Luxembourg - A stop worth making and a walk worth taking

Luxembourg was really a transition point between Belgium and France. Since we had already visited Strasbourg we decided to venture to Luxembourg country # 16 of our world tour. We arrived at about 10 am on Thursday and were greeted by the warm weather, a welcome change to the mild, cloudy and rainy regions of Northern Belgium. Although the city itself was rather small, it was a bit of a hike from the train station into the center of town, and we could not help but notice the dramatic change in the fewer number of hotels and restaurants. Needless to say it was a little bit of a battle to find affordable accommodation for our stint here. As we wandered through the streets searching for a hotel, I could not help but notice the dramatic scenery that encompasses this city. It was a beautiful site to see despite the fear of not being able to find any accommodation within our budget.

We spent a good couple of hours pulling our bags through cobble stone winding streets and up and down steep roads, before ending up at the International Youth Hostel. To our surprise, it was a brand new facility with all of the comforts of a two star hotel. We managed to get a double room to ourselves with a private bath for $51.20 Euros. The dorm style room (with 2 sets of bunkbeds…..Natty, you would have loved this) and atmosphere made me think about my first days at university in Canada a lifetime ago. With a place to stay for the night we decided to venture back into town to see the rest of Luxembourg.

If all of the hostels were like this one, we would gladly stay in them all

We did not get too far before deciding to abandon that idea and head to the near by town of Vianden that we had read about on the train. So we boarded yet another train and then a bus. An hour later we were standing at the footsteps of Vianden Castle, the most dramatically sited countryside town in all of Luxembourg. Nestled in the valley of the Our River this restored castle dates back to the 4th century by the Romans and has been reconstructed throughout the course of time including the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

Vianden Castle - the most picturesque building in all of Luxembourg

We were greeted by some knights and Chris tried to pick a fight

We ventured through the entire castle, each room had a myriad of artifacts about the history of the castle, from the different tapestry that once adorned the rooms, to the workings of the kitchen, and the servant quarters and the sub-terrain tavern. My favorite was the room filled with models of the different architectural transitions of the castle from its primitive period to the Romanesque, Gothic and the Renaissance influences.

Chris looking down into the Valley and beyond to Germany

The magnificent sight of the small town of Vianden from the Castle

By the time we headed back to Luxembourg we were beat from the trek to the castle and back. We decided to leave Luxembourg for the next day. Unfortunately, we found out that the hostel was fully booked for the next couple of days so we could not extend our stay in Luxembourg to explore the rest of the town. I decided to wake up early the next day to do some exploring on my own prior to checking out. Here is what I saw…

A former bridge built during the Roman period to cross the valley, now it is used by the frequent trains that bring people back and forth

A beautiful morning as the brisk cool air is warmed up by the on coming sun, I ventured into town leaving the hostel behind

Crossing the Montee De Clausen into town with St. Michel looming in the background

An area called the Grund at the foot hills of the gorge that houses the city center

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin – Late Gothic style with various components and ornaments inspired by Renaissance style

Gelle Fra Memorial commemorates the Luxembourgers who perished in the First World War. Today it symbolizes freedom and resistance of the Luxembourg people

State Savings Bank

Adolphe Bridge – erected between 1900–1903 with the largest arch stone in the world at the time (85m)

The Casino and it’s new addition – Casino was built in 1882 but is now used as a forum for contemporary art

One of the more interesting older buildings in Luxembourg

A great addition to the Palace of Justice – The current wall of glass really works well here as the reflection of the buildings on the opposite side of the alleyway appears to keep the continuity of the surrounding building even though the new glazing system commands your complete attention

A pedestrian bridge linking the two buildings of the Palace of Justice – again showing that a new material can work well with the old styles. Notice the church in the background that is not infringed by the new addition

Another entrance with solar panels as a spine

HSBC bank and other modern buildings, this appears to be the financial district of the city. Notice the figurine on the corner of the building, a bold move from the architect. Is this to be the new church?

A commercial building worth posting

Yet another commercial building that is designed with elegance and constructed with skill – a beautiful new piece of architecture surrounded by the old

Another area of the Grund with all of the cranes in the back ground. I wonder what Luxembourg will look like in the future

Luxembourg was yet another gem that we had found. The size of the city was small compared to some of the other capitals that we have visited in Europe, but it’s stunning landscape and the mix of old and new architecture appears to have been touched by an artist. It is a magical place that has kept and cherished its rich architectural diversity while making way for the new. If some of the above postings are any indication of sensitivity and artistry that are fostered here, there is no doubt that all of the currently erect cranes throughout the city will continue to build more beautiful creations. It was a walk worth missing sleep for.