Historic City Center, Luxembourg

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Although Luxembourg's Vielle Ville is not really so very old there are some interesting architectural twirls, turrets and twiddles. It's worth keeping an eye open as you wander round...make sure you look up.

I particularly liked the way some older houses had their date of construction in huge metal numbers fixed to the exterior.

Even if the building dates from the late 1800s, there are often interesting embellishments..pretty blue & white tiles high up near the roof, a beautiful oriel window.....

And, if you walk in the side-streets, just occasionally you can get a glimpse of how Medieval Luxembourg must have looked before the building of the 1800s.

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The Rham Plateau is a high ground on the right bank of the river Alzette. It offers brilliant views of the Alzette valley and the Walls of Corniche.

At the northern end of the Rham Plateau the Tower of Jacob can be found. It is an old town gate whose history dates back to the 16th century.

Among other buildings the Rham Plateau is also home to a water tower from the middle of the 19th century.

Directions:
The Rham Plateau is situated east of the city centre and it is part of the "Wenceslas Circular Walk".

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One can enjoy a very nice day just strolling about the old city center of Luxembourg. There are excellent views of the city's upper and lower parts, fine architecture, and plenty of shops and cafes. You don't really need to be going anywhere in particular.

Dent Creuse or "Hollow Tooth" is the only remain of an old castle which was once the cradle of the city of Luxembourg. The castle and its fortifications were built in 965 by Count Siegfried de Lorraine.

From here you can enjoy panoramic views of the Rham Plateau, the Kirchberg Plateau and the lower town with its districts of Grund and Clausen.

Directions:
The ruin of Dent Creuse is located on the rock Bock, which can be found on the way from the city centre to the district of Clausen.

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The Bock Casemates are a network of underground fortifications, which were built in the middle of the 17th century. The original tunnels were about 23 km long and could shelter thousands of soldiers and their horses.

The Bock Casemates and fortifications are listed as UNESCO World Heritage site and also gave Luxembourg its nickname "Gibraltar of the North".

Directions:
The Bock Casmates are situated in the Bock which is a rock inbetween the districts of Grund and Clausen.

The large leafy square in the city center is the prime place for relaxation and good food as virtually every building here appears to be a restaurant. The locals seem to particularly like Italian restaurants.

Luxembourg once had some of the most awesome fortifications in the world, and tearing them down was the condition the Great Powers of the XIX century gave to Luxembourg for recognizing its independence. (They were afraid they could fall into the hands of their adversaries.)

Citizens gladly obliged, but the casemates and some remnants remain to this day and can be visited.

Luxembourg's wealth comes in large part from the many banks headquartered here. It is basically a mini-Switzerland. Area South of the city center in particular is full of banks. The gracious XIX century building of the Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat hosts a bank museum in addition to beautifying the city's skyline.

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Many of Luxembourg's best sites are crammed into the streets that sit atop its highest sanstone cliffs in the centre of the city. Here among the tight, crowded streets that criss cross the flattened stone, you will find the fine Saint Michael's Church, the Grand Ducal Palace, as well as two of the country's greatest museums: the national History and Art Museum and the City Museum. In addition there is plenty of great shopping to be had, as you'd expect in the capital of the world's wealthiest country. You can also take breaks between spending money in one of the many cafes and restaurants that dot the small streets.

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The Fortress Luxembourg was at one time known as the "Gibraltar of the North." It had a triple wall with 23 kilometers of interconnecting tunnels (or casemates). Today, not much of this fortress remains, except around the central city. Here you will clearly find the strong walls built on steep cliffs above the Alzette River.