Castles to visit Luxembourg

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.

This splendid castle, once home to the Lords of Linster, has belonged to the Luxembourg state since 1968. Its earliest foundations date back to the 10th^century , but many additions have been made since then. Even today, it is entered via a bridge. The imposing walls house an attractive inner courtyard, as well as a Gothic tower and chapel.

The restaurant La Distillerie is housed here, with Chef René Mathieu at the helm, a Michelin-starred chef since 2012 and voted Chef of the Year 2021 for Luxembourg by the Gault & Millau guide. The latter also awarded him a fine 18/20. The Côté Cour brasserie is located in a wing of the château. Also run by René Mathieu, this establishment offers top-quality local cuisine and boasts a superb terrace overlooking the castle ramparts. The brasserie received a 15.5/20 rating from Gault & Millau.

The building also hosts concerts throughout the year and a classical music festival (Festival de Bourglinster), theoretically in early autumn. With capacity for up to 200 guests, the château can also be booked for weddings, birthdays and other special occasions.

The château's former stables have been restored and now house workshops for professional craftsmen, where courses are organized in ancient trades such as bookbinding, art restoration and ceramics.

A must-see, a must-visit.

Located on the banks of the Moselle, the castle of Stadtbredimus is an amazing residence dating from the 15th century. Originally, it was home to a national poet named Edmond de la Fontaine, better known as Dicks. More recently, it has become the headquarters of Domaines Vinsmoselle. Founded in 1966, Domaines Vinsmoselle is, with a vineyard of more than 800 hectares located in the Moselle and about half of the national wine production, the most important producer of wines and crémants in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The fortified castle is located on Mont Saint-Jean at an altitude of 410 metres. Excavations, begun in the 1970s, have uncovered Gallo-Roman and medieval remains. Even if the ruins of the castle have long served as a quarry for the surrounding villages, a square keep, six towers, a palis, three wells, a cistern and other buildings remain. The objects discovered during the excavations are exhibited in the Municipal Museum of the town of Dudelange.

Erected in the middle of the 18th century and restored several times, Bettembourg Castle was listed in 1985. Since 1991, the residence has housed the offices of the town hall and is therefore not open to visitors. This beautiful yellow complex also houses a cultural hall and the Maggy Stein art gallery, which takes its name from a Luxembourg artist. It is also surrounded by a very pleasant park, in which it is nice to walk. The latter hosts various events, such as the Night of Wonders, a major event in the region.

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.