Luxembourg: Discover the Old Town, fortifications and trails

Luxembourg combines a distinctive Old Town with a history of fortifications, green valley landscapes and a variety of trails. The Old Town lies at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse on a very steep rocky promontory that once served as a natural fortification. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Luxembourg will find an ideal base for a range of holiday experiences: historical sightseeing, scenic walks, museums and regional markets are among the defining highlights.

A fortified city in a unique setting

The city of Luxembourg was one of the largest fortresses in early modern Europe. Its street layout and numerous public buildings preserve important evidence of its origins and development since the 10th century. This character can be experienced particularly vividly on the Wenzel Circular Route. It leads through the oldest districts of the city and along preserved fortifications, including the Bock promontory, the Schlossbrücke built in 1735 and the Chemin de la Corniche panoramic path.

For a compact historical tour, the UNESCO tour through the Old Town and the fortifications is a good option. The route is 2.5 km long and can be completed in less than 90 minutes. The Casemates du Bock could accommodate around 50 cannons and 1,200 soldiers. The Casemates de la Pétrusse are also part of the history of the fortress; they acquired their present form under Vauban and were reopened after enhancement and safety works, featuring modern staging, animations and light installations.

Museums and stories for a range of interests

The Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart presents Luxembourg’s national collections of archaeology, history and art across more than 6,000 m². The Musée Dräi Eechelen is housed in the restored keep of Fort Thüngen; more than 600 objects and original documents are on display there. In its 2,200 m² permanent exhibition, the Lëtzebuerg City Museum tells the story of the city of Luxembourg from its beginnings in the 10th century to the present day. In addition, “The Luxembourg Story” uses more than 500 original objects and several interactive devices.

Panoramic paths, valley landscapes and green spaces

The Chemin de la Corniche runs along the Alzette Valley from the Bock promontory to the lower part of the Citadel of the Holy Spirit. Along the way, views open up over the Alzette Valley, the lower town of Grund and the Plateau du Rham. Of the 5,173 hectares that make up the city of Luxembourg, at least one quarter is covered by green spaces. The park in the Pétrusse Valley separates the city centre from the railway station district and complements the historical impressions with a landscape element.

There are also distinctive places for active breaks: Péitrusse Skatepark is located on Rue Quirin in the Pétrusse Valley and is embedded in the remains of former fortifications. Pétrusse Skatepark covers 3,500 m² and offers structures for all urban skating disciplines and all ability levels.

Markets, festivals and convenient travel

The Stater Maart takes place twice a week on Place Guillaume II. The offerings include regional and seasonal produce, organically certified products, fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, baked goods and pastries, cheese and other handcrafted products. Special events include the Schueberfouer, a popular folk festival with origins dating back to the time of the knights, and the Mäertchen, which takes place every year over 16 days in Luxembourg city centre.

For travel planning, it is also important to know that public transport is free throughout the city of Luxembourg and the entire country. This applies to buses, trams, second-class trains and the funicular. Luxembourg Airport in Findel is approximately 6 km from the city centre and can be reached by taxi, bus or tram in around 15 minutes. A free glass elevator, the Ascenseur Panoramique du Pfaffenthal, offers views from a height of 71 metres.

Start looking for the right accommodation

When choosing your holiday apartment, you can first decide which side of Luxembourg you want to shape your trip: fortifications and museums, trails and viewpoints, market visits or a combination of culture and landscape. Free public transport gives you greater flexibility when planning your journey and daily activities. Those who want to explore historical places in depth can focus their accommodation search on the desired combination of sightseeing and walks; those who want to gather a variety of impressions can also include markets, museums and valley landscapes in their plans.

More local pages to help you find your way

For further searches in the location overview, you can also open the pages for Strassen, Luxembourg, Hesperange, Walferdange, Niederanven, Weiler-la-Tour, Senningerberg, Bartringen and Itzig. This allows you to view different local pages and then tailor your search for a suitable holiday apartment or holiday home to your preferred travel plans.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Luxembourg.