Luxemburg sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

The Grand Duchy is rich in places of interest. In Luxemburg, tourists will find ancient palaces, museums and unique nature parks, so an excursion program there will never be boring. The Grand Duchy Palace is a must visit place in Luxemburg. Initially, the building was constructed as a town hall. Later it became a property of the Dutch governor and only in the end of the 19th century the palace got the status of the head of the country’s residence. During the years of the Nazi regime, the palace was used as a venue for concerts and entertainment shows. The majority of artworks that were in the palace were lost during that period. Only after the end of World War II the palace has become the duke’s residence once again. Today, the palace is used for conferences and official ceremonies.

The Former Castle of the Counts of Luxembourg is an interesting building that is worth attention of travellers. The castle was built on a hill in the middle of the 10th century. In the 10th century it was used as a residence of counts, and later the castle was turned into a protective facility. In 1459, the castle was severely damaged in fire. The fortress was discovered by archaeologists only in 1993. Nowadays, visitors can see a part of the wall and one wing of the castle.

Buildings of the medieval period are not the only sight of Luxembourg. Below modern streets and squares there is a complicated system of tunnels. Construction of the so called casemates started in 1644. At that time the casemates were an important part of protective facilities. The total length of the tunnels estimated 23 km. Many of them were demolished later and only 17 km of tunnels have survived. It’s also worth mentioning that during the Roman Empire times there already was a system of complex underground tunnels and it was later expanded in the medieval period. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Notre Dame Cathedral remains the most famous religious building. This magnificent church was built in the 17th century in a style that can be described as a mix of late gothic style and renaissance. The main symbol of the sanctuary is the statue of Maria. On the days of big religious holidays, the statue is taken out the cathedral and installed on the nearby square. Thousands of pilgrims arrive to the city on these special days, so that they can bow to the statue. Vianden, the home city of Victor Hugo, is often called the most picturesque place in Luxembourg. Tourists will find here cosy streets, parks, squares and charming restaurants. Travellers are also recommended the visit the museum dedicated to the great writer.

History and Entertainment

In the course of archeological researches, it was found out that the first settlements on the territory of modern Luxembourg appeared over 35 000 years ago. The permanent settlements here started to be formed in the Neolithic period. Archeologists found some parts of old houses, ceramic items, ancient weapons and accessories. The most interesting districts here are Mompach and Dalheim. From the 6th to 1st century BC, there was a settlement of Gauls on the territory of Luxembourg. In the 5th century AD, it was conquered by Franks.

The 7th century can be considered as the beginning of the history of the modern country. Local residents were converted to Christianity exactly at this time. In the Middle Ages, the tiny country became a part of different kingdoms. Luxembourg gained independence only in the second half of the 10th century. As a result, it was under Austria and France. In 1815, the country became independent of France and has been keeping autonomy since that time.

In addition to unique historical attractions, Luxembourg is ready to offer its guests a lot of interesting entertainments. It is not a coincidence that it is considered as one of the best countries for hiking. It is almost impossible to get lost here, as there are interesting tourist facilities literally at each step. The country offers wonderful conditions for family recreation. In each small town, there are enchanting parks. In Bettembourg, you can visit Fairy Tale Park. Another beautiful park is located in Mondorf-les-Bains.

Luxembourg is known by fans of food tourist as a place of unique wine production. Very interesting themed excursions are organized for the guests. Over hundreds of years, in Moselle Valley, marvelous vineyards are cultivated. There are historical wineries and cellars near them. Here, you can taste popular wines and visit excellent wine stores.

The tiny country offers wonderful conditions for health tourism. In Mundorf, healing mineral springs were found. At present, this is a small town with the population of about 4 000 people. This is also a world-famous resort. It is notable not only for unique mineral springs, but also for healing climate.