Luxembourg City

From Brussels we caught the train to Luxembourg City, capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It was a beautiful journey, with many interesting towns I’d love to go back and explore, including one with the ruins of an ancient fortress high on the hill.

Luxembourg City sits between two wide gorges with sheer walls. The city was established in 963 with the building of a fort, and by the 1800s was a strong fortress in a strategic location. And not surprisingly, a bloody history. The Grand Duchy was declared neutral in 1867 and most of the fortifications were dismantled. Neutrality didn't last long - Luxembourg was occupied during both world wars, after which it joined NATO and the EU. Today the city is a financial hub in one of the richest countries in Europe.

Highlights
• Pétrusse, the gorgeous park at the bottom of the gorge.
• Walking around the remains of the city fortifications.
• Musée National d’Histoire et d’Art.
• Views from the old town into the gorge bellow.

Lowlights
• Bock casemates being closed (a network of underground passages which form part of the old fortifications).
• Ugly new EU highrises on the horizon.