, where traditional crafts are combined with contemporary creation, and organises textile workshops for children and adults.

As the living memory of Luxembourg's printed heritage, the National Library collects all publications printed and edited in Luxembourg. It purchases publications that relate to Luxembourg or whose author is Luxembourgish and which are published abroad. This means that more than 1.8 million printed documents, covering all disciplines, are made available to the public free of charge. But also e-journals, e-books and databases.

As a platform for exchange for all those involved in architecture, engineering, urban planning, landscape and land-use planning, each year LUCA puts together a wide-ranging program to address the issues and challenges posed today by the production of the built environment. Exhibitions, conferences, debates, study tours, educational workshops and guided tours are just some of the many activities on offer.

It is an open-air gallery in the streets of the Grund (the lower town), but also stretches from the bridge over the Alzette to Neumünster Abbey. Konscht am Gronn offers the opportunity to meet a plethora of artists from Luxembourg and the Greater Region who unveil their recent works and offer to acquire original creations such as sculptures, paintings, mixed media, digital art, photographs or drawings. An initiative that brings the Grund district to life and brings together art lovers and artists.

This building, which was part of the old ironworks, was in ruins and its silhouette reminded one of a watchtower, hence the name. Renovated in 2004, it now houses a reception centre for the environment as well as the offices of the local forestry officer and the national headquarters of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), an international NGO whose label is used to promote the sustainable use of forests. The centre is the starting point for educational trails and organizes various outdoor activities. It also plays a role in raising awareness of nature.

The Maison du Parc naturel de la Haute-Sûre has been housed since 1992 in an old restored drapery. It houses the Nature Park Visitor Centre as well as a tourist information centre, a shop with regional products (honeys, jams, etc.), the Drapery Museum and an interactive exhibition on the Nature Park. It also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. Guided tours can be organised on request.

In Hosingen, the Maison du parc naturel de l'Our provides all the information about this natural park in the Luxembourg Ardennes. It also houses a permanent, fun and interactive exhibition on the natural, economic, historical and cultural heritage of the region. It includes six thematic and discovery islands. The explanatory panels are in Luxembourgish, but QR codes allow access to the French version.

Like the other regions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Ardennes (the Eislek) has its own regional tourist office. Its website gathers information on all the towns in this region (Wiltz, Vianden, Insenborn, Clervaux, etc.) and the events organised there. Brochures and hiking maps can be downloaded free of charge. The ORT Eislek also offers guided tours. More information is available on its website.

Diekirch is the capital of the district and canton and is a picturesque little town that is easy to discover on foot. For this reason, the Regional Tourist Office for the Luxembourg Ardennes (ORT Eislek) organises guided tours there. The route takes you through the pedestrian zone, through the old part of town, and reveals the museums and open-air entertainment, as well as the church of Saint-Laurent. The walk is suitable for families as well as the elderly.

A total of 17 marked circuits, with different levels of difficulty, offer you the possibility to discover the forests and valleys of the Luxembourg Ardennes by mountain bike. While some of the circuits are designed for the more sporty, others are ideal for family rides. Guided tours are organised for adults on request at the Regional Tourist Office Ardennes luxembourgeoises. Different types of bikes for the whole family are available for rent through Rent A Bike (see prices on the website).

Founded in 1972, the association Les Amis du château de Bourscheid (Friends of Bourscheid Castle) has as its main aim the safeguarding, development, restoration and tourist exploitation of the ruins of Bourscheid Castle, as well as the protection of the surrounding site. In addition, the association deals with all tourist, cultural, historical, archaeological, folklore and geographical activities on the territory of the former seigniory of Bourscheid.

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 Hochfels rock is outside the village of Boulaide, in the direction of Bigonville. On this rocky promontory, in the middle of the vegetation, you will discover an anti-tank gun and a field howitzer dating from the Second World War. The two guns, one American and one German, had been abandoned near the crossroads of the Poteau de Doncols. The site was laid out in 1970 with wooden panels providing notes explaining their origin. The view on the lake of the Haute-Sûre is quite nice.

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.