15 Things to do in Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the world and spans an area of just 1,650 square kilometers. With a population of 500,000 residents it is more like a large town than a country, but its size actually makes it a great place to visit as many of the main attractions are concentrated in one place. The center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right and may of the top sights in Luxembourg can be found here. Here are the 15 best things to do in Luxembourg… 1. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral Notre Dame Cathedral was built in the 17th century by Jesuit priests and still stands proud to this day. One of the signature features here is the north gate which is baroque in style and is covered with pretty stained glass that dates from the 19th and 20th centuries. It is also famous for its crypt which contains graves of members of the Luxembourg royal family and which is guarded by two lion statues. 2. Explore the Bock and the City Casements The Bock Cliff in Luxembourg is known for its cannons and its fortifications and it is here that you can explore Casemates which is a series of underground passages. You can walk through many of the tunnels and at the top of the plateau you will find the crumbling ruins of a former castle which was only discovered as late as 1963. 3. Pay a visit to the tax villains’ villas If you walk from the old town to the Villa Vauban, you pass through a district of beautiful 19th century villas that house giant law firms, oil firms, multinationals, and other financial corporations. The Villa Vauban (villavauban.lu) itself, in the lovely park that encircles the city, is the exception. It is open to visitors (for €5) and has an impressive art gallery. 4. Tour the wine regions If you fancy some fizz, Luxembourg’s sparkling white and rosé wines are well respected. The wine region stretches along the banks of the Moselle from Wasserbillig (with its giant aquarium and railway station) to Schengen (where the accord was signed, on a boat near the border with Germany and France). There are wine museums and some wineries, such as the Caves Co-operatives in Wormeldange (vinsmoselle.lu/en), open up bottles for you to taste. 5. Go climbing in “Little Switzerland” The area known as Little Switzerland allows you to go climbing over rocks and walking through canyons. One of the easiest walks follows the Ernst Noire river out of Müllerthal and over the Schiessentümpel bridge to see the triple waterfall. 6. Luxembourg American Cemetery Memorial (www.abmc.gov) The cemetery consists of 17 acres of manicured lawn surrounded by 33.5 acres of woods. Sloping away from the terrace is the cemetery where 5,073 service members lie, many of whom lost their lives in the Battle of the Bulge and in the advance to the Rhine River. The design is a softly curving fan shape consisting of nine sections interspersed with four fountains, majestic trees, and expansive rose and rhododendron beds. 7. Take in the views from Passerelle Viaduc Passerelle Viaduc is one of the most historically significant bridges in Luxembourg and was completed in 1861. One of the main reasons to come here is to take in the stunning views that spread out over Luxembourg City. 8. Explore Berdorf Berdorf is famous for being one of the tourist hot spots of Luxembourg and sits on windblown table lands that back onto valleys containing the Black Ernz, the Sûre, and the Aesbach rivers. If you like rock climbing then the hills here provide the perfect opportunity. 9. Enjoy the culture at the Museum of Modern Art (MUDAM) The museum sprawls over 4,500 meters and although it features a unique design it is also built on the walls of the former Fort Thungen that dates from 1732. The range of art here is eclectic including photographs, sculpture, textiles, and even digital media. 10. Have a spa at Mondorf-les-Bains Located in the Moselle region of Luxembourg is Mondorf-les-Bains which is home to the some of the best thermal springs in all of Europe. One of the most famous of these is Mondorf le Domaine Thermal which is a spa complex and has a heath center, gym, and adjoining hotel. 11. Take to the Upper-Sûre Lake Close to Esch-sur-Sûre in the Upper-Sûre Natural Park which is also home to the famous lake. The lake is known as one of the top leisure spots in Luxembourg and people flock here for the water sports in the warmer months such as swimming, canoeing, and sailing. 12. Travel to the town of Vianden The town of Vianden is one of the most scenic in all of Luxembourg and nestles close to the banks of the Rover Our. If you want something more relaxing then there is also a chairlift here that rises to 440 meters and gives you the most amazing views over the countryside. 13. Take in the nature at Biodiversum – Nature Reserve Haff Reimech The Haff Reimech Nature Reserve is located at the base of the Schengen and Remich wine slopes and is the place to come if you want to check out a range of flora and fauna in Luxembourg. 14. Sample Traditional Luxembourgish Food There are many several restaurants in Luxembourg City offering traditional dishes like kniddelen, dumplings served with butter, speck and cream, and wainzoossiss, small wine-flavoured sausages with a mustard sauce and mashed potatoes. 15. Go to the Moselle Valley Covering 42km that stretch from Wasserbillig to Schengen, the Moselle Valley and the river that runs through it are lined with small villages, vineyards, and wine cooperatives.