Vianden between the Castle, the Our Valley and Éislek

Vianden combines its location on the Our with an imposing castle and the landscape of Éislek. The town lies in the Luxembourg Ardennes, or Éislek, and borders the Eifel and the Müllerthal. This makes for a varied mix of culture, viewpoints, hiking trails and activities on the water when planning your holiday. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider whether historical discoveries, active days in the Our Valley or a varied combination of both should be the focus.

Castle, museums and vibrant culture

Vianden Castle is a cultural and historical monument of regional and European importance. In the entrance area, a modern interactive visitor centre welcomes you; the tour of the castle comprises 22 stations. This means that a visit to the castle can be planned as an activity in its own right, rather than being reduced to a brief viewpoint stop.

The museums also give Vianden a distinctive cultural profile. The Victor Hugo House presents the writer’s biography and his relationship with the Grand Duchy. Visitors can also see his room with original furniture and hologram projections. The Vianden Town Museum is dedicated to the town’s thousand-year history and additionally houses a bakery museum and a museum about the Luxembourg national poet Edmond de la Fontaine, who was also known by the name Dicks.

Further historical highlights include the Trinitarian Church, which was built entirely in the Gothic style in 1248, and the former cloister next to the church, dating from 1250. The Catholic Bildchen Chapel was built in the Neo-Gothic style in 1848; parts of it come from the former castle chapel of Vianden. Art enthusiasts will find changing exhibitions at the Veiner Konstgalerie from March to October. The gallery is located in a former barn that was extensively restored in 2017.

Viewpoints and trails in the Our Valley

Those who want to experience Vianden on foot will find a variety of viewpoints. The viewpoint at Fändelchen cannot be reached by car, but only on foot, including via hiking trails VI 2, VI 3 and the Nat'Our Route 6. From there, you can see the town of Vianden and the castle. The Victor Hugo viewpoint offers views of the Our and the green hills surrounding it and can be reached on foot via the Éislek Pad Vianden.

The Vianden chairlift offers a unique perspective and is the only chairlift in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It travels over the Our Valley and the River Our to an altitude of 440 metres. The viewpoint at the mountain station offers views of the town, the castle and the Our Valley. You can reach it on foot or by chairlift; the routes mentioned are the Éislek Pad Vianden, the Nat'Our Route 5 and the Autopédestre Vianden. The Nat'Our Route 5 leads through the Our Valley from Vianden to Falkenstein Castle and back.

Active holidays and regional specialities

In addition to hiking, there are other options for planning varied days. Vianden has an outdoor swimming pool, and Minigolf Vianden offers an 18-hole course in the immediate vicinity of the Our. Anglers need an annual permit from the Société Electrique de l’Our for the reservoir near Vianden. The Vianden Tourist Association also sells two-week permits valid from 1 June to 30 November.

Events and regional specialities are also part of the town’s character. KonschTour has taken place every year since 2013 on Whit Sunday and Whit Monday. The medieval festival at Vianden Castle is an annual event and includes a medieval market with crafts, calligraphy and various foods. At the Veiner Nëssmoort, solid and liquid nut specialities are offered in Vianden’s medieval streets. At the Vianden dam, a work of art shows the faces of five workers who were involved in the major construction project in the 1950s and 1960s.

For nature-focused days on holiday, the viewpoints and trails in the Our Valley are essential. If you would like to compare the subregion, you can also view the pages on Vianden, Tandel, Bettel and Fouhren. Other destinations for orientation are Diekirch, Wiltz, Clervaux and Redange.

To the higher-level travel overview: Diekirch.