2. 2023

Luxembourg in August

My mother and her partner were visiting from Australia to start a European river cruise from Amsterdam. So we popped over from the UK to see them. Afterwards, we got on another train, and were in Luxembourg a few hours later. We discovered a fairy tale city that is one of the jewels of Europe. We also took day trips to Vianden Castle - one of the world's prettiest - and to the famous Mullerthal trail, for some hiking.
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  • Grund district, low town

    Grund district, low town

    The holes in the cliff are the Bock casemates. Above them are the foundations of the 1st castle, from ~ 1,000 years ago.

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • More of Grund district, low town

    More of Grund district, low town

  • The Duchy of Luxembourg palace is somewhere among the buildings at the top of this shot.

    The Duchy of Luxembourg palace is somewhere among the buildings at the top of this shot.

  • Pfaffenthal district, low town, by night

    Pfaffenthal district, low town, by night

  • Retirement home

    Retirement home

    This advanced country has one of the world's highest highest GDPs per capita. This beautiful building in Ville Haute (high town) was - incredibly - a retirement home. Another great reason to retire early... :)

  • The beautiful building behind Jasmijn is (and has always been), a bank. It's also a city of banks and financiers.

    The beautiful building behind Jasmijn is (and has always been), a bank. It's also a city of banks and financiers.

  • Vallee de la Petrusse

    Vallee de la Petrusse

    Around the Ville Haute (high town) are 70m gorges with beautiful trails through them.

  • Untitled photo
  • Ville Haute architecture

    Ville Haute architecture

    In the high town.

  • Government buildings and royal palace

    Government buildings and royal palace

  • In 1919 Luxembourg became one of the 1st nations to give women the vote. Public transport is also free throughout the country for environmental reasons. Luxembourg rocks!

    In 1919 Luxembourg became one of the 1st nations to give women the vote. Public transport is also free throughout the country for environmental reasons. Luxembourg rocks!

  • High town gargoyles

    High town gargoyles

  • Church windows

    Church windows

  • City wall and towers

    City wall and towers

  • Historic fortifications

    Historic fortifications

    Over 400 years, Luxembourg was variously ruled by the French, Spanish, Dutch, Burgundians, Prussians and perhaps others. Usually following invasion. Successive regimes built giant city walls and outlying bastions and forts, until it was the most fortified city in Northern Europe - the 'Gibraltar of the North'. Besieging armies would have to penetrate multiple defensive layers and 70m cliffs on several sides, before reaching the city.

  • Bock Casemates

    Bock Casemates

    23km of tunnels were tunnelled into the cliffs protecting High Town, providing endless cannon portals, and storage areas for troops, ammunition and supplies. Tours are available for two of these areas including Bock Casemates here.

  • Bock Casemates tunnel

    Bock Casemates tunnel

  • View of city walls and towers from Bock Casemates

    View of city walls and towers from Bock Casemates

  • Fort Thungen

    Fort Thungen

    One of the numerous outlying fortresses and bastions with cannon ports and moats, designed to keep besieging armies far from the city walls.

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    Fort Thungen museum
    Random fort
    Mullerthal trail