Luxembourg

 

We visited Luxembourg City in August 2025, to begin our train travel through the BeNeLux countries.  It's a beautiful city with a rich history, great architecture, very clean and organized.  We stayed at the Sofitel, which is located just across the river from the old city, and has a  rooftop bar with an amazing view of the old town.   

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was established as a state within the Holy Roman Empire in the 11th century, came under Habsburg rule in the 15th century, annexed by France in the 18th century, and finally gained independence in 1867.  Luxembourg City is one of the administrative centers of the EU, including the EU Court of Justice.   

View of the old city

Luxembourg City at night

The winding streets of the old town are beautiful to wander. Two ancient Roman roads converged in what is now the Fish Market. The Luxembourg City Museum provides a great overview of almost 2000 years of history. 

Street near Fish Market

Parliament Square

Stadt Palace

Walking the walls of the city is incredible, with lots of history and amazing views. The Chemin de la Corniche, known as the "most beautiful balcony in Europe" provides stunning views of the Old City and the lower towns of Grund and Clausen. The Bock Promontory provides great views of the old town, and we explored the dark passages of the Bock Casement (former military fortifications buried in the cliffs). The Wenzel Wall walk takes you from the upper town to the Lower town along the former fortifications. 

Upper town and
Grund (lower town)

Bock Casement

View of St John's church

After crossing the Adolphe bridge from the old town into the new town, walking along Avenue de la Liberte felt like a Parisian Boulevard.  The European Coal and Steel Community, predecessor of the EU, was established in 1951 at #2.

St Michael's

View of Notre Dame

Scott's Pub in Grund is a small Irish pub.  We had coffee and breakfast at Nanor patisserie.  Brasserie du Cercle on Place d’Armes serves great flammelcucha “flambee” (pizza).  Pyg Irish pub is a tiny bar packed with locals near the Rives de Clausen restaurant district, built around a former brewery. We had drinks at Liquid bar on the river in Grund; Cafe Des Artistes has a great atmosphere and feels like Paris. Dinner outdoors at Bistro de le Presse provided great views of the parliament building.  We had the local specialties Judd mat Gaardebounen and  Kniddelen mam Speck.  in Grund, the Up Down Bar serves a delicious veggie burger with a potato pancake substituting for the burger patty.  After enjoying the City Museum, we had drinks with a great view at the museum terrace café.  Cafe Interview has a cool, 1920s vibe, where i enjoyed a Diekirch gran cru beer.  Kaempff-Kohler is a famous gourmet grocer, with two adjoining locations, one a patisserie and the other a cheese shop.

Parliament gate

Grund street

Grund street

Central Bank

Place de Metz