Castles, fortifications and medieval festivals

Sometimes housing heritage hotels, high-end restaurants or unmissable exhibitions, sometimes used for parties or concerts, the numerous castles scattered across Luxembourg are worth going out of your way for! Whether restored or ruined, these edifices from another age are a reminder of the former power of the lords of yesteryear and each has a charm all its own.

Dive into Luxembourg’s history by exploring them. This will give you a chance to travel all over the country, exploring its myths and legends, while also getting to know its many and varied landscapes. You could hike through the meadows and forests that line the Eisch River, by following the Valley of the Seven Castles national hiking trail. You could drink in the treetop view out over the Upper Sûre Valley from Bourscheid Castle. Or you could gaze at the Ernz Blanche Valley from Larochette Castle. Whichever you choose, visiting remnants of the medieval world is a good excuse for exploring Luxembourg.

The best way to get close to many of these magnificent buildings is via hiking or mountain-bike trails. But, if the world of knights in armour fascinates you and you want to get a real feel for the Middle Ages, a medieval festival – for example, the one at Vianden Castle – is the next-best thing to travelling back in time.

History buffs will not want to miss a tour of the forts, bastions and tunnels that make up Luxembourg City’s fortifications. These architectural gems – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – are all that remains of the 16th- to 19th-century citadel of Luxembourg, which used to be one of the most important fortresses in Europe.