"Luxembourg City" a Luxembourg Travel Page by acemj

The undeniable focal point of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Europe's smallest sovereign state) is Luxembourg City. Most visitors, including myself, do not spend any significant time outside of the beautiful capital city. In fact, most visitors probably visit Luxembourg just to say they've been to the quirky little country nestled between Germany and Belgium. I must confess that I only visited because I was vacationing mostly in Belgium and I figured that since I would be this close, I might as well visit a new country that I could add to my list of travels. Okay, the ugly truth is out in the open. I feel better. Whatever your motivation for visiting- whether it's ugly or not - the reality that you'll encounter in Luxembourg City is one of spectacular beauty.

The Old Town sits high above the confluence of the rivers Alzette and Petrusse, a setting that is truly privileged. Looking down to the two river valleys, you'll notice rocky hillsides leading down to green grass, trees and old stone bridges. The Grund quarter which curves for only a few hundred meters along a bend of the Alzette is a charming mishmash of restored town houses and old workers' quarters. The view from below is nearly as breathtaking. Rooftops lead your eye upward toward ancient Spanish fortifications built into the hillside and ultimately toward the Old Town above.

Most of the citiy's most important sites are located in the Old Town itself. You'll find quiet cobbled corners along with bustling shopping streets and cafe lined squares. I only spent one night in Luxembourg City, so I wouldn't want to pass judgment too quickly, but my biggest complaint would be that the place seemed to lack a certain energy that one often senses in more vibrant, if less physically beautiful settings. After dark, the place seemed lifeless and even during the day, it was hard to identify anything that was very culturally specific about the city. With most places, I would always recommend spending at least one night in order to see the place as it really is, when the day tripping tourists leave. However, Luxembourg City is one of the few places that I actually would recommend as a day trip. When night falls, the views over the valleys below disappear and so does most of the city's appeal