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Luxembourg City
Home » Luxembourg » Luxembourg: Major Cities and Regions » Luxembourg CityAlong with Panama and Guatemala, Luxembourg is one of the few countries in the world whose capital has the same name as the country. The tenth-century fortress in Luxembourg City first solidified Luxembourg as a separate entity, and the country and the city have virtually been one in the same ever since.
Let’s Go Travel Guide calls Luxembourg City “one of the most beautiful and dramatic capitals in Europe.” The city is in the south central area of Luxembourg, and the remains of Bock Casemates, the tenth-century castle and fortress, sit on a cliff overlooking the Alzette River. The river valley and surrounding cliffs make Luxembourg a beautiful and relaxing place to spend a day or a lifetime, as its eighty-four thousand residents will attest.
Luxembourg City is also home to the one international (not to mention, paved) airport in the country. LUX does not have flights to the United States, but it does have regular flights to Amsterdam and a host of other European cities from which you can connect to America. The city’s train station is on the south side of town and both a Eurail pass and a Benelux Tourrail Pass will get you aboard. Within the city, you can walk or take the bus; bus passes are bought by the hour or the day.
The best way to see Luxembourg City is on foot. The Wenzel Walk named for a former monarch named Wenceslas (sorry, not Good King Wenceslas) takes you by many of the major sights. Whatever you do, make sure you visit Bock Casemates and explore the historic fortress, which has been seen many European rules and been the site of many battles over the last millennia. You should also check out the Castle Bridge and the Petrusse Casemates.
Downtown Luxembourg City is highlighted by the Place D’Armes, which is both historic and modern. During the summer, you can tour the Palais Grand Ducal, the Buckingham Palace of Luxembourg. The Cathedrale de Notre Dame and the National Museum of Art History are two other good sights to visit.
While camping is all the rage elsewhere in Luxembourg, most visitors to Luxembourg City stay in hotels or hostels. Hotels in the city are somewhat expensive (singles generally cost at least sixty dollars), but there are several nice options. On the other hand, if you have a HI membership, the city does have a nice and affordable HI youth hostel.
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