European Travel Blog » Luxembourg

Luxembourg hotels, inns, restaurants and guest houses

admin — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:01:28 +0000

A guide to hotels, inns, restaurants and guest houses is available from the tourist office. Some hotels have special weekend rates from $200 a person, which usually includes all meals from dinner on Friday thru lunch on Sunday. Other hotels start at Eur70 to Eur80 a day, based on double occupancy.

Findel Airport is four miles from Luxembourg City and taxi fare is about 20 Euros. Buses also run from the airport into town and cost about Eur4. Luxembourg is a major European train center. The Oeko-Pass system offers travel on railways and public buses and costs $1 for local travel. This is the short-distance ticket (about one hour in any direction). A one-day pass is available for a few euros and discounts are available on books of tickets. The national railway is part of the Benelux Tourrail Pass network. The Luxembourg Card offers free access to more than 30 cultural attractions and is available for one, two or three days.

Luxembourg Hotels

Natur Musee – Luxembourg

admin — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:00:41 +0000

Natur Musee in Grund houses natural history collections kept in a former prison for women. In Clervaux, Diekirch, Ettelbruck and Wiltz are Battle of the Bulge museums. Exhibits and descriptions cover the crucial World War II battle, much of which was fought across Luxembourg. There is a major American cemetery at Hamm where General George Patton is buried, along with thousands of other American soldiers. Nearby is a German cemetery, worthy of a comparison peek. The differences between the two cemeteries is marked.

The Grand-Ducal Golf Club is about 4 miles from the center of Luxembourg City. This 18-hole golf course offers golfing in a most elegant and beautiful setting. Across from the golf course, a Sheraton resort is set in a 10-acre park, worthy of a visit. You can carry a picnic lunch and relax in this beautiful setting.

Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg

The annual Dancing Procession – Luxembourg

admin — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:59:06 +0000

The annual Dancing Procession in Echternach honors St. Willibrord, who brought Christianity to the region during the 7th century. Each Whituesday, the bishop of Luxembourg leads hundreds of citizens and pilgrims, dancing slowly to a medieval tune, from the banks of the Sére to the basilica housing Willibrord’s remains. The 1998 procession also marked Echternach’s 1500th anniversary.

Excursions from the capital are available to the Ardennes; through the scenic Valley of the Seven Castles and to the Moselle wine region. Vianden dates to the 9th century. Its castle was the cradle of the Orange-Nassau dynasties. Also worthy of a look is the restored Gothic Trinitarian Church and cloister which dates back to 1248. The house where Victor Hugo stayed during part of his exile from France is now a museum. Close to the French border, Mondorf-les-Bains offers a thermal spa, fitness and sports center and a casino.

Clervaux Castle, in the heart of the Ardennes, is the permanent home of the restored "Family of Man" photography exhibition which consists of 503 photos by 273 artists from 68 countries. The castle’s collection also includes several models of Luxembourg fortresses of the Middle Ages.

The National Museum of Art and History

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:57:41 +0000

The National Museum of Art and History has major archaeological finds from the Gallo-Roman period. Glass elevators in the new Luxembourg Municipal History Museum take you through 2,000 years of detailed history of the area.

The Municipal Theater offers year-round orchestra and opera performances while the smaller Théâtre des Capucins provides drama and comedies. Every other Thursday, the Radio-Television Luxembourg Symphony Orchestra performs.

From Late March through May, Luxembourg City hosts its Spring Music Festival.

During May and June, the international Music Festival takes place in Echternach. An open-air music and theater festival in Wiltz during July and August is excellent and early reservations are recommended.

Luxembourg – A Treasure Chest of Attractions

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:57:32 +0000

A nice characteristic of Luxembourg is its small size with an amazing variety of offerings for the tourist. The country is about the size of Rhode Island, incorporating 999 square miles. English is widely spoken and getting around is easy. Roads are excellent but local transportation is efficient and inexpensive.

Luxembourg was founded in 963 when Count Sigefroid built his castle. Over the centuries, a formidable fortress grew in what is now Luxembourg City. The remaining tunnels and walls hint at a turbulent history in the Grand Duchy. This city is now a modern cosmopolitan center boasting art galleries, excellent museums, theaters, concert halls, boutiques, shopping malls and an admirable variety of restaurants. Commercially, the city is headquarters for the European Union Court of Justice, the Investment Bank, the General Secretariat of the European Parliament and the Court of Auditors.

A walking tour, "1,000 Years in 100 minutes," begins at recent 10th-century excavations along the fortress ramparts to the lower historical town. A miniature train ride offers easy access to the valley and remaining fortifications, many of which have been developed into delightful parks with pleasant walks. Take a few hours to investigate the Casemates, a 12-mile network of underground passages, hewn from rock. Good walking shoes are definitely recommended. In addition, Luxembourg has an excellent network of walking and cycling paths. Maps with routes are widely available. The maps also show camp sites; also readily available are brochures detailing rooms available in private home, hostels and small hotels. A cruise during the summer on the Princesse Marie-Astrid is worthwhile. Various trips on the Moselle River are offered.

Shopping here is diverse. Luxembourg is known for Villeroy and Boch china and ceramics; the factory here offers special prices on regular stock. There is also a sale of slightly flawed items at very low prices. Bargain hunters will be delighted with the flea markets spotted here and there throughout the city. Good buys include designer fashions, perfume, cosmetics, chocolates, gold jewelry, silverware, semiprecious stones, crystal and liqueurs.

Luxembourg’s haute cuisine restaurants are proud that their Michelin stars outnumber all other countries on a per capita basis. Specialties are crayfish, pike, trout and game dishes. Cafes are excellent and local beers hearty and good.