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Luxembourg for History Lovers

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Luxembourg first became an entity in 963 when the Count Siegfried of Ardennes built a fortress in what is today the capital city. That castle/fortress saw scores of battles and rules over the next several centuries, and the castle was often destroyed and rebuilt. Today, The Bock Casemates remain from the earliest incarnation of the fortifications, and there is also a set of underground tunnels and an archaeological crypt from this “Gibraltar of the North.”

Also in Luxembourg City is the Palais Grand Ducal, the home of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The palace was first built in 1244 and the current model dates to the mid-fifteenth century. As you might expect, the city also has historic churches, highlighted by the Cathedral de Notre Dame and the Church of St. Ulric. For an overview of the city’s history, visit the Musee d’Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg or simply follow the Wenzel Walk, which will take you by most of the major historical attractions.

Outside the capital, some of the most notable historic sites in Luxembourg are in the Ardennes. The Battle of the Bulge, the final major battle of World War Two, was fought in Luxembourg, and the battle is recounted in Diekirch at the National Museum of Military History. World War Two is also remembered in Ettelbruck at the General Patton Memorial Museum. General Patton’s American army liberated the town on Christmas Day, 1944, and Luxembourgers honored General Patton with this museum.

While you’re in the Ardennes, make sure you visit the town of Vianden. The chateau in Vianden is one of the most impressive medieval castles in Europe, and the town is also home to the Maison Victor Hugo, where the famous French author lived while he was exiled from France.

If it’s castles you’ll like, Luxembourg has several great ones. We’ve already mentioned two (the Bock Casemates and the Vianden chateau), but two other popular ones are the Beaufort Castle in Echternach (in the Mullerthal region) and the chateau in Clervaux. The Clervaux chateau includes an excellent photography exhibit by Edward Steichen, and the town also features a Benedictine Abbey. On the other hand, in Echternach, you can also visit the Basilica of St. Willibrord or the more than five hundred year old town hall.

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