Green hiking country Luxembourg

Discover the hiking wonderland of Luxembourg with light luggage

Moselle, Minett or Mullerthal – Luxembourg City or the Éislek region – the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg offers hikers and cyclists a nature-filled vacation with a nationwide free transport system and a free luggage service.

Von Norden bis Süden durchziehen wunderschöne Wanderrouten und Rundwanderwege die abwechslungsreiche Landschaft Luxemburgs
From north to south, beautiful hiking routes and circular trails crisscross Luxembourg’s varied landscape / © Photo: Georg Berg

Stage travel through a varied country

By bus and train free of charge through the whole country? A suitcase that accompanies you but never gets annoying? That sounds almost too good to be true. We tested this offer, which Luxembourg makes to its residents and visitors, for a week and were on foot in five hiking regions. We covered the distances between the walks in the Éislek region in the north, the Müllerthal region, the Moselle region near Grevenmacher, Luxembourg City and the Minett region near Esch-sur-Alzette in the south of Luxembourg by bus and train.

Ticketschalter haben im Großherzogtum Luxemburg ausgedient. Nur für Fahrten mit der 1. Klasse muss ein Ticket bezahlt werden. Alle anderen Verbindungen, ob Bus oder Schiene sind im ganzen Land kostenlos / © Foto: Georg Berg
Ticket counters have had their day in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Only for journeys with the 1st class a ticket must be paid. All other connections, whether bus or rail, are free throughout the country / © Photo: Georg Berg
Die Kombination von Zug und Fahrrad ist in Luxemburg problemlos möglich. Alle Züge haben mehrere deutlich markierte Fahrradabteile mit je fünf Aufhängungen. Auch Fahrräder können kostenlos mitgeführt werden
Combining trains and bicycles is easy in Luxembourg. All trains have several clearly marked bicycle compartments, each with five hangers. Bicycles can also be carried free of charge / © Photo: Georg Berg
Wandern von Bahnhof zu Bahnhof ist gut ausgeschildert in Luxemburg. Das untere Schild „CFL“ ist ein Hinweis darauf, dass die Route auch über einen Bahnhof führt. Im ganzen Land gibt es diese CFL-Wanderwege mit einer Bahnstation am Anfang und am Ende. So kann man einfach einsteigen und kostenlos zurück zum Ausgangspunkt fahren
Walking from station to station is well signposted in Luxembourg. The lower “CFL” sign is an indication that the route also passes through a station. Throughout the country, there are these CFL walking trails with a train station at the beginning and end. So you can just hop on and ride back to the starting point for free / © Photo: Georg Berg

On bike or on foot

Luxembourg has 3,500 kilometers of signposted hiking trails and 600 kilometers of bike paths. The new Move – We Carry luggage service makes traveling through Luxembourg especially uncomplicated. No matter if you have booked a hotel, a vacation apartment or a camping site, your luggage will be there in front of you at every stage of the day. Hiking or biking carefree during the day and being able to pick up your luggage in the evening is an attractive vacation service.

Mit Move We Carry gelangt das Gepäck von Unterkunft zu Unterkunft. Bis zu sechs Tage in Folge können gebucht werden
With Move We Carry, luggage moves from accommodation to accommodation. Up to six days in a row can be booked / © Photo: Georg Berg

Suitcases, backpacks or bicycle bags are transported. A maximum of two pieces of luggage per person and a total weight of 20 kg may have the luggage, which is collected after 10 am and is ready by 4 pm at the latest at the next stage destination. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has offered Move We Carry free of charge until September 30, 2021.

Luxembourg Ardennes – Escapardenne Lee Trail

Von Rittern und Reisenden. Hier am Fluss Sauer in Burscheid Plage gibt es schicke Cottage-Suiten mit Blick auf den Fluß sowie Blick auf die Unterkunft aus dem Mittelalter: Burg Burscheid
Of knights and travelers. Here on the Sauer River in Burscheid Plage, there are chic cottage suites overlooking the river as well as views of medieval accommodation: Burscheid Castle / © Photo: Georg Berg.

The Éislek region in the north of Luxembourg is crisscrossed by valleys and plateaus with panoramic views, medieval castles and idyllic villages. We hike a section of the 52-kilometer Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe from Bourscheid-Moulin to Hoscheid. The entire trail can be completed in three days and leads from Ettelbrück to Kautenbach. A hiking pleasure with 2,000 meters of altitude, which rewards you with great views. Lee means ridge in Luxembourgish and the Escarpadenne Lee Trail offers plenty of them.

The Mullerthal – over rocks and through gorges

Das Müllerthal ist bekannt für seine Felsformationen aus Sandstein. Die Außentreppe des großen Felsens Perekop. Über eine steile Leiter kann man auch mitten durch den Felsen hindurch gehen
The Müllerthal is known for its rock formations made of sandstone. The outside staircase of the big rock Perekop. You can also walk through the middle of the rock via a steep ladder / © Photo: Georg Berg

The Müllerthal is the most famous hiking region in Luxembourg. The Wolfsschlucht (Wolf Gorge) with its steep rocks up to 50 meters high is considered the most spectacular natural monument on the 13.5 kilometer long hiking trail E. Whoever sets off from Berdorf in the direction of Echternach, the oldest city in Luxembourg, crosses a beautiful stream valley with equally impressive rock formations made of sandstone beforehand.

The Moselle Region – Dream Loops and Pleasure Hiking

Einer von drei zertifizierten Premiumwegen namens Traumschleife in der Moselregion. Vom Moseldorf Ahn führt der Wanderweg durch das Weinanbaugebiet und überrascht mit altem Buchsbaum und wilden Orchideen
One of three certified premium trails called Traumschleife in the Mosel region. From the Mosel village of Ahn, the hiking trail leads through the wine-growing region and surprises with old boxwood and wild orchids / © Photo: Georg Berg

There are three certified premium trails in the Moselle region. The dream loops offer a lot of variety and run mostly on narrow, natural paths. The Traumschleife with its starting point in the small Mosel village of Ahn leads along old vineyard steps and shell limestone rocks. It passes through the steep vineyards of the Palmberg with its old boxwood. At the end of the walking loop, you can reward yourself with a glass of Moselle wine and taste what wines the terroir you have just walked through produces.

Mobility in Luxembourg City

Etagenwechsel. Mit dem gläsernen Aufzug Pfaffenthal-Oberstadt wurde der Park Pescatore in der Oberstadt mit dem Stadtteil Pfaffenthal im Alzettetal verbunden
Floor change. The Pfaffenthal-Oberstadt glass elevator has connected the Pescatore Park in the Upper Town with the Pfaffenthal district in the Alzette Valley / © Photo: Georg Berg

The capital of the Grand Duchy is very green. Apart from the many parks and squares, this is mainly due to the river valleys that surround the city. One moves in a forward-looking urban world and mobility is very smartly implemented here. For example, the Pfaffenthal panoramic elevator takes passengers with and without bicycles from the upper city center to the Alzette Valley in just 30 seconds. Cars had to give up part of the road to cyclists. Some bridges also have a separate floor for cyclists. First e-buses run through downtown and for skaters there is a huge training facility in the middle of the park.

The Minett Region – The Land of Red Earth – ESCH2022

Für Architekturbegeisterte lohnt sich ein Besuch des Campus Belvalt. Hier fügen sich alte Industriekultur und eine moderne Universität fanszinierend zusammen
For architecture enthusiasts, a visit to the Belvalt campus is worthwhile. Here, old industrial culture and a modern university come together in a fascinating way / © Photo: Georg Berg

The Minett region in the south owes its name to the bright red iron ore that gives the earth here its color and made steel industry possible in Luxembourg. In the meantime, an impressive structural change has taken place. The University of Luxembourg, for example, was built with partly futuristic buildings in the middle of the area between old blast furnaces and ruins of the steel industry. A walk across the Belval campus is worthwhile. It is only one train station away from Esch-sur-Alzette. You can’t help but marvel at the successful fusion of massive industrial culture and futuristic architecture. Esch-sur-Alzette is the largest city in Luxembourg and will be the European Capital of Culture in 2022. The entire Minett region has already been recognized as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 2020. Here you can observe how nature is reclaiming the former mining territory.

The Müller Valley – over rocks and through gorges

The Müllerthal is the most famous hiking region in Luxembourg. It is also called the Little Switzerland of Luxembourg. The Müllerthal Trail belongs to the Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe. This label is awarded by the European Hiking Association.

Das Müllerthal ist bekannt für seine Felsformationen aus Sandstein. Die Außentreppe des großen Felsens Perekop. Über eine steile Leiter kann man auch mitten durch den Felsen hindurch gehen / © Foto: Georg Berg
The Müllerthal is famous for its rock formations made of sandstone. The outside staircase of the big rock Perekop. You can also walk through the middle of the rock via a steep ladder / © Photo: Georg Berg.

The Müllerthal Trail is also suitable for families with younger children. The cross-border orientation of the trail is attractive. Together with the Southern Eifel region in Germany, a NatureHikingPark Delux was created, which makes cross-border hiking possible on four rock tours.

Das Zeichen des Müllerthal Trails ist ein rotes M. Aufgrund der vielen Kombinationsmöglichkeiten und Wanderschlaufen kann man sich in diesem Wandergebiet nicht über mangelnde Beschilderung beklagen / © Foto: Georg Berg
The sign of the Müllerthal Trail is a red M. Due to the many possible combinations and hiking loops, one cannot complain about a lack of signage in this hiking area / © Photo: Georg Berg
Startpunkt  der Tagesetappe ist Berdorf. Aus dem Dorf heraus führt schnurstracks ein Feldweg Richtung Wald und schon nach wenigen Gehminuten ist man in einer anderen Welt / © Foto: Georg Berg
The starting point of the day’s stage is Berdorf. A dirt road leads straight out of the village in the direction of the forest and after just a few minutes of walking you are in another world / © Photo: Georg Berg

The Müllerthal Trail, which is about 112 km long, is made up of three loops. We start the trail in Berdorf. Surrounded by the Berdorf rocks, the village is located on a plateau and is an ideal starting point for numerous hikes. The hike leads through a forest and rocky landscape via the Wolf Gorge to Echternach. Shortly after leaving Berdorf behind, you reach an amphitheater where millstones were mined in the past, which has left typical traces. Today the amphitheater is used for events. Also on the Huel Lee, the Hohllay, you can clearly see the circular protrusions from which millstones were quarried here for the whole region.

Huel Lee oder Hohllay - hier wurden früher Mühlsteine aus dem Felsen gebrochen / © Foto: Georg Berg
Huel Lee or Hohllay – millstones used to be broken out of the rock here / © Photo: Georg Berg
Auch die Bühne des Amphitheaters war früher ein Steinbruch für Mühlsteine / © Foto: Georg Berg
The stage of the amphitheater was also once a quarry for millstones / © Photo: Georg Berg

Along the shallowly rippling Aesbach we go to the Perekop. A narrow hiking trail runs parallel to the brook. The sun flashes through the leaves again and again. It is still very quiet here in the early morning. A man is walking his dogs, otherwise you can only hear the birds singing.

Der Aesbach führt an manchen Stellen kaum noch Wasser. Parallel zum Bach verläuft ein schmaler Wanderweg / © Foto: Georg Berg
The Aesbach has hardly any water left in some places. A narrow hiking trail runs parallel to the stream / © Photo: Georg Berg
Felsen in groß und in klein. Neben den wuchtigen Felsformationen stößt man hier auch auf unzählige Arrangements von Steinmännchen / © Foto: Georg Berg
Rocks large and small. Besides the massive rock formations, one also comes across countless arrangements of cairns here / © Photo: Georg Berg

Perekop is a large rock that can be climbed through a crevice by ladders. To reassure you, you don’t have to go back down the steep ladder through the crevice. Outside, a more accommodating staircase leads around the perekop, which takes you back across the road to the hiking trail towards Echternach.

Das Müllerthal ist bekannt für seine Felsformationen aus Sandstein. Die Außentreppe des großen Felsens Perekop. Über eine steile Leiter kann man auch mitten durch den Felsen hindurch gehen
The Mullerthal is known for its rock formations of sandstone. The outside staircase of the big rock Perekop. Via a steep ladder you can also walk through the middle of the rock / © Photo: Georg Berg

The Wolf Gorge, with its steep cliffs up to 50 meters high, is considered the most spectacular natural monument on the 13.5-kilometer-long hiking trail E. The gorge with the eerily attractive name is a steeply sloping rock crevice where wolves used to find shelter.

Die Felsen rechts und links des Weges kommen immer näher. Die Wolfsschlucht ist nicht mehr weit / © Foto: Georg Berg
The rocks to the right and left of the path are getting closer and closer. The Wolf Gorge is not far away / © Photo: Georg Berg

Echternach – oldest city in Luxembourg

An ideal starting point or, as in our case, a tempting hiking destination is Echternach. The oldest city in Luxembourg and the cultural and tourist center of the region has a good selection of restaurants, cafes and stores. Visible from afar is the basilica.

Echternach mit der Basilika vom Aussichtspunkt Trooskneppchen / © Foto: Georg Berg
Echternach with the basilica from the viewpoint Trooskneppchen / © Photo: Georg Berg

Arriving in Echternach, we meet Caroline Nockels. Just before the outbreak of the pandemic, the Echternach resident had decided to try something new and open a café in the old business premises where her grandparents ran a bakery in the 1950s. Her grandmother Irene was then also her first guest at the opening in July 2020.

Caroline Nockels hat sich mitten in der Pandemie ihren Traum vom eigenen Café in Echternach erfüllt. Carli’s Coffee liegt nahe am Echternacher Marktplatz / © Foto: Georg Berg
Caroline Nockels has fulfilled her dream of owning a café in Echternach in the midst of the pandemic. Carli’s Coffee is located close to Echternach’s market square / © Photo: Georg Berg

At Carli’s Coffee near Echternach’s market square, you can get baked goods made from regional ingredients, from pancakes and toasts to muffins or the orange cake made according to grandfather’s recipe. From breakfast to afternoon coffee, Caorline Nockels is open for guests.

The Moselle region with vineyards and orchards

We leave Echternach by bus and head for another hiking region. With the free public transport we go through the Sûre valley towards the Moselle to Grevenmacher, the wine-growing region of Luxembourg. By bus we drive through open landscapes, wooded areas and again and again we can see scattered orchards. Before we reach the Moselle town of Grevenmacher, we make a stop in Born. This small town has been the home of the first and only cider producer in the country for a good five years.

Das Auto ist alt, die Firma aber noch jung. Erst 2015 wurde Ramborn von drei Männern gegründet, deren Wurzeln im kleinen Ort Born liegen / © Foto: Georg Berg
The car is old, but the company is still young. Ramborn was only founded in 2015 by three men whose roots lie in the small village of Born / © Photo: Georg Berg

Ramborn is a made-up word from Rambo, an old Luxembourg apple variety, and the village of Born. The traditional craft of cider making has been practiced in the Born area for as long as there have been fruit trees in the Sauer Valley. Three friends from Born remembered this during a visit to Scotland and realized the idea of breathing new life into the old tradition in Luxembourg as well. An 18th century farm has been renovated and has become the production and presentation site for their apple and pear ciders. Meanwhile, more than 100 farmers deliver their fruit from the orchards to Ramborn.

Cider von Ramborn aus alten Apfelsorten wie Rambo, Boskoop, Bohnapfel und Luxemburger Triumph hat 5,8 Prozent Alkohol und schmeckt spritzig-frisch mit komplexen Apfelaromen / © Foto: Georg Berg
Cider from Ramborn made from old apple varieties such as Rambo, Boskoop, Bohnapfel and Luxemburger Triumph has 5.8 percent alcohol and tastes tangy and fresh with complex apple aromas / © Photo: Georg Berg

The stopover in Born is well worth it. Tours and tastings are offered regularly. The taste of Ramborn Cider or Perry, made from pears from pear trees that are 250 years old in some cases, is complex and flavorful. While many cider producers use plantation fruit, Ramborn’s ciders contain only the juice of old fruit varieties.

The Luxembourg Ardennes – on the Escapardenne Lee Trail

The Éislek region in the north of Luxembourg is crisscrossed by valleys and plateaus with panoramic views, medieval castles and idyllic villages. We are on a section of the 52-kilometer Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe. The entire trail can be completed in three days and leads from Ettelbrück to Kautenbach. It is a hiking pleasure with 2,000 meters of altitude gain that rewards you with great views. Lee means rocky ridge in Luxembourgish and the Escapardenne Lee Trail offers plenty of them.

Startpunkt der Tagesetappe ist Bourscheid-Moulin. Am Fluss Sauer gibt es verschiedenen Unterkunftsformen. Vom Hotel über Cottage-Suite mit Flussblick bis zum Campingplatz. Nur die Burg von Bourscheid ist nicht mehr bewohnt / © Foto: Georg Berg
The starting point of the day’s stage is Bourscheid-Moulin. There are various types of accommodation along the Sauer River. From hotels to cottage suites with river views to campsites. Only the castle of Bourscheid is no longer inhabited / © Photo: Georg Berg
Die Cottage Suiten des Cocoon Hotels La Rive sind ideal für einen naturverbundenen Urlaub. Die Cottages liegen direkt am Ufer der Sauer. Zwei Hotels mit Restaurantbetrieb sichern die Versorgung und gleich früh am morgen kann die Tour auf dem Escapardenne Lee Trail beginnen
The cottage suites at Cocoon Hotel La Rive are ideal for a nature-filled vacation. The cottages are located directly on the banks of the Sûre River. Two hotels with restaurants ensure the supply and first thing in the morning the tour on the Escapardenne Lee Trail can begin / © Photo: Georg Berg

The middle stage of the Escapadenne Lee Trail is 19 kilometers long and, with a good 900 meters of altitude gain, also the most demanding of the three sections through the Éislek region. It goes from Bourscheid-Moulin on the Sûre River to Hoscheid on the Ardennes plateau. In Burscheid-Moulin there are numerous accommodation options. Two hotels, cottage suites overlooking the river, and also a campground line the banks.

Auf dem Escapardenne Trail gewinnt man immer wieder Höhe und wird mit Blicken in die Landschaft belohnt
On the Escapardenne Trail you gain altitude again and again and are rewarded with views of the landscape / © Photo: Georg Berg

You should pack a lunch for this stage, as there are no places to stop along the way. Enchanted forest paths, rocky outcrops, lonely valleys, passages with blooming broom and every now and then a mountain ridge with a good view, however, offer many picnic opportunities. The sign of the white wave on a blue background is the official logo of the trail and accompanies you reliably along the entire route. In between there are always stage signs of the Escapardenne Lee Trail. Despite the good signposting, it is recommended to switch on a hiking app as your own backup.

Der erste Steilanstieg aus dem Tal der Sauer ist geschafft. Das Zeichen der weißen Welle auf blauem Grund ist das offizielle Zeichen des Trails
The first steep ascent out of the valley of the Sauer is done. The sign of the white wave on a blue background is the official sign of the trail / © Photo: Georg Berg
Eine Bank für die Brotzeit: Mit rund 19 Kilometern ist diese Tagesetappe die längste. Sie wird durch die Höhenmeter von Kamm zu Kamm zu einer tagesfüllenden Aktivität. Einkehrmöglichkeiten gibt es unterwegs kaum. Ein Lunchpaket sollte man dabei haben
A bench for a snack: at around 19 kilometers, this stage of the day is the longest. It becomes a day-filling activity due to the meters of altitude from ridge to ridge. There are hardly any refreshment stops along the way. You should have a packed lunch with you / © Photo: Georg Berg

Once you have left Burscheid behind, the next hiking stop is the Napoleonsknäppchen, also called Napoleonsbäumchen. It is located on a high plateau and is visible from afar. Except for a tree and the viewing platform, there is – almost – nothing else to see here. However, a farmer has placed a huge and also clearly visible manure pile next to the tree. This seems disrespectful at first, but maybe it’s good for the tree itself.

Kurze Geschichtslektion am Napoleonsknäppchen. Hier wurde 1811 zu Ehren der Geburt von Napoleons Sohn ein Baum gepflanzt
Short history lesson at the Napoleonsknäppchen. A tree was planted here in 1811 in honor of the birth of Napoleon’s son / © Photo: Georg Berg

Back to the historical significance of the Napoleon’s Knapchen. The original tree was planted in 1811 in honor of the birth of Napoleon Bonaparte’s son. In 1940, this tree was cut down by the Nazis. But only a year later the local residents planted that linden tree, which still stands there today. After the excursion across the plateau, we continue through gorse bushes, which bloom profusely in June, and back into the forest.

Blühender Ginster säumt im Juni an vielen Stellen den Weg entlang des Escapardenne Lee Trails / © Foto: Georg Berg
Blooming broom lines the path along the Escapardenne Lee Trail in many places in June / © Photo: Georg Berg
Die Wanderung entlang schmaler Waldpfade ist Erholung pur
The hike along narrow forest trails is pure relaxation / © Photo: Georg Berg

What follows now is definitely one of the highlights of the trail. Via a steep path you climb the Molberlee ridge. It is a narrow path a good 500 meters long. To the left and to the right the only sparsely overgrown rock drops steeply. One walks over almost fine-leaved slates. The Mollbier, in German Heidelbeere, gives the ridge its name. This point is certainly one of the most beautiful in the Luxembourg Ardennes. The stage ends on a high plateau in the village of Hoscheid.

Der Molberlee Grat. Hier führt ein schmaler Pfad rund 500 Meter lang über bröseliges Schiefergestein. Es geht, auch wenn das Bild es nicht so zeigt, recht steil zu beiden Seiten hinab / © Foto: Georg Berg
The Molberlee ridge. Here a narrow path leads for about 500 meters over crumbly slate rock. It goes, even if the picture does not show it so, quite steeply down on both sides / © Photo: Georg Berg

Boarding please! Free ride through Luxembourg

After a week of hiking in Luxembourg, we can say it was a trip without any ticket stress and with a lot of room for maneuvering. In time you should take a look at the bus connections in the countryside. Often there is only one connection per hour. It’s worth checking the route planner of the central mobility app, which displays departures in real time. Tip: in the border area Moselle region, one of our cell phones has always ventured into the weak German network. This resulted in the Luxembourg mobility app not working. With dial-up to the Luxembourg mobile network, on the other hand, everything went smoothly. As a personal backup for the hike, you should still use a hiking app. Mostly, the hiking trails are very well signposted, but sometimes too many trail names led to uncertainty. Then a look at the hiking route in the app always helped.

With Move We Carry, travelers can organize luggage transport in advance. In the 2021 season, the luggage service was free of charge. The new season begins again in April 2022. Whether and in what amount costs will be charged then, Standt December 2021 has not yet been announced.

Our mode of operation is characterized by self-experienced, well-researched text work and professional, vivid photography. For all stories, travel impressions and photos are created in the same place. Thus, the photos complement and support what is read and carry it further.

Never miss new Tellerrand-Stories again! Mithilfe eines Feed-Readers lassen sich die Information über neue Blogartikel in Echtzeit abonnieren With the help of a feed reader, all stories about the Tellerrand (edge of the plate) can be subscribed to in real time.

The research trip was partly supported on site by Luxembourg Tourism

Travel Topics on Tellerrand-Stories

Our mode of operation is characterized by self-experienced, well-researched text work and professional, vivid photography. For all stories, travel impressions and photos are created in the same place. Thus, the photos complement and support what is read and carry it further.

Never miss new Tellerrand-Stories again! Mithilfe eines Feed-Readers lassen sich die Information über neue Blogartikel in Echtzeit abonnieren With the help of a feed reader, all stories about the Tellerrand (edge of the plate) can be subscribed to in real time.

Permalink of the original version in German: https://tellerrandstories.de/wanderland-luxemburg
Optimized by Optimole