Europe

Luxembourg

At a glance

One of Europe's institutional centres

Luxembourg is a small country, but despite this, it plays an important role in the European Union. Luxembourg City is one of the EU's three official seats, alongside Brussels and Strasbourg, and hosts institutions such as the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors and the European Investment Bank. I found it interesting that such a small country has such a significant place in European decision-making.

A Three language Country

Luxembourg has three official languages: Luxembourgish, French and German. During my visit to the capital, however, I found myself hearing mostly French and English, although I did hear Luxembourgish as well. This makes sense when you consider that more than half of Luxembourg City's residents are foreign nationals.

A strong Portuguese connection

One thing that is interesting is that Luxembourg has a very large Portuguese community and their influence can be seen in its restaurants, businesses, language and everyday culture. It is quite interesting to find such a strong Portuguese presence in a small country between France, Germany and Belgium.

Luxembourg was once much bigger

Looking at Luxembourg on a map today, it is easy to forget that the country was once much bigger. Over the centuries, parts of historic Luxembourg were transferred to neighbouring countries and this adds an interesting dimension to its identity and relationship with its neighbours.

A visual journey through Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City

Luxembourg coat of arms on the gates of the Grand-Ducal Palace — **The palace gates carry Luxembourg’s coat of arms.** The crowned red lion and blue-and-silver stripes are symbols of the country’s history and sovereignty. You will see the emblem in different places in the city.

Shopping street in the Ville Haute, Luxembourg City’s historic upper town — **This street runs through the Ville Haute, Luxembourg City’s historic upper town.** Its old quarters and fortifications are part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage listing. I enjoyed wandering among the shops and historic façades.

Adolphe Bridge above the green Pétrusse Valley in Luxembourg City — **Adolphe Bridge crosses the green Pétrusse Valley.** It is quite impressive to find so such greenery in the city center in this way..

Statue of Grand Duchess Charlotte in Luxembourg City — **Grand Duchess Charlotte remains an important figure in Luxembourg’s story.** She ruled from 1919 to 1964, and her broadcasts during the Second World War became a symbol of Luxembourg’s independence. As such, the Duchess is an important figure in Luxembourg's history.

The Golden Lady above the Monument of Remembrance in Luxembourg City — **The Golden Lady crowns Luxembourg’s Monument of Remembrance.** The monument honours Luxembourgers who died in the First World War. On this rainy day, the flowers below it made the stop feel especially moving.

Luxembourg City Hall on William Square — **Luxembourg City Hall stands right on William Square.** Known locally as Place Guillaume II, the square hosts markets and public events.

Stained-glass windows and interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City — **Notre-Dame Cathedral began as a Jesuit church in the 17th century.** I was drawn to the golden baptismal font and the quiet of its interior. The crypt is also the resting place of John the Blind and members of the Grand-Ducal family.

Picon bière served in a Bofferding glass — **This is Picon bière, served in a Bofferding glass.** Bofferding is the local beer in Luxembourg and picon is a bitter orange aperitif mixed with beer. I prefered the picon as the bitter orange gives it an extra flavour.

Paschtéit served with fries and salad in Luxembourg — **Paschtéit is Luxembourg’s version of bouchée à la reine.** The puff pastry is usually filled with a creamy chicken and mushroom sauce; some versions include sweetbreads. Mine came with fries and salad.

European institutions and flags in Kirchberg, Luxembourg City — **Kirchberg is Europe!** Seeing the flags and EUROPA lettering made Luxembourg’s role in European life feel real. You can also take part in free tours here.

European Parliament sign in Luxembourg — **The European Parliament has a working presence in Luxembourg.** Its Secretariat-General is based in Kirchberg and here you have many of the European institutons, unfortunately storm austen hit Luxembourg when I was there and it was quite windy! Otherwise Kirchberg is a nice district.

Programme for the Concerts de Midi in Luxembourg City — **Concerts de Midi brings music into the middle of the day.** This programme caught my eye; I liked the idea of taking a music break while exploring the city. Concerts de Midi are free concerts held on selected Fridays in Luxembourg city.

Travel notes

Public transport is completely free!

One of the things I loved most about Luxembourg was its free public transport. Buses, trams and second-class trains are free throughout the country, and they really make a point of letting visitors know, even at the airport. It felt almost surreal to simply hop onto a tram or bus without worrying about buying a ticket, checking fares or validating anything. Its very convenient and makes exploring the country so much easier, especially for visitors. I wish more countries would adopt something similar!

My stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg

I stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg, and my experience was a bit mixed. The room I had felt somewhat dated, so the accommodation itself was just okay. However, the staff were very friendly and helpful. A special shout-out to Karim, who was always available whenever I needed assistance with something. The hotel is around 15 minutes from the city centre by bus, and there is a bus stop about a minute's walk away.

Perfect for a short visit or day trip

Luxembourg's location makes it particularly convenient to visit if you are already travelling through Belgium, France or Germany. Given how small the country is, you can easily organise a day trip to Luxembourg City from neighbouring areas. Personally, I don't think you need too many days to explore the main sights of the capital, although you could certainly stay longer if you wanted to discover more of the countryside and smaller towns.

Be prepared for plenty of steps!

One thing I should mention is that Luxembourg City involves quite a bit of going up and down. With the historic upper town sitting above the valleys, exploring on foot can mean plenty of stairs, slopes and uphill walks. Comfortable shoes are definitely a good idea. The views make the effort worthwhile, and I suppose you can also look at it as a good workout while sightseeing!