Luxembourg is a landlocked country which is bordered by 3 countries: Germany, Belgium and France. I decided to visit Luxembourg as I was traveling from Germany to France and I was curious about this country which has one the world's highest GDP per capita despite being one of the smallest countries in Europe!
Getting in:
Luxembourg is a member of Schengen Agreement. Since I was traveling within the EU, there is no immigration check for me when I entered Luxembourg.
1) By plane:
Luxembourg has an international airport, Luxembourg-Findel International Airport (LUX) which is easily accessible by city bus, regional bus, car or taxi.
For more information, visit the official website of the airport: https://www.lux-airport.lu/
2) By train:
This is my preferred way to enter Luxembourg since I was departing from Cologne which is only 3.5 hours train away.
Photo above is Luxembourg Railway Station which is approximately 2 km away from the Ville Haute.
Tips: I stored my luggage at the train station for EUR 5 each piece per 24 hours.
Alternatively, you can get in by car or bus.
Getting around:
Otherwise, you can still easily explore the city on foot, which I did mostly. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes since the old city is built on a cliff overlooking the deep and narrow valleys.
Accommodation:
The hotels in Luxembourg is generally expensive, which easily cost EUR 100 and above. I didn't stay overnight in Luxembourg as I was planning to spent the night in Colmar instead.
What to see:
The capital city is also called Luxembourg. The city is so compact that one can reach any part of the city within an hour.
The city centre of Luxembourg is known as Ville Haute. This picturesque area of the town features many tourist attractions such as Places Guillaume II, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Monument of Remembrance, National Museum of History and Art and etc.
Monument to the Grand Duchess Charlotte.
Notre-Dame Cathedral was built between 1613 and 1621 by the Jesuits to serve as a church to their college.
Nave of the cathedral.
It is the only cathedral in Luxembourg. The crypts contains the remains of Grand Dukes and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
Monument of Remembrance is a war memorial in the city. It is dedicated to the Luxembourgers who volunteered for service in the armed forces of Allied Powers during both World Wars and the Korean War. It is easily recognized by the gold gilded bronze statue on top of a 21m high obelisk. Hence, the nickname, Gëlle Fra (meaning golden lady in Luxembourgish).
This is the Adolphe Bridge, a famous double-decked arch bridge in Luxembourg.
It was named after Grand Duke Adolphe, who reigned in Luxembourg 1890 till 1905. Although the bridge is now more than 100 years old, it is still being referred as the "New Bridge".
The bridge is just a short walk from Monument of Remembrance.
Hotel de Ville is the city hall of Luxembourg. Unfortunately, it seemed to be under renovation during my visit.
Nearby the city hall, you will find Luxembourg City Tourist Office.
Grand Ducal Palace is the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
During the German occupation in WWII, the palace was used by the Nazis as a concert hall and tavern. The palace once again became the seat of the Grand Ducal Court with the return of Grand Duchess Charlotte from exile in 1945.
Guard in front of the palace. Guided tours is available exclusively during summer (from mid July till end of August).
Grand Rue is a shopping street in Ville Haute. If you love upscale fashion, this is the place to be.
Place d'Armes is a square which is located right in the heart of the old town. It has lots of restaurants and shops nearby.
This is where I grabbed a salad for my lunch.
Monument to Dicks and Lentz was dedicated to the two national poets who wrote the words of the national athem.
Next, I strolled along Chemin de la Corniche which is a pedestrian promenade along the 17th century city ramparts. It is dubbed as the most beautiful balcony of Europe. It runs along the Alzette valley on the ramparts and it offers incredible views of the fortification and valley below.
This is the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge which is known as the Red Bridge. It is the main route connecting the city centre, Ville Haute to Kirchberg.
The Passerelle, Luxembourg Viaduct, is also known as the Old Bridge. It is 290m long with 24 arches.
The Grund Gate.
It was a pleasure walking along the fortress wall as the view is beautiful.
* Take note that the Bock Casemates (UNESCO World Heritage site) is temporarily closed at this moment.
Last but not least, I visited Mudam, Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg, which stands on the site of the old Fort Thungen.
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (Mon, Thu-Sun), 10am - 10pm (Wed), closed on Tuesday.
Admission: EUR 8 (adult), under age 21/student free, EUR 5 (groups min. 15 persons), free on Wednesday from 6pm - 9pm
Getting to Mudam:
- Tram line 1
- Train RB, RE
- Bus 144, 16, 165, 194, 213, 222, 26
Website: https://www.mudam.com/
Even if you are not really into contemporary art, it is still worthwhile to see the historic fortress which has been fully restored today. Unfortunately, Fort Thungen was not open on that day.
You can also have a nice view over the valley from Fort Thungen.
Don't forget to take photo in front of the "Luxembourg" sign in front of the museum before you leave.
I spent about half a day (6 hours) exploring the city of Luxembourg which is plenty of time to enjoy the city before leaving by train to Colmar. I really love the dramatic view of the city on top of a cliff which was quite different from other European cities that I have visited.
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