Top 20 sightseeing the best attractions to see on your holiday

Top 20 Luxembourg

Top 20 Sightseeing in Luxembourg

At the heart of Western Europe rests a bustling and lively city of Luxembourg. More than just banks, this European city also houses great architectural landscapes, UNESCO World Heritage sites, Michelin-rated gastronomy, high-tech buildings as well as a wealthy collection of historical museums and theaters.

Luxembourg City is the capital of the only Grand Duchy in the world and the second smallest landlocked country in the European Union, Luxembourg. Luxembourg might be just a small country that you can easily tour around its main attractions within a few days but it is definitely jam packed with surprisingly wonderful landmarks. What makes Luxembourg a unique one is the fact that it serves as the home for various cultural groups living together in perfect harmony.

Here are the top 20 must see sightseeing spots that you may try when you visit Luxembourg.

1

Casemates Bock

The Casemates Bock is an unusual yet interesting site to see in the city of Luxembourg. It is a system of underground fortifications that is surrounded by rocks and was used as a civil defense shelter during the first and second world wars. The Casemates Bock which was constructed in the 17th century is listed as among the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city. The 23 kilometers tunnels were built of roughly carved and narrow passages. Wandering around the tunnels will leave you wondering of things that are seemed to be too good to be true. With the narrow corridors and very limited spaces, how the fortifications could house and get around 35,000 people fitted inside? How safe the vaults of the Bank of Luxembourg were? How the military were able to transport weaponry as well as food and other supplies from one end to the other and how they were able to get there horses down the rocks?

2

The Butterfly Garden Grevenmacher

Nature lovers will surely get delighted with what the Butterfly Garden Grevenmacher can offer. This 600 meters square tropical garden in the wine growing district of Grevenmacher keeps 50 different species and hundreds of different exotic butterflies. At the garden you will learn first-hand about the amazing life cycle of the butterflies from mating to laying of eggs, from being a caterpillar to becoming a beautiful butterfly. Apart from the lovely butterflies, visitors will also enjoy other animals and insects like bees, Chinese quail, turtles and chameleons. The garden also grows a wide variety of multi-colored flowers and tropical florae.

3

Notre-Dame Cathedral

The Notre-Dame Cathedral was once a Jesuit church before it was known to be the only cathedral in Luxembourg. This Roman Catholic Cathedral of Luxembourg City is considered a fine example of the late gothic architecture. The cathedral was also built with many Renaissance titivations and elements. The Notre-Dame Cathedral was constructed between 1613 and 1621. The church is embellished with stunning gothic arches and art deco columns; each is designed with unique patterns.

4

Nationalmusée fir Geschicht a Konscht

The Nationalmusée fir Geschicht a Konscht, translated as the National Museum of History and Art or simply MNHA is a museum in the southern area of Luxembourg that is particularly dedicated to the exhibitions of the artifacts and works of art from all the eras of the history of Luxembourg. The MNHA can be found in the Ville Haute quarter in Fishmarket. The museum also houses some displays of fine arts, archeology, arts and crafts as well as coins and models from different epochs.

5

Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art

The Mudam, officially known as the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art, is the leading contemporary art museum in the southern part of Luxembourg. It can be found on the site where the old Fort Thungen in the Kirchberg District of Luxembourg City was once located. The museum, which is directed by Enrico Lunghi, was inaugurated by Grand Duke Jean on July 1, 2006. It was then opened for public visits a day after the inauguration. Mudam focused mainly on modern art. Included in the collections housed in the museum are made by 100 artists like Daniel Buren, Thomas Struth and Bruce Nauman.

6

Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg

The Grand Ducal Palace is one of the most striking buildings in the city. It has beautiful façades, grand staircase and grandiose interior. The Grand Ducal Palace is the official town residence of the ruling Grand Duke of Luxembourg. It is located in Luxembourg City. The palace also serves as the office of the Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess and their staff. It is here where the Grand Duke exercises his official functions. The state rooms are also used for several official meetings and for welcoming audiences and state visitors.

7

Gëlle Fra

The Gëlle Fra, translated as the ‘Golden Lady’, is a war monument in Constitution Square in the Ville Haute quarter of Luxembourg City. It is officially known as the Monument of Remembrance. The monument was built to memorialize the sacrifices of thousands of Luxembourgers who passed away during the First World War. This gold-plated lady statue stone obelisk is known today as the people of Luxembourg’s symbol of freedom and resistance.

8

Petrusse Casemates

The Petrusse casemates are a network of medieval fortifications near the Pétrusse, the river that flows through Luxembourg and through the Hollerich town. The casemates originated in 1644 when the Spaniards reinforced the medieval fortifications under Isaac von Treybach’s supervision.   They also built sturdy Beck Bastion which was as tall as the adjoining terraces on the right side, now known as the Constitution Square. In 1673, the “Ravelin du Pate” was added to make the Beck Bastion stronger. Other structures including the Bourbon Lock, the Small Staircase, the Large Staircase and the Petrusse Battery were then added on the following years. In 1933, the Petrusse casemates were valorized again after falling into neglect and oblivion for a long time. The first visitors of the Petrusse casemates are recorded on July 26, 1933.

9

Fort Thüngen

Fort Thüngen, also colloquially referred to as Three Acorns or Dräi Eechelen, is another ancient fortification in Luxembourg City. It can be found in Dräi Eechelen Park in the Kirchberg quarter of Luxembourg. Most of the parts of the fortress were destroyed by demand of demolition pursuant to the 1867 Treaty of London. The only parts that stayed intact were the three towers as well as the foundations of the fortress. A reconstruction project of the entire fortification was done in the 1990s. After the project was completed, the fortification was reopened in 2012 and was then known as Musée Dräi Eechelen.

10

Neumünster Abbey

Neumünster Abbey LuxembourgAbtei Neimënster, translated in English as Neumünster Abbey, is one of the most significant historical landmarks of the city. It was once a cultural center and a public meeting place as well. The abbey is utilized as the home to European Institute of Cultural Routes since 1997. The abbey also served as a prison, a police station and Prussians barracks in 1815. It also functioned as the prison for political resisters including the renowned sculptor Lucien Wercollier. It is situated in the Grund district of Luxembourg City.

11

Place d’Armes

The Place d’Armes is one of the best places in the country to eat and just hang out. It is a square located at the central area of the old town in the southern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is one of the places in the country that magnets a huge traffic of both visitors and locals. Around this famous square are several conventional and fine restaurants and cafés. The Place d’Armes was once a parade ground for defending troops of the city. Now, it is popularly known as a major ground for public activities and events like music groups and bands concerts on summer nights, flea market every second and fourth Saturday of the month and Christmas market in December.

12

Am Tunnel

The Contemporary Art Gallery Am Tunnel, or simply Am Tunnel, is a modern art gallery in Luxembourg City that houses a remarkable collection of the masterpieces of more than a hundred contemporary Luxembourgish artists like the photographer Edward Steichen. The gallery also displays retrospectives visual arts done by some other artists. Am Tunnel can be found in the underground casemates of the ancient fortress of the city located underneath the Bourbon plateau in the Gare quarter of Luxembourg.

13

Luxembourg City History Museum

Visiting the Luxembourg City History Museum lets you learn about the fascinating and rich history and national heritage of Luxembourg as well as the changing everyday life of the city populace. This city museum is open for public visits and group tours every day except on Mondays. The museum is situated on the Rue Du Saint-Esprit in the center of the old town.   The museum houses and exhibits both permanent and temporary collection of items that demonstrate the thousand years of history of the city. It was opened in June 22, 1996.

14

Monument of the Millennium

The Monument of the Millennium is yet another interesting archaeological site in Luxembourg City. The monument was built and reconstructed as part of the city’s millennium celebration. It is situated at Montée de Clausen in Luxembourg City. In the beginning, the plan was to build a permanent monument at the Bock Promontory. However, the plan was diverted into just restoring the remains of the first fortress of Count Siegfried of Ardenne’s foundation walls which was uncovered during the supposed to be construction of the monument.

15

Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge

The Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, also commonly called the Pont Grande-Duchesse Charlotte or Red Bridge, is a road bridge made of steel in Luxembourg City. This two hinged rigid-frame road bridge crosses the Alzette River and connects Boulevard Robert Schuman in Limpertsberg and the Avenue John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Kirchberg. This stunning red bridge also serves as the main route that connects Ville Haute city center to the European Union institutions site in Kirchberg. It was inaugurated in 1966 and was known to be the CECA symbol.

16

Grund, Luxembourg

The Grund, one of the quarters of central Luxembourg City, is a home to the popular two-star Michelin restaurant that specializes in pasta, the Mosconi. The Grund is situated in the ravine that can be found on the banks of the River Alzette deep down the center of Luxembourg City. Aside from the very picturesque landscape of this little neighborhood, you can also enjoy seeing the stone houses which were founded directly into the rock faces. It is also popular for being a nice nightlife precinct and a home to a number of terraced gardens and wineries as well as to a 15th century bridge.

17

Le Chemin de La Corniche

Hailed as Europe’s most beautiful balcony, the Le Chemin de La Corniche offers one of the most picturesque areas in the country. It is a pedestrian walkway that was built in the 17th century by the French and the Spaniards on the parapets along the Alzette valley on the east side of the city. Walking along this historical pedestrian walkway will give you a clear overview of the thousands of year’s history of Luxembourg.

18

Méchelskierch

Méchelskierch, translated in English as Saint Michael’s Church, is the most ancient religious site in Luxembourg’s capital city that is still in existence. This Roman Catholic church can be found in Fishmarket, Ville Haute quarter of Luxembourg City. Its origins date back to 987. It was once a castle chapel specially built for the Count of Luxembourg. The first church was destroyed over the years and was then renovated and rebuilt for a couple of times but still maintaining its original form. The present design of the church was done in 1688. Further restorations works were also done in the 1980s and 2000s. It features a mixture of Baroque and Romanesque architectural styles.

19

Buerg Veianen

luxembourg Vianden CastleWant to witness a millennium’s worth of Luxembourg’s history while enjoying the breathtaking views of the countryside and of the town? Well, you may consider spending some time at the Buerg Veianen or Vianden Castle. This castle in Vianden is one of the largest safeguarded citadels in the west side of the Rhine. The castle dates back to the 10th century with a Romanesque style. Gothic renovations and embellishments as well as a Renaissance mansion were then added. The castle was wrecked through the years but was then fully restored and is now open for public visits.

20

Place Guillaume II

The Place Guillaume II is a gigantic plaza in the heart of the town. It is a very lively plaza in Luxembourg and is famous for its outdoor market which is open every Sundays and Wednesdays. At the outdoor market you can be able to buy locally produced products and witness the everyday life of the people living in Luxembourg.