Tourism in Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
Tourism in Luxembourg is an important component of the national economy, representing about 8.3% of GDP in 2009 and employing some 25,000 people or 11.7% of the working population. Despite the current crisis, the Grand Duchy
still welcomes over 900,000 visitors a year who spend an average of 2.5 nights in hotels, hostels or on camping sites. Business travel is flourishing representing 44% of overnight stays in the country and 60% in the capital, up 11% and 25% between 2009 and 2010. Published by the World Economic Forum
in March 2011, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
puts Luxembourg in 15th place worldwide, up from 23rd place in 2009.
Major destinations are historic Luxembourg City
, the medieval castle of Vianden
, Echternach
with its abbey and the wine districts of the Moselle valley
. The Mullerthal
with its rocky cliffs in the east and the mountainous Oesling
district in the Ardennes
to the north are also favourites for outdoor enthusiasts.
Luxembourg has good road and rail and air connections with the rest of Europe, making it an increasingly popular destination for international meetings as well as for extended weekend stays. Over half the visitors to Luxembourg come from the Netherlands
, Belgium
and Germany
with substantial numbers from France
, the United Kingdom
and the United States
. Camping is popular in Luxembourg, particularly with the Dutch, who camp for much longer than other nationalities, especially in the Ardennes and the Mullerthal.
, France
, and Germany
, Luxembourg has a population of over half a million people in an area of 2586 square kilometres (998.5 sq mi).
A representative democracy
and constitutional monarchy
ruled by a Grand Duke
, it is the world's only remaining Grand Duchy
. The country has a highly developed economy, with the world's highest GDP per capita. Its strategic importance dates back to a Roman era
fortress
and Frankish count's
castle
site in the Early Middle Ages
. The City of Luxembourg
, the capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the European Union
and an important financial centre.
Luxembourg culture
is a mix of Romance Europe and Germanic
Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions. While Luxembourgers are fluent in all three of their official languages, German
, French
and Luxembourgish
, most also have a good working knowledge of English.
, France
and Germany
. The advent of the high-speed TGV
link to Paris
has led to renovation of the city's railway station
while the new passenger terminal at Luxembourg Airport
handled over 1.6 million passengers in 2010, an increase of 5.1%.
There are frequent air connections with many European cities including Amsterdam
, Berlin
, Copenhagen
, Frankfurt
, Geneva
, London
, Madrid
, Paris and Rome
. Paris can also be reached in just over two hours by rail and in about three and a half hours by road. Brussels
is some two hours away by road, a little longer by rail.
, Pinot gris
, Pinot blanc
and Auxerrois
and the less sophisticated Rivaner and Elbling
. Also popular is Luxembourg's Crémant, a sparkling wine produced in accordance with the traditional method for French champagne.
is not only a historic UNESCO site with its fortifications lining the steep valley but also an important European and financial centre with imposing modern buildings.
In September 2011, the Luxembourg City Tourist Office reported that after several years of decline, the city welcomed 403,085 tourists between January and August 2011, a 6.38 increase over 2010. The casemates were the most popular attraction with a total of 87,083 visitors, most of whom visited the Bock Casemates
.
, the Grand Ducal Palace
, the neogothic Cathedral of Notre Dame
, Place Guillaume II
with the City Hall
, the Place d'Armes
with its pavement restaurants and cafés, the Gëlle Fra
or Golden Lady crowning the obelisk in memory of those who died for their country during the First World War
and the nearby Adolphe Bridge
towering over the valley.
There are also two particularly interesting museums in the old town. The Luxembourg City History Museum
traces the history of the city from its foundations (in the lower floors) to the present (at the top) while the National Museum of History and Art
showcases Celtic and Roman findings including the well-preserved Vichten Mosaic depicting the Roman muses.
, also has points of interest such as the Neumünster Abbey
and the Natural History Museum
. Once a poor quarter of the city, it has become increasingly popular for its night life in the narrow medieval streets and for its gastronomic restaurants.
and the Philharmonie
concert hall as well as sports and entertainment facilities.
is a small hilly town in a picturesque setting on the River Our. Visitors are attracted above all by the carefully restored medieval castle standing high above the river but also by the old-world atmosphere which pervades the town.
Vianden Castle
was built between the 11th and 14th centuries and became the seat of the counts of Vianden
. It was further developed until the 18th century but with the departure of the Counts of Luxembourg to the Netherlands combined with the effects of fire and an earthquake, it slowly deteriorated. The final blow came in 1820 when William I of the Netherlands
sold it to a local merchant who in turn sold off its contents and masonry piecemeal, reducing it to a ruin. Not until 1977, when Grand Duke Jean
ceded the castle to the State, was it possible to undertake large-scale restoration work.
Vianden also has a chair lift up to a restaurant high above the castle, offering extensive views of the town and its mountainous surroundings. The Victor Hugo museum near the bridge over the River Our presents a number of the author's original letters and drawings in the house where he used to stay.
near the German border is the oldest town in Luxembourg. It was founded in 698 by St. Willibrord
, an English monk who was the abbot of the monastery until his death in 739. In his honour, for the past 500 years the dancing procession
has taken place every Whit Tuesday
, attracting pilgrims from near and far. The Romanesque basilica
with symmetrical towers still houses his tomb in its crypt. The town of Echternach grew up around the abbey walls and was granted a city charter in 1236. The abbey was rebuilt in a handsome Baroque
range in 1737. Echternach is also the site of a large Roman villa
which was discovered in 1975 and is open to visitors.
The picturesque town, still surrounded by its medieval walls, hosts the International Music Festival
in May and June each year. It is an ideal starting point for walks into the Mullertal
or for cycle trips along the River Sure
. Echternach also has an interesting Prehistory Museum
.
in the north, the rounded hills of the Moselle valley are lined by vineyards. The river passes a number of quaint little riverside towns and villages with narrow streets, wine cooperatives and annual wine festivals. From south to north, the river flows past Schengen, famous for the EU agreement
facilitating cross-border travel, Remerschen
, Schwebsange
, Bech-Kleinmacher
, Wellenstein
and Remich
which has been attracting wine-enthusiasts since Roman times and is still a busy venue for tourists with promenades, gardens, river excursions and wine cellars. After Stadtbredimus
on the river front and Greiveldange
up in the hills, the Moselle then passes the charming villages of Ehnen
with its Wine Museum
, Wormeldange
, Ahn
and Machtum
where some of Luxembourg's finest restaurants are to be found. Then comes the small town of Grevenmacher
before the Moselle meets the Sauer at the busy border town of Wasserbillig
.
, Brandenbourg
, Clervaux
, Esch-sur-Sûre
, Vianden
and Wiltz
as well as the Lac de la Haute-Sûre
which provides opportunities for swimming and water sports.
The Mullerthal, just north of Echternach, also offers interesting walking and cycling circuits through curious rock formations, often complete with caves. The motorist too can experience a surprising variety of countryside driving through the river valleys and up to the surprisingly flat plains above. Berdorf
and Beaufort
are popular tourist centres.
Mondorf-les-Bains
in the south of the country not only has a range of modern spa and fitness facilities but is home to Luxembourg's only gambling facility, Casino 2000
. Not far from Mondorf is one of the Luxembourg's most interesting Roman sites, Dalheim Ricciacum
, with its old Roman theatre.
in Luxembourg City are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm from March to October. Now a UNESCO heritage site, these underground passages were part of Luxembourg's former defences.
The National Museum of Military History
at Diekirch
in the central part of Luxembourg provides insights into the Battle of the Bulge
and related episodes of World War II
. The museum is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
Les Thermes
, an indoor/outdoor water park in Strassen
just west of Luxembourg City, offers an olympic swimming pool, two pools for children, wave baths, slides and sauna.
From April to early October, the Parc Merveilleux
near Bettembourg
has a range of attractions for children including rides, mini zoo, and fairy tale presentations.
The historic steam Train 1900
operates between Petange
and Fond-de-Gras in the south-east of Luxembourg on Sunday afternoons between May and September. From Fond-de-Gras, trips on the Minièresbunn narrow gauge railway are also possible.
The National Mining Museum
in Rumelange
, south-east Luxembourg, is open April to September from Thursday to Sunday, 2 pm to 6 pm. Lasting about an hour and a half, the visit includes a 20-minute trip on the old railway deep into the mine.
The Butterfly Garden
in Grevenmacher
is open every day from April to mid-October.
The Lankelz Railway
in Esch-sur-Alzette
, south-eastern Luxembourg
, is a miniature railway on a scale of one third normal size. The railway operates on Sunday afternoons and public holidays from May to mid-October.
The Aquarium
is located in Wasserbillig
, a small town in the south west of Luxembourg
. Open every day from Easter to the end of September, it is otherwise open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are 15 tanks from 300 to 40,000 litres with fish from all five continents in their natural surroundings.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
still welcomes over 900,000 visitors a year who spend an average of 2.5 nights in hotels, hostels or on camping sites. Business travel is flourishing representing 44% of overnight stays in the country and 60% in the capital, up 11% and 25% between 2009 and 2010. Published by the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
in March 2011, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report was first published in 2007 by the World Economic Forum. The 2007 report covered 124 major and emerging economies. The 2008 report covered 130 countries,, the 2009 report expanded to 133 countries, and the 2011 report to 139 countries...
puts Luxembourg in 15th place worldwide, up from 23rd place in 2009.
Major destinations are historic Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, the medieval castle of Vianden
Vianden
Vianden is a commune with city status in the Oesling, north-eastern Luxembourg, with over 1,500 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Vianden, which is part of the district of Diekirch. Vianden lies on the Our river, near the border between Luxembourg and Germany., the town of Vianden,...
, Echternach
Echternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
with its abbey and the wine districts of the Moselle valley
Moselle valley
The Moselle valley is a region in north-eastern France, south-western Germany, and eastern Luxembourg, centred on the river valley formed by the Moselle...
. The Mullerthal
Little Switzerland (Luxembourg)
Little Switzerland is a nickname for a region in the east of Luxembourg, bestowed upon the region on account of its reputed geographic similarities to Switzerland. It is roughly contiguous with the canton of Echternach...
with its rocky cliffs in the east and the mountainous Oesling
Oesling
The Oesling or Ösling is a region covering the northern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, within the greater Ardennes area that also covers parts of Belgium and France...
district in the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
to the north are also favourites for outdoor enthusiasts.
Luxembourg has good road and rail and air connections with the rest of Europe, making it an increasingly popular destination for international meetings as well as for extended weekend stays. Over half the visitors to Luxembourg come from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with substantial numbers from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Camping is popular in Luxembourg, particularly with the Dutch, who camp for much longer than other nationalities, especially in the Ardennes and the Mullerthal.
The Grand Duchy
Bordered by BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Luxembourg has a population of over half a million people in an area of 2586 square kilometres (998.5 sq mi).
A representative democracy
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
and constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
ruled by a Grand Duke
Grand Duke
The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not...
, it is the world's only remaining Grand Duchy
Grand duchy
A grand duchy, sometimes referred to as a grand dukedom, is a territory whose head of state is a monarch, either a grand duke or grand duchess.Today Luxembourg is the only remaining grand duchy...
. The country has a highly developed economy, with the world's highest GDP per capita. Its strategic importance dates back to a Roman era
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
fortress
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
and Frankish count's
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
site in the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
. The City of Luxembourg
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
, the capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and an important financial centre.
Luxembourg culture
Culture of Luxembourg
The culture of Luxembourg refers to the cultural life and traditions of the small European nation of Luxembourg. Most citizens are trilingual, speaking the Germanic national language of Luxembourgish in addition to French and German...
is a mix of Romance Europe and Germanic
Germanic languages
The Germanic languages constitute a sub-branch of the Indo-European language family. The common ancestor of all of the languages in this branch is called Proto-Germanic , which was spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Iron Age northern Europe...
Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions. While Luxembourgers are fluent in all three of their official languages, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Luxembourgish
Luxembourgish language
Luxembourgish is a High German language spoken mainly in Luxembourg. About 320,000 people worldwide speak Luxembourgish.-Language family:...
, most also have a good working knowledge of English.
Travel
Luxembourg's road network has been significantly modernised in recent years with motorways to BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The advent of the high-speed TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
link to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
has led to renovation of the city's railway station
Luxembourg railway station
Luxembourg railway station is the main railway station serving Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is operated by Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, the state-owned railway company....
while the new passenger terminal at Luxembourg Airport
Luxembourg-Findel International Airport
Findel Airport is the main airport in Luxembourg.It is Luxembourg's only international airport and is the only airport in the country with a paved runway. It is located away from Luxembourg City....
handled over 1.6 million passengers in 2010, an increase of 5.1%.
There are frequent air connections with many European cities including Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Paris and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Paris can also be reached in just over two hours by rail and in about three and a half hours by road. Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
is some two hours away by road, a little longer by rail.
Accommodation
In 2009, Luxembourg had 261 hotels, inns and hostels able to accommodate 14,709 guests. The central area including the City of Luxembourg had a capacity of 8,057 guests (55%) followed by the Ardennes region with a capacity of 2,757 (18%). The total number of nights spent in hotels, inns and hostels was 1,264,448, down 8% on 2007. The number of nights spent camping was 739,208, down 8.4%.National celebrations
Luxembourg has a number of celebrations of its own, some of which date back centuries. Among the most popular are:- BuergbrennenBuergbrennenBuergbrennen is a celebration centred around a huge bonfire which takes place on the first Sunday in Lent in Luxembourg and surrounding areas. In Germany it is called Burgbrennen, in France and Belgium it is known as the dimanche des Brandons...
: held on the Sunday after Shrove Tuesday, huge bonfires blaze throughout the country celebrating the end of winter. - EmaischenEmaischenThe Emaischen festival is celebrated every Easter Monday in the village of Nospelt in the south of Luxembourg as well as in the Fish Market in the City of Luxembourg. Little earthenware whistles shaped like birds and known as peckvillercher are a special feature of the event...
: held every Easter Monday in the village of NospeltNospeltNospelt is a village in the commune of Kehlen, in south-western Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 754. It is known above all for its potters who were particularly successful during the 19th century.-Location:...
and in Luxembourg's Fish MarketFishmarketFishmarket , also spelt Fish Market, is a street in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg, that shares its name with the neighbourhood directly surrounding it. It lies in the eastern part of the Ville Haute quarter....
, the centrepiece of the pottery fair is the Péckvillchen, a bird-shaped earthenware whistle. - OctaveOctave celebrationThe Octave is one of Luxembourg's major annual religious celebrations. It takes starts on the 3rd Sunday after Easter and closes with the Octave Procession on the 5th Sunday after Easter. It honours Our Lady of Luxembourg, Maria Mater Jesu, Consolatrix Afflictorum, Patrona Civitatis et Patriae...
: the main religious festival of the year, the octave is held in the second half of April for a period of two weeks when pilgrims come to the cathedral; a market on the Place Guillaume offers food, drink and religious artifacts. - Echternacher SprangpressessiounDancing procession of EchternachThe dancing procession of Echternach is an annual Roman Catholic dancing procession held at Echternach, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach's is the last traditional dancing procession in Europe....
: held on Whit Tuesday in memory of St Willibrord, hundreds of people "spring" from left to right as they dance through the town, linked by white handkerchiefs. - National holiday: celebrated throughout the country on 23 June in honour of the grand duke, the festivities begin on the evening of the 22nd with a firework display in the centre of Luxembourg City.
- SchueberfouerSchueberfouerThe Schueberfouer is the annual Luxembourg city fair held every year on the Glacis car park in Limpertsberg. It is the biggest fair in the country. The 2010 is the 670th edition....
: the extensive fun fair with all the traditional rides goes up in LimpertsbergLimpertsbergLimpertsberg is a quarter in north-western Luxembourg City, in the centre of Luxembourg.In the south, on the border with the main city is the Glacis, a large open air parking lot which hosts the annual Schueberfouer fair, the largest fair in the country...
on the Glacis around 23 August and remains for about three weeks. - Wine festivals: usually held in October in the wine villages along the Moselle as a thanksgiving celebration for the grape harvest.
- St Nicolas: Kleeschen, the patron saint of children, with his servant in black, arrives in every village accompanied by a brass band ready, in agreement with their parents, to distribute presents to the children.
Food and drink
Luxembourg cuisine combines the quality of French dishes with the quantity of German and Belgian servings. But there are also some national favourites such as Bouneschlupp, a soup with French beans, Judd mat Gaardebounen, neck of pork with broad beans, and Fritür, small fried fish from the Moselle. Dry white wines from the Moselle valley include RieslingRiesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
, Pinot gris
Pinot gris
Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance...
, Pinot blanc
Pinot Blanc
Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a point genetic mutation of Pinot noir. Pinot noir is genetically unstable and will occasionally experience a point mutation in which a vine bears all black fruit except for one cane which produced white fruit....
and Auxerrois
Auxerrois
Auxerrois is a historical province of France. Named after the city of Auxerre in Burgundy, it gives its name to several grape varieties:* Auxerrois Blanc is a white wine grape that is widely grown in Alsace, and also in Lorraine, Germany and Luxembourg...
and the less sophisticated Rivaner and Elbling
Elbling
Elbling is a variety of white grape which today is primarily grown in the upstream parts of the Mosel region in Germany and in Luxembourg, the vineyards of which are also located along Moselle River...
. Also popular is Luxembourg's Crémant, a sparkling wine produced in accordance with the traditional method for French champagne.
Luxembourg City
The City of LuxembourgLuxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
is not only a historic UNESCO site with its fortifications lining the steep valley but also an important European and financial centre with imposing modern buildings.
In September 2011, the Luxembourg City Tourist Office reported that after several years of decline, the city welcomed 403,085 tourists between January and August 2011, a 6.38 increase over 2010. The casemates were the most popular attraction with a total of 87,083 visitors, most of whom visited the Bock Casemates
Bock (Luxembourg)
The Bock is a promontory in the north-eastern corner of Luxembourg City's old historical district. Offering a natural fortification, its rocky cliffs tower above the River Alzette which surrounds it on three sides. It was here that Count Siegfried built his Castle of Lucilinburhuc in 963,...
.
The old town
Within walking distance of each other, places of interest in the old town include the fortifications and the underground defences known as the casematesBock (Luxembourg)
The Bock is a promontory in the north-eastern corner of Luxembourg City's old historical district. Offering a natural fortification, its rocky cliffs tower above the River Alzette which surrounds it on three sides. It was here that Count Siegfried built his Castle of Lucilinburhuc in 963,...
, the Grand Ducal Palace
Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg
The Grand Ducal Palace is a palace in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and where he performs most of his duties as head of state of the Grand Duchy.-History:...
, the neogothic Cathedral of Notre Dame
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg
Notre-Dame Cathedral is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It was originally a Jesuit church, and its cornerstone was laid in 1613....
, Place Guillaume II
Place Guillaume II
Place Guillaume II is a town square in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The square lies to the west of Krautmaart and to the north of Boulevard Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the heart of Luxembourg's historic Ville Haute quarter...
with the City Hall
Luxembourg City Hall
Luxembourg City Hall is the city hall of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The city hall is the centre of local government, including being used as the private office of the Mayor of Luxembourg City. Due to its position in Luxembourg's capital, it also regularly plays host to foreign...
, the Place d'Armes
Place d'Armes (Luxembourg)
The Place d'Armes is a square in Luxembourg City in the south of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Centrally placed in the old town, it attracts large numbers of locals and visitors, especially in the summer months...
with its pavement restaurants and cafés, the Gëlle Fra
Gëlle Fra
The Monument of Remembrance , usually known by the nickname of the Gëlle Fra , is a war memorial in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg...
or Golden Lady crowning the obelisk in memory of those who died for their country during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the nearby Adolphe Bridge
Adolphe Bridge
Adolphe Bridge is an arch bridge in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The bridge takes road traffic across the Pétrusse, connecting Boulevard Royal, in Ville Haute, to Avenue de la Liberté, in Gare...
towering over the valley.
There are also two particularly interesting museums in the old town. The Luxembourg City History Museum
Luxembourg City History Museum
The Luxembourg City History Museum, , illustrates the thousand-year history of the City of Luxembourg with both permanent and temporary exhibits. Founded on 22 June 1996, it was designed by Luxembourg architect Conny Lentz and Repérages, Paris....
traces the history of the city from its foundations (in the lower floors) to the present (at the top) while the National Museum of History and Art
National Museum of History and Art
The National Museum of History and Art , abbreviated to MNHA, is a museum located in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is dedicated to displaying artworks and artefacts from all epochs of Luxembourgian history...
showcases Celtic and Roman findings including the well-preserved Vichten Mosaic depicting the Roman muses.
The Grund
The valley itself, known as the GrundGrund, Luxembourg
Grund is a quarter in central Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is located in the valley below the centre of Luxembourg City on the banks of the Alzette River and, in addition to being a picturesque area, is a popular nightlife precinct which can be accessed by foot or via a lift which...
, also has points of interest such as the Neumünster Abbey
Neumünster Abbey
Neumünster Abbey is a public meeting place and cultural centre, located in the Grund district of Luxembourg City in southern Luxembourg. After the original Benedictine Abbey on the Altmünster Plateau had been destroyed in 1542, the monks built a new abbey or Neumünster in 1606 in the Grund...
and the Natural History Museum
National Museum of Natural History (Luxembourg)
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The museum is located in the Grund quarter on the eastern bank of the Alzette river, next to the Neumünster Abbey cultural centre....
. Once a poor quarter of the city, it has become increasingly popular for its night life in the narrow medieval streets and for its gastronomic restaurants.
Kirchberg
The Kirchberg Plateau which covers the area between the city and the airport began to develop in the 1970s with office buildings for the European Institutions. Over the years, it has become the focus of Luxembourg's financial interests with an impressive array of banks and business centres. There have also been cultural developments such as the impressive Museum of Modern ArtMudam
The Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art , abbreviated to Mudam, is a museum of modern art in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The museum stands on the site of the old Fort Thüngen, in the Kirchberg quarter, in the north-east of the city....
and the Philharmonie
Philharmonie
* Berliner Philharmonie* Cologne Philharmonie* Elbe Philharmonie, Hamburg* Jenaer Philharmonie* Gasteig Philharmonie, Munich* Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt* Philharmonie de Paris* Philharmonie Luxembourg...
concert hall as well as sports and entertainment facilities.
Vianden
Located close to the German border in northeastern Luxembourg, ViandenVianden
Vianden is a commune with city status in the Oesling, north-eastern Luxembourg, with over 1,500 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Vianden, which is part of the district of Diekirch. Vianden lies on the Our river, near the border between Luxembourg and Germany., the town of Vianden,...
is a small hilly town in a picturesque setting on the River Our. Visitors are attracted above all by the carefully restored medieval castle standing high above the river but also by the old-world atmosphere which pervades the town.
Vianden Castle
Vianden Castle
Vianden Castle , located in Vianden in the north of Luxembourg, is one of the largest fortified castles west of the Rhine. With origins dating from the 10th century, the castle was built in the Romanesque style from the 11th to 14th centuries. Gothic transformations and trimmings were added at the...
was built between the 11th and 14th centuries and became the seat of the counts of Vianden
Counts of Vianden
The Counts of Vianden, ancestors of the House of Orange-Nassau, were associated with the castle of Vianden .-House of Sponheim:* Bertolph count of Vianden * Frederic I of Vianden...
. It was further developed until the 18th century but with the departure of the Counts of Luxembourg to the Netherlands combined with the effects of fire and an earthquake, it slowly deteriorated. The final blow came in 1820 when William I of the Netherlands
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
sold it to a local merchant who in turn sold off its contents and masonry piecemeal, reducing it to a ruin. Not until 1977, when Grand Duke Jean
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma...
ceded the castle to the State, was it possible to undertake large-scale restoration work.
Vianden also has a chair lift up to a restaurant high above the castle, offering extensive views of the town and its mountainous surroundings. The Victor Hugo museum near the bridge over the River Our presents a number of the author's original letters and drawings in the house where he used to stay.
Echternach
With a population of some 4,000, EchternachEchternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
near the German border is the oldest town in Luxembourg. It was founded in 698 by St. Willibrord
Willibrord
__notoc__Willibrord was a Northumbrian missionary saint, known as the "Apostle to the Frisians" in the modern Netherlands...
, an English monk who was the abbot of the monastery until his death in 739. In his honour, for the past 500 years the dancing procession
Dancing procession of Echternach
The dancing procession of Echternach is an annual Roman Catholic dancing procession held at Echternach, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach's is the last traditional dancing procession in Europe....
has taken place every Whit Tuesday
Whit Tuesday
Whit Tuesday is the Christian holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost Monday, the third day of the week beginning on Pentecost. Pentecost is a movable feast in the Christian calendar dependent upon the date of Easter.In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Whit Tuesday is known as the "Third Day of the...
, attracting pilgrims from near and far. The Romanesque basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
with symmetrical towers still houses his tomb in its crypt. The town of Echternach grew up around the abbey walls and was granted a city charter in 1236. The abbey was rebuilt in a handsome Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
range in 1737. Echternach is also the site of a large Roman villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
which was discovered in 1975 and is open to visitors.
The picturesque town, still surrounded by its medieval walls, hosts the International Music Festival
Echternach Music Festival
The Echternach Music Festival is an international event which has been held in May and June every year since 1975 at Echternach in the east of Luxembourg. In addition to classical music, modern compositions are performed in the 18th century basilica of St Willibrord and in the church of St Peter...
in May and June each year. It is an ideal starting point for walks into the Mullertal
Little Switzerland (Luxembourg)
Little Switzerland is a nickname for a region in the east of Luxembourg, bestowed upon the region on account of its reputed geographic similarities to Switzerland. It is roughly contiguous with the canton of Echternach...
or for cycle trips along the River Sure
Sauer
The Sauer or Sûre is a river in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. A left tributary of the river Moselle, its total length is 173 km....
. Echternach also has an interesting Prehistory Museum
Prehistory Museum, Echternach
The Prehistory Museum in Echternach, Luxembourg, houses a collection of prehistoric artefacts principally from Luxembourg, northern Europe and France testifying to the history of mankind for more than a million years...
.
The Moselle valley
Stretching 42 km (26.1 mi) from Schengen in the south to WasserbilligWasserbillig
Wasserbillig is a town in the commune of Mertert, in eastern Luxembourg. , Wasserbillig has 2,186 inhabitants, which makes it the largest town in Mertert. It lies at the confluence of the rivers Moselle and Sauer, which form the border with Germany at the town...
in the north, the rounded hills of the Moselle valley are lined by vineyards. The river passes a number of quaint little riverside towns and villages with narrow streets, wine cooperatives and annual wine festivals. From south to north, the river flows past Schengen, famous for the EU agreement
Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement is a treaty signed on 14 June 1985 near the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, between five of the ten member states of the European Economic Community. It was supplemented by the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement 5 years later...
facilitating cross-border travel, Remerschen
Remerschen
Remerschen is a former commune and small wine-growing town in south-eastern Luxembourg, belonging to the commune of Schengen, near the point where the borders of Germany, France and Luxembourg come together....
, Schwebsange
Schwebsange
Schwebsange is a small town in the commune of Wellenstein, in south-eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 277....
, Bech-Kleinmacher
Bech-Kleinmacher
Bech-Kleinmacher is a small town in the commune of Wellenstein, in south-eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 536. It is the administrative centre of Wellenstein commune....
, Wellenstein
Wellenstein
Wellenstein is a commune and small town in south-eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. The commune's administrative centre is Bech-Kleinmacher....
and Remich
Remich
Remich is a commune with city status in south-eastern Luxembourg with just under 3,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Remich lies on the left bank of the Moselle river, which forms part of the border between Luxembourg and...
which has been attracting wine-enthusiasts since Roman times and is still a busy venue for tourists with promenades, gardens, river excursions and wine cellars. After Stadtbredimus
Stadtbredimus
Stadtbredimus is a commune and small town in south-eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher., the town of Stadtbredimus, which lies in the south-east of the commune, has a population of 676...
on the river front and Greiveldange
Greiveldange
Greiveldange is a small town in the commune of Stadtbredimus, in south-eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 573....
up in the hills, the Moselle then passes the charming villages of Ehnen
Ehnen
Ehnen is a small town in the commune of Wormeldange, in south-eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 504.Ehnen is home to Luxembourg's Moselle Wine Museum which is open from the beginning of April to the end of October....
with its Wine Museum
Wine Museum, Ehnen
The Wine Museum , located in Ehnen on the Luxembourg side of the Moselle, illustrates the art of wine-making with exhibits of traditional vintner's tools and bottling equipment together with old documents and photographs...
, Wormeldange
Wormeldange
Wormeldange is a commune and small town in eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Grevenmacher, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher....
, Ahn
Ahn, Luxembourg
Ahn is a village in the commune of Wormeldange, in south-eastern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 220....
and Machtum
Machtum
Machtum is a small town in the commune of Wormeldange, in south-eastern Luxembourg. As of 2005, the town has a population of 286. In the Moselle valley wine region, Machtum – along with Wormeldange, Ahn, and Ehnen – hosts the Riesling Open wine festival in September.-Footnotes:...
where some of Luxembourg's finest restaurants are to be found. Then comes the small town of Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher is a commune with city status in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. It is the capital of the canton and the district of Grevenmacher...
before the Moselle meets the Sauer at the busy border town of Wasserbillig
Wasserbillig
Wasserbillig is a town in the commune of Mertert, in eastern Luxembourg. , Wasserbillig has 2,186 inhabitants, which makes it the largest town in Mertert. It lies at the confluence of the rivers Moselle and Sauer, which form the border with Germany at the town...
.
Other areas of interest
The Ardennes in the north of the country present excellent opportunities for ramblers and mountain bikers in an area of forested hills, rocky crags and green valleys. Additional attractions are the castles of BourscheidBourscheid Castle
Bourscheid Castle is located near the village of Bourscheid in north-eastern Luxembourg. The medieval castle stands on a site with archeological evidence of structures dating back to Roman times...
, Brandenbourg
Brandenbourg Castle
Brandenbourg Castle , now a ruin, is located on a promontory some 70 metres above the village of Brandenbourg in north-eastern Luxembourg. It has a history going back to the 9th and 10th centuries when there was a wooden fort on the site. The 13th century keep, now 11.9 metres high, used to have...
, Clervaux
Clervaux Castle
Clervaux Castle in the town of Clervaux in northern Luxembourg dates back to the 12th century. Destroyed by fire in the Second World War during the Battle of the Bulge, the castle has now been fully rebuilt...
, Esch-sur-Sûre
Esch-sur-Sûre Castle
Esch-sur-Sûre Castle , now a ruin, is located on a spur in the small town of Esch-sur-Sûre in the north-west of Luxembourg. It is naturally protected by a sharp meander in the River Sûre which surrounds the town and the castle on three sides.-History:...
, Vianden
Vianden
Vianden is a commune with city status in the Oesling, north-eastern Luxembourg, with over 1,500 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Vianden, which is part of the district of Diekirch. Vianden lies on the Our river, near the border between Luxembourg and Germany., the town of Vianden,...
and Wiltz
Wiltz
Wiltz is a commune with city status in north-western Luxembourg, capital of the canton Wiltz. Wiltz is situated on the banks of the river Wiltz. It was also a battleground in the Battle of the Bulge, near the end of World War II...
as well as the Lac de la Haute-Sûre
Lac de la Haute-Sûre
Lac de la Haute-Sûre , is a commune in north-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Wiltz, which is part of the district of Diekirch. The commune is named after the reservoir of the upper Sauer river. The commune's administrative centre is Bavigne....
which provides opportunities for swimming and water sports.
The Mullerthal, just north of Echternach, also offers interesting walking and cycling circuits through curious rock formations, often complete with caves. The motorist too can experience a surprising variety of countryside driving through the river valleys and up to the surprisingly flat plains above. Berdorf
Berdorf
Berdorf is a commune and small town in eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Berdorf is known for the sandstone rocks surrounding it....
and Beaufort
Beaufort
-People and titles:* Beaufort , the surname of many people* House of Beaufort, English nobility* Duke of Beaufort , a title in the peerage of England* Duke of Beaufort , a title in the French nobility-Places:...
are popular tourist centres.
Mondorf-les-Bains
Mondorf-les-Bains
Mondorf-les-Bains is a commune and town in south-eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Mondorf-les-Bains is a spa town , and has the only casino in Luxembourg....
in the south of the country not only has a range of modern spa and fitness facilities but is home to Luxembourg's only gambling facility, Casino 2000
Casino 2000
Casino 2000 is a gaming casino and entertainment complex located in Mondorf-les-Bains in the south of Luxembourg. It houses the country's only gambling facilities.-Facilities:...
. Not far from Mondorf is one of the Luxembourg's most interesting Roman sites, Dalheim Ricciacum
Dalheim Ricciacum
Dalheim Ricciacum is the site of a Gallo-Roman vicus at Dalheim in south western Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Founded during the reign of the Emperor Augustus, the site was at a strategic point on the Via Agrippa, the main Roman road from the Mediterranean to the Rhine...
, with its old Roman theatre.
Attractions
The Bock casematesBock (Luxembourg)
The Bock is a promontory in the north-eastern corner of Luxembourg City's old historical district. Offering a natural fortification, its rocky cliffs tower above the River Alzette which surrounds it on three sides. It was here that Count Siegfried built his Castle of Lucilinburhuc in 963,...
in Luxembourg City are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm from March to October. Now a UNESCO heritage site, these underground passages were part of Luxembourg's former defences.
The National Museum of Military History
National Museum of Military History (Luxembourg)
The National Museum of Military History , abbreviated to NMMH, is a national museum in Diekirch, in north-eastern Luxembourg, that includes amongst its exhibits military vehicles and weaponry, a photographic archive, and lifesize dioramas displaying military servicemen and actions...
at Diekirch
Diekirch
Diekirch is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river....
in the central part of Luxembourg provides insights into the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
and related episodes of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The museum is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
Les Thermes
Les Thermes
Les Thermes is a water park in Strassen, just west of Luxembourg City in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Opened in February 2009, it attracted half a million visitors during its first year and has been named "Most Innovating Waterpark in Europe" by the European Waterpark Association based in...
, an indoor/outdoor water park in Strassen
Strassen
Strassen can refer to:* the mathematician Volker Strassen* the Strassen algorithm* the town Strassen, Luxembourg*Strassen, Austria, a town in the district of Lienz in TyrolSee also:*Straße...
just west of Luxembourg City, offers an olympic swimming pool, two pools for children, wave baths, slides and sauna.
From April to early October, the Parc Merveilleux
Parc Merveilleux
The Parc Merveilleux is an amusement park just east of Bettembourg in the south of Luxembourg. Designed above all for children, the park has a wide range of attractions including exotic birds, animals in their natural habitats, a pony ranch, a miniature railway, children's self-drive cars,...
near Bettembourg
Bettembourg
Bettembourg is a commune and town in southern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg., the town of Bettembourg, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 7,157...
has a range of attractions for children including rides, mini zoo, and fairy tale presentations.
The historic steam Train 1900
Industry and Railway Park Fond-de-Gras
The Industry and Railway Park Fond-de-Gras is a museum in south west Luxembourg near to the towns of Pétange and Rodange. It is linked to Pétange by a heritage railway operated by AMTF.-External links:* * *...
operates between Petange
Pétange
Pétange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg. Pétange lies on the borders with both Belgium and France....
and Fond-de-Gras in the south-east of Luxembourg on Sunday afternoons between May and September. From Fond-de-Gras, trips on the Minièresbunn narrow gauge railway are also possible.
The National Mining Museum
National Mining Museum, Luxembourg
The National Mining Museum of Luxembourg is located in the very south of the country, at Rumelange close to the French border. It provides an on-site exhibition of the tools, machinery and equipment used from the beginning of the 19th century until the iron-ore mines were closed in the 1980s...
in Rumelange
Rumelange
Rumelange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France., the town of Rumelange, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 4,818. It is also the site of some of the underground iron mines no longer in operation...
, south-east Luxembourg, is open April to September from Thursday to Sunday, 2 pm to 6 pm. Lasting about an hour and a half, the visit includes a 20-minute trip on the old railway deep into the mine.
The Butterfly Garden
Butterfly Garden, Grevenmacher
The Butterfly Garden or Jardin des Papillons is located in Grevenmacher in south-western Luxembourg. Owned by the Caves Bernard-Massard wine company, the indoor site presents hundreds of exotic butterflies in natural surroundings made up of an impressive diversity of plants. The Butterfly Garden is...
in Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher is a commune with city status in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. It is the capital of the canton and the district of Grevenmacher...
is open every day from April to mid-October.
The Lankelz Railway
Lankelz Railway
The Lankelz Railway in Esch-sur-Alzette, south-eastern Luxembourg, is a miniature railway on a scale of one third normal size...
in Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
, south-eastern Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, is a miniature railway on a scale of one third normal size. The railway operates on Sunday afternoons and public holidays from May to mid-October.
The Aquarium
Wasserbillig Aquarium
The Wasserbillig Aquarium is located in Wasserbillig, a small town in the south west of Luxembourg on the German border. It consists of 15 tanks from 300 to 40,000 litres with fish from all five continents in their natural surroundings. Among the more exotic varieties are angelfish, neon tetra, the...
is located in Wasserbillig
Wasserbillig
Wasserbillig is a town in the commune of Mertert, in eastern Luxembourg. , Wasserbillig has 2,186 inhabitants, which makes it the largest town in Mertert. It lies at the confluence of the rivers Moselle and Sauer, which form the border with Germany at the town...
, a small town in the south west of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. Open every day from Easter to the end of September, it is otherwise open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are 15 tanks from 300 to 40,000 litres with fish from all five continents in their natural surroundings.