Great Itineraries
If You Have 2 Days
On the first day, take in the classic sights of Luxembourg City, with visits to the French-built Citadelle du Saint-Esprit, the Bock, the maze of underground defense passages known as the Casemates, and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame with its royal crypt. Also worth visits are the interactive Musée d'Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, which traces Luxembourg's 1,000-year history; the Palais Grand-Ducal; the art treasures of the Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art; the Grund district along the Alzette; the Vallée de la Petrusse; the banking street, Boulevard Royal; and the main pedestrian shopping street, Grand-Rue.
On the second day, allow ample time for the Wenzel Walk through space and time. It leads from the Bock down into the valley, past ancient gates and ruins, over 18th-century military installations, and along the Alzette, with audiovisual presentations along the way. Use the afternoon to re-enter the 20th century at Kirchberg, a plateau to the east of the old city that is home to European Union institutions, including the European Court of Justice. Here, too, are modern bank palaces of architectural and artistic interest.
If You Have 3 Days
Follow the itinerary above, and on the third day, drive north to the Luxembourg Ardennes via Diekirch, whose Museum of Military History brings alive the Battle of the Bulge, then on to Vianden, home of one of the most spectacular castles you're ever likely to see. Continue north to Clervaux, where there's another sprawling castle, now the permanent home of The Family of Man photo exhibition.
Alternatively, you can use the third day to explore the Moselle Valley. Start at Jardins des Papillons in Grevenmacher and follow the Route de Vins south through its lovely riverside towns, including Ehnen, which is home to Luxembourg's Wine Museum, and the cobblestone streets of Remich. Stop in at any of the vineyards along the way. End the day at the spa waters of Mondorf-les-Bains.
If You Have 5 Days
Follow the itinerary above and stay overnight in Clervaux. Turning south, stop in tiny Esch-sur-Sûre, circled by the river and dense forests, and continue on to Bourscheid with its romantic castle ruins overlooking three valleys. Past Diekirch, head for Larochette and its striking, step-gabled castle. At Reuland, you enter the Müllerthal, the very pretty countryside also known as the Petite Suisse. Stop over at Echternach. On the fifth day, visit this town on the river Sûre, which is the home of the unique and ancient dancing procession at Whitsun (Pentecost). Travel south along the Sûre, which forms the border with Germany until it meets the Moselle. The vineyards have been cultivated since Roman times and cover every slope. Pretty little Ehnen, a well-preserved village, is a good place for a stop to see the wine museum. Heading back toward Luxembourg City from Remich, stop at Hamm to visit the American Military Cemetery, where General George Patton is buried with 5,000 comrades-at-arms who fell during the liberation of Luxembourg.
