Luxembourg: Old Town, Fortress and Trails

Luxembourg combines urban history with an impressive landscape: the Old Town lies at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers on a very steep rocky promontory that partly served as a natural fortification. Anyone planning a trip here will experience not merely a succession of sights, but a place where the fortress, valleys, museums and historic trails are closely connected with the cityscape.

Fortress history in the casemates

A particularly vivid introduction to the past is the permanent exhibition “History of Luxembourg and of the fortress”. It presents the history of the fortress in nine casemates – from the capture of the city by the Burgundians in 1443 to the construction of the Adolphe Bridge in 1903. The Casemates du Bock could accommodate around 50 cannons and 1,200 soldiers. From the mid-18th century onwards, they were expanded by the Austrians. For your travel plans, this means that military history and the fortress’s architectural structure can be viewed together directly at this location.

Urban history at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum

The UNESCO Visitor Centre at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum provides an initial orientation for exploring the urban cultural heritage classified by UNESCO. The permanent exhibition “The Luxembourg Story” additionally tells the eventful history of Luxembourg City from its origins in the 10th century to the present day. The exhibition covers a total of 2,200 m² and is arranged chronologically into four major periods and 17 themes. This allows you to plan your visit either as a comprehensive journey through the city’s history or to explore specific periods and themes in greater depth.

Historic trails with varying levels of difficulty

The Wenzel Circuit passes through the city’s oldest districts along the third fortress wall, built in the 14th century under Duke Wenceslas II. The route leads from the Bock promontory via the Chemin de la Corniche panoramic path to Grund and onwards to the Plateau du Rham. It is steep and includes stairs and climbs; some sections are not accessible with pushchairs or wheelchairs. This information is relevant to planning your day, especially if you are travelling with small children or have limited mobility.

The Chemin de la Corniche runs along the fortress walls built by the Spanish and French in the 17th century, from the Bock promontory to the lower part of the Citadelle du Saint-Esprit, the Rondelles. Along the way, it offers views of the Alzette Valley, the lower town of Grund and the Plateau du Rham. This allows you to choose between a more strongly historical circuit and a trail where the perspectives of the urban landscape take centre stage.

Green areas and choosing your accommodation

Luxembourg remains varied even beyond the fortifications. At least one quarter of Luxembourg City’s 5,173 hectares consists of green spaces. The park in the green Pétrusse Valley lies between Luxembourg’s city centre and the Gare railway district. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Luxembourg, you can therefore consider whether your trip should be shaped primarily by museum experiences, historic trails or a combination of urban history and green areas. The desired location and the requirements of your daily journeys are important personal selection criteria, without every accommodation having to offer the same conditions.

Other places for your search

If you would like to extend your accommodation search to other places, here is a concise overview: Itzig, Bartringen, Strassen, Senningerberg, Hesperingen, Weiler-La-Tour, Niederanwen and Walferdingen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Luxembourg.