Castles to visit Luxembourg

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.