Have a photo tour of Luxembourg city

Luxembourg City - "Bock"

Luxembourg City - "Old Town"

In the year 963 count Siegfied acquired the "Bock" rock and built his castle on that spot and called it "Luzilinburug". Although there is nothing left of this first castle, it was the birth of Luxembourg. Farmers, merchants and craftsmen started to settle around the castle in order to do business with it and to take advantage of the protection from the castle. The strategically perfect position on top of an up to 60m high rock is also one of the reasons why Luxembourg is an idependent country today and the reason for many hard times under foreign domination throughout the middle-ages and until the end of the 19th century.

The lower old town in the "Grund" has recently been completely restored making it one of the most scenic areas of Luxembourg City. It is also one of the best areas to go out in Luxembourg. Throughout the different developpment stages of the fortress, this area was at first outside the ring walls, but got included into the fortification infrastructures when the fortress reached its largest expansion.
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Luxembourg City - Fortification Ruins

Luxembourg City - Castle Bridge

Most of the fortress was razed after the treaty of London from 1867 fixed the destruction of the fortress as a condition for the retreat of the Prussian garnison that had held the fortress of Luxembourg since the beginning of the century. At that date, Luxembourg became really self-directed, although it already became officially an independent country after the treaty of Vienna in 1839. The Prussians destoyed the fortress further than required by the treaty, leaving only few ruins.

In 1735 the Austrians replaced the drawbridge, that was until then the only access to the city from the north, by this stone bridge. At that time, the fortress had already reached almost it's full extension, making it one of the strongest fortresses in the world, which is why it was called "Gibraltar of the North". Architects like Vauban, the chief architect of the French King Louis XIV, as well as various Spanish and Austrians reenforced the fortress successively in order to adapt it to the ever evolving weapon technology.

Luxembourg City - "Stiechen"

Luxembourg City - "Casematten"

The "Stiechen", a bridge right underneath the "Bock", links the town to the Rahm-Plateau. This bridge is, in a Luxembourg legend, the home of the "Stiechesgeescht" (the ghost of the Stiechen). He is the ghost of a former drunkard that is now haunting other drunkards. He awaits them in the shadow and then beats them up when they pass. Even today some people claim to have been beaten up by the "Stiechesgeescht". (Maybe it was also their wives when they returned home ...)

The openings you can distinguish in the rock wall are part of the "Casematten", a subterranean tunnel system of 23 km (14 miles), built mostly by the Austrians in the 18th century. It allowed to move troops and supplies to every point of the town, without any risk of being disturbed by ennemy fire. Today more than 6 km (4 miles) are still accessible.

Luxembourg City - "Huelen Zant"

Luxembourg City - Old Town

The "Huelen Zant" (hollow tooth) is one of the few elements of the old fortress that was not entirely razed after 1867. Since the fortress acquired the status of UNESCO world heritage in 1994, there are several efforts to restore and rebuild some parts of the fortress.

The streets of the old town are one of the most scenic areas in Luxembourg town, especially since most of the buildings have been restored. It is a great area to discover on a walk. Here you see one of the gates that formerly led out of the town into the "Grund"

Luxembourg City - "Grund"

Luxembourg City - "Bock"

In the "Grund", there are some of the oldest houses of Luxembourg city. It is a area that you have to discover on your trip to Luxembourg. The many bars and restaurants in the area will help you to leave the area with an excellent impression of Luxembourg.

Story of Melusina: When Count Siegfried installed his castle on the "Bock" in 963, he also found the love of his life, Melusina. But Melusina told Siegfried that, whatever happened, he should never watch her when she is taking a bath or he will lose her. Siegfried couldn't control his curiosity, watched through the keywhole and discovered that she became a mermaid when taking her bath. Melusina discovered Siegfried and jumped out of the window, down into the river Alzette. Siegfried never saw her again, but she can sometimes be heared singing from the bottom of the river.

Luxembourg City - Petrusse valley

Luxembourg City - BCEE Tower

The valley of the river Petrusse is an up to 60m deep valley that seaprates the Luxembourg City town center from the railway-station district of Luxembourg town. It protects the town center at the opposite side of the "Grund", leaving only one side from which you could formerly reach the town at level ground. This fact made the fortress easy to protect against ennemy assaults.

The tower of the "Spuerkees" Bank is one of the best known landmaks of the skyline of Luxembourg City. The Spuerkees is one of the over 180 Banks present in Luxembourg. The financial services sector is nowadays the main pillar of Luxembourgs economy.

Luxembourg City - Cathedral

Luxembourg City - "Wëllëm"

The cathedral of Luxembourg city is the most famous landmark of the skyline of Luxembourg City. It was built between 1613 and 1621 according to the design of the jesuite monk Jean du Blocq.

William II was the second grand-duke of Luxembourg (1840-1849). Son of Willam I, and father of William III, he was, like the two other William, also the King of the Netherlands. Unlike his father and his son, who just wanted to exploit Luxembourg to their financial and political advantage, William II was interested in Luxembourg. He is at the origin of Luxembourgs first constitution.

Luxembourg City - Grand-Ducal Palace

Luxembourg City - "Réinert"

Built in 1554, the palace is now today the official representation of the Nassau-Weilburg Dynasty, the presently ruling Grand-Duke family. In 1890 Adolphe of Nassau-Weilburg became the first Grand-Duke of Luxembourg who was soley dedicated to this task (unlike the three William, who were primarily Kings of the Netherlands). Our present Grand-Duke is Henri, the 6th Grand-Duke of the Nassau-Weilburg dynasty.

This statue on the Knuedler place in Luxembourg city represents the "Réinert", the main figure of one of the most relevant pieces of Luxembourgish litterature. The story is written by Michel Rodange (1827-1893) and was first published in 1872.

Luxembourg City - "Mir wölle bleiwen waat mir sin"

Luxembourg City - "Gëlle Fra"

The line "Mir wölle bleiwen waat mir sinn" (we want to stay what we are)is representative of the Luxembourger's national pride (not to be confused with xenophobia). The line is from the secret national anthem of Luxembourg: "De Feierwon". This strong national identity of the Luxembourgish people is at the basis of todays independance of Luxembourg. During second World War, it is the source of many unique heroic acts of the Luxembourg population, like a nationwide genreral strike against the occupying Germans (1942).

In 1923 the "Gëlle Fra" (golden lady) was inaugurated as a monument to commemorate the Luxembourgers that were victims in World War I. But when the Germans destoyed the monument in 1940 in order to break the Luxembourg will for resitance, they just achieved the opposite effect: it became a symbol of the Luxembourgish freedom and resistance. The monument was only rebuilt in 1984, after the golden statue was found again in a dark corner of an attic in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg City - "Aal Brëck"

Luxembourg City - "Nei Brëck"

The "Aal Brëck" (old bridge) or "Passerelle" is the first of the 3 big bridges (out of 95) in Luxembourg City. Built in 1859, it was the first bridge to link the town center to today's railway district. Its 26 arcs are built in a slightly curved line, in order to facilitate the defence.

The "Nei Brëck" (new bridge) or "Pont Adolphe" was inaugurated in 1903. At that time it was the largest stone bridge in the world with its length of 230 m (755 feet) an its height of 46 m (151 feet).

Luxembourg City - "Roud Brëck"

Luxembourg City - Going out

The Grand-Duchesse Charlotte bridge, called "Roud Bréck" (red bridge) by the Luxemburgers, is the latest of the big bridges in Luxembourg City. Inaugurated on october 24 1966, it connects the town center to the Kirchberg plateau. Entirely made of steel, it is a monument to the Luxembourg steel industry that is at the origin of Luxembourgs present wealth. With a length of 355 meters (1165 feet), a hight of 74,5 m (245 feet) and a weight of 4785 tons it elegantly spans over the valley.

The best places to go out in Luxembourg city are in the "Grund" and in the old-town area behind the Grand-Dukal palace. Another interesting area is the "Rue de Hollerich" in the railway district.

Luxembourg City - "Schueberfouer"

First held in 1340, as a trade fair, the "Schueberfouer" has been held every single year since then. Only once, in 1942, the Luxembourgers did stay away from it, as a protest against the general military service introduced just then. Today, 2 million people attend the many attractions and food places every year from end of August to the beginning of September.