The Casemates Bock is a network of underground fortifications, built in the 18th century, that tunnel under the city. The fortifications and environs are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Bock itself is the rock on which the first castle stood, founded in 963 by Sigefroy (Sigfried). It is tied to a number of other remains of the old fortifications. Among others, the famous fortress builder Vauban built much in the city.
The river of Luxembourg is the Alzette, which is very small now, but because the sandstone of the area is very soft, it dug out a huge valley. This is called the Ville Basse and is a spectacular area particularly the Grund (Statgrond) which is well worth the time to take a stroll around. The old fortress surrounded this valley. The Venceslas walk (named after Venceslas, Czech king and count of Luxembourg who built much of the fortresses around) leads along the fortresses, protecting the city on one side (and now forming one of the most spectacular "balconies", the Corniche) and the fortress of the Raam plateau on the other. In the Grund itself you can find a lot of pubs and the....
Neumunster Abbey
Neumünster Abbey, now a cultural and encounter center with a nice church and the old St. John's hospital.
The pedestrianized old town is where the greatest concentration of (rather expensive) shops as well as bars and restaurants are to be found. Specific sights are few but all around town you can spot details that remind you of Luxembourg's historical value.
Just near the Hamilius bus station are Place Guillaume and the Place d'Armes. Place Guillaume (also known in Luxembourgish as the Knuedler) is the venue for a market every Wednesday and Saturday. It is also the site of an equestrian statue of William II of the Netherlands and Luxembourg and the neo-classical Town Hall which is fronted by two bronze lions summer months the Place d'Armes is filled with tables and chairs from the surroundng cafes and at the centre of the square is the bandstand around which various concert seasons are based.
Just off the Place Guillaume is the Grand Ducal Palace which was fully restored during the nineties. It also houses the Luxembourgish Parliament the Chamber of Deputies.
Also of note is the Cathedrale de Notre Dame. This was built between 1613 and 1618 by Jesuits and was elevated to the status of cathedral in 1870. Nearby is the G�lle Fra: literally 'Golden Lady'. This is a golden figure of a woman holding a wreath a symbol of victory. It was taken down by the Nazi's during occupation but stands today as a memorial to those who gave their lives in World War II.
Nearby G�lle Fra and Place de la Constitution is the entrance to the Pétrusse Casemates which were constructed by the Spanish in 17th century. They are not as large as the Bock Casements.
On the road from the inner city to the Bock you will find the Eglise St. Michel. This church took on its present form in 1688, but was probably built in the early 14th century. It was restored during 2003 and 2004.
Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial
World War II Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, in the eastern section of Luxembourg City, just south of the airport, . Open daily except for December 25 and January 1; 9AM-5PM. The Cemetery is the final resting place for 5,076 American military Dead, most lost during the Battle of the Bulge. It is also the final resting place for General George Patton. A monument is inscribed with the names of 371 Americans whose remains were never found or identified. Two large stone pylons with operations maps made of inlaid granite describe the achievements of American armed forces in the region during World War II. Free.
The Kirchberg area houses a number of banks and most of the European institutions in Luxembourg (Parlament, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors, European Investment Bank and some of the Commission's Directorate Generals. A number of buildings were build by celebrated architects like Richard Meyer and Gottfried Benn. Some modern sculptures also appear between the buildings.
MUDAM
MUDAM (Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean), 3, Park Dräi Eechelen (Kirchberg, buses 1,3,6,Eurobus), . Designed by I.M. Pei of "Louvre Pyramid" fame, this museum showcases Luxembourgish artists and changing international exhibitions. The nonlinear (and rather confusing) building is half the fun, and on a quiet weekday afternoon in the off season you'll pretty much have the place to yourself.€5. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Luxembourg (city)
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Luxembourg (city) - updated Apr 2024
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Luxembourg (city) Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
