The Castles of Luxembourg

There are over 100 castles in this last remaining Grand Duchy, some are fascinating ruins, others are intact. These are the best.

Larochette

From the hu Birkelt village, a 30-minute walk takes you through the pleasant green area around Hangelsbour, past forests and waterfalls, to the small town of Larochette. The Castle of Larochette juts out from a rocky peak, controlling the entire valley and the White Ernz river. This is the same the river that gave rise to the small town of Larochette at the foot of the Verluerekascht rock formation. Here, in the Middle Ages, mills were built to harness the river’s energy and constructed huddled together to protect them from outside attacks.

As time passed the town’s original nucleus enlarged, new houses were built as well as a wall with gates protected by circular towers. In the 11th century, as the village of Larochette became established, the castle was built 150 m above it, on the rocky spur that dominates the area. The Castle of Larochette consisted of various buildings that were destroyed in a fire in 1565. In the 1980s one of these building was restored, the Créhange House which now hosts exhibitions and concerts (the Counts of Créhange dominated the Moselle territory during the era of the Holy Roman Empire). Walk up to the peak, stroll between the walls and enjoy a panoramic view across the surrounding valleys and woods, then take a break at the café tables and marvel as the sunset floods the castle with light.

Beaufort

20-min drive from the hu Birkelt village

The earliest reference to the Castle of Beaufort dates back to 1192 and was inhabited, although changing hands various times, until the 18th century when it was abandoned and entered into a state of decay. Since 1891, it has been a national monument and today is open to guided tours from Easter until November. Rising up beside the medieval ruins is the second Castle of Beaufort, a small Renaissance palace where a guided tour allows you to see the interiors, the garden and the distillery (where tastings are offered!). A visit to the Beaufort castles is a must, in particular for the nature that surrounds them. Ensconced in the Mullerthal region, the castle sits amid emerald green fields and shady forests where the silence is only disturbed by birdsong and the babbling of streams and small waterfalls. Take your time touring the castle site and then follow the trails into the woods and stretch out by the side of the small lake and just soak up the atmosphere. A short walk from the castle you’ll find the Natur- & Geopark Mëllerdall, where through play and interaction children can learn about the geological evolution of the region.

Vianden

25-min drive from the hu Birkelt village

The Castle of Vianden looks as though was designed by Walt Disney, with circular towers and impenetrable forests. The Romans were the first to fortify the peak and in the 4th century AD they established a garrison here. The actual castle was built in the 11th century and altered over the centuries to meet the living and defence requirements of its succession of owners. In 1417, it came in to the hands of the Orange-Nassau family, the current royal family of the Netherlands, who ceded it to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1977. To visit it, either walk up the scenic but steep cobblestoned Grand Rue or, our suggestion is you take the fun, scenic chairlift ride. The castle interiors have been cleverly turned into a museum, with photo galleries that document the reconstruction process. Every year in August, the castle recreates its medieval past during a nine-day festival with battles between knights, artisan markets, medieval dinners and shows. Vianden also houses a small Victor Hugo museum in the house where the writer lived and a fascinating hydro-electric plant that can be visited.