I have heard about the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for a long time. Located in Western Europe, with an area of 2,586 km2 and a population of about 682,000 people, it is the only country in the world that still has a ducal system.
A very humble dot on the map but one of the richest countries. A center of world cultural heritage and a place where diverse European cultures converge.
On Pfingsten holiday, my family decided to drive from Giessen to explore there. The distance of nearly 300km became not too far when the car passed through green hills, poetic valleys with straight vineyards, golden rape flowers and picturesque winding rivers on both sides of the road.
Our first stop was the town of Vianden. This is a beautiful town located right on the border with Germany in the North, nestled in the Our Valley. It is home to a famous castle of Luxembourg, the Vianden Castle.
This castle stands majestically on a rocky outcrop overlooking the valley, built from the 11th century and completed in the 13th century. Designed in a blend of Roman and Gothic architecture, it was the main residence of the lords and counts. Inside the castle, the meeting rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, council rooms and even a wine cellar were still intact to celebrate victories...
Vianden Castle from afar
All antiques are neatly arranged, beautifully, with clear dates noted.
Standing on the castle, you can see the whole green town. Farther up, the cable car system will serve those who want to experience the feeling of floating in the air to see the whole castle from above. I visited NeuSchwanstein Castle in Germany and found Vianden to be equally beautiful and romantic.
From Vianden, it takes only 48km to travel to the capital of Luxembourg. This can be considered the main tourist center when we set foot in this small country, considered the green heart of Europe.
The city has both ancient and modern features, occupying a very favorable position on high ground. Previously, the city was the largest ancient fortress in Europe, after being destroyed, only the ruins of the wall system, watchtowers, loopholes, fortifications or underground artillery bunkers still exist.
Bridges are a very special highlight in Luxembourg city. Right in the center, the Adolphe stone arch bridge has become a famous symbol printed on tourist postcards, named after a grand duke and is over 100 years old. Standing here, we will clearly see two sightseeing areas.
One side of the upper town (Ville haute). Many important monuments were recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites in 1994. Here are Notre Dame Cathedral, Grand Duke's Palace, D'Armes Square, Constitution Square, Gelle Fra Memorial Monument... The walking street is full of world- famous chain stores, so we can both explore and shop (if it's a weekday) and eat right on the busy tourist streets.
Moving between the attractions is quite close together so my family mainly walked. Parking for tourists is also very convenient, right in the city center.
The sun was shining like golden honey, the ice cream shops, cafes, and beer halls along the street were packed with people. Perhaps in such nice weather, sightseeing and sunbathing are very suitable for Europeans. An ice cream cone here costs 3.5 euros. My son opened his eyes wide and exclaimed: "Why is it so expensive, Mom? It's twice as expensive as in Germany!". I had to explain to him that the average income here is the highest in the world, so the high cost is understandable.
Standing on the bridge looking up at the city walls in Luxembourg
I noticed that the streets were clean and there were few beggars. There was no charge for using public toilets and the city had a fountain with fresh water, which was very convenient for tourists.
Looking down from the Adolphe Bridge into the Petrusse valley is the lower town (Ville basse). A quiet area contrasting with the hustle and bustle of the upper town. Very suitable for tourists who do not like noise. Here is the famous underground tunnel Bock Casemates, 23 km long and 40 m deep, with a capacity of 1,200 people. Although it is called an underground tunnel, Bock has full living facilities such as meeting rooms, kitchens, bakeries, etc.
Outside is the gentle winding Alzette River. On both sides of the river are castles, beautiful and peaceful villas, and ancient trees that seem to embrace and protect the foot of the ancient citadel. Looking up from the bridge, the Corchine defensive wall, with its sloping sections clinging to the cliff, overlooks a green valley. So majestic and beautiful! This is known as the most beautiful balcony in Europe.
In the afternoon, when our feet were tired enough, we returned to the upper district. The restaurants were full of people, many of them had to wait in line outside. Luxembourg is a multi-ethnic country, so it is not difficult to see many restaurants from all over the world.
The most influential dishes are still dishes of German, French, and Italian origin, which I immediately saw when reading the menu, such as wine, meat rolls, stews, mashed potatoes, baked noodles, sausages, spaghetti, pizza...
The official language is Luxembourgish but people here are also taught German, French and English, so they understand everything. We were a little surprised that parking was quite cheap, only about 1 euro per hour. Unbelievable prices in Germany or many other tourist cities.
The author at Vianden Castle
Before coming to this tiny country - where many of Europe's power centers are headquartered, where the world's major banks come to - I thought it would be bustling, dry and lacking in romance.
I was wrong. This place possesses a variety of valuable cultural and historical values for humanity. Just leisurely admire those architectural masterpieces or watch the gentle river flowing through the ancient city in the valley next to the lush green carpets, you will see that the life of the people here is peaceful and happy.
A dream life.
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