There is no doubt that the city with the same name as the entire country is also the cultural and economic center. Everywhere in Luxembourg City there are museums, theaters and cultural spaces. Whether Unesco World Heritage Site, modern architecture or traces of more than a thousand years of history. People from 170 nations live here. All of this together makes Luxembourg multicultural and diverse.
Luxembourg – UNESCO World Heritage Site
The old town of Luxembourg, whose foundation dates back to 963, was extended in the 16th century from the so-called Bockfelsen to become one of the strongest fortresses in Europe. In the 17th century, the casemates were built, an underground vault that served as protection against military attacks. Parts of the fortress have been preserved to this day and can be visited. Both the fortress and the old town have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
Luxembourg – Europe is at home here
Since the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, various European institutions have been based in the capital. Luxembourg City is the seat of the European Court of Justice, as well as the Secretariat of the European Parliament and the European Court of Auditors. It is the birthplace of Robert Schuman, who, as French Foreign Minister after the Second World War, launched the plan for a coal and steel union named after him in 1950. Just two years later, the ECSC was founded, the oldest of the three European Communities, which are regarded as the forerunners of the EU.
It is not only its geographical location in the heart of Europe, but also the historical role that Luxembourg has played in the EU from the very beginning that makes it a true European capital. People from over 170 nations feel at home here and give the city a real cosmopolitan flair thanks to its multilingualism.
Exciting contrasts – architecture in Luxembourg
When you take a stroll, you will always notice exciting contrasts between old buildings from Luxembourg’s thousand-year history and contemporary architecture. Ultra-modern buildings in a futuristic guise harmonize with the city’s old buildings. Sometimes it’s just the little things, like the modern seating islands made of bright yellow plastic that are scattered randomly in the courtyard of Neumünster Abbey.
Or the modern Peitruss skate park, which is embedded in the green spaces of the Petrus Valley. The site is part of the Unseco World Heritage Site. Therefore, the requirement for the design of the ultra-modern facility was that it should blend in as well as possible with the surroundings. The result is a fantastic skate park. Surrounded by the old Vauban fortress, it has become a meeting place for skaters as well as kickboarders and BMX riders.
Luxembourg and mobility in the countryside
One third of Luxembourg City is green. Parkland and gardens criss-cross the capital and provide open space. Many people travel here by bike. The Petrussthal and the Pfaffenthal are popular jogging routes, and the Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator has been in operation since 2016 to smoothly overcome the differences in altitude in the city. It connects Pescatore Park in the upper city center with the Pfaffenthal district in the Alzette Valley. The ride in the glass cabin offers a perfect panoramic view. In no time at all, pedestrians and cyclists can cover 71 meters in altitude. The ride is free of charge and the number of cyclists in the city has increased noticeably since it opened.
Please get on board! Free travel through Luxembourg
Luxembourg offers its residents and visitors free public transport throughout the country. Ticket offices are therefore a thing of the past in the Grand Duchy. And with the nationwide Move We Carry service, we were able to wander around carefree during the day while our suitcases traveled from accommodation to accommodation with the luggage service. Up to six consecutive days can be booked online. This luggage service is free in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg until the end of September 2021.
The capital city of Luxembourg is one of five regions that we explored on foot. We covered the distances between the daily stages by bus and train. With Move We Carry, travellers can organize luggage transport in advance.
Here is the overview: Stage trip through Luxembourg
The research trip was partially supported on site by Luxembourg Tourism
