Luxembourg Things to Do Tips by Blatherwick

Spuerkees Bank Tower Historic City Center Review

That may look like a castle, but it's not. It is the tower of the "Spuerkees" Bank which is one of the best known landmaks of the skyline of Luxembourg City. The Spuerkees is one of the over 180 Banks present in Luxembourg. The financial services sector is nowadays the main pillar of Luxembourgs economy.

Website: http://www.bcee.lu

Palais Grand Ducal Grand Ducal Palace Review

The Grand Ducal Palace is a grand structure that houses the royal family of Luxembourg. The neat thing is the the palace is right in the centre of town and fits in like any other building.

The palace was originally built as a town hall in 1572. From 1815 onwards, the Palace was used to house the Government Commission and the various governments which succeeded it until 1867. From 1848 onwards, the new Chamber of Deputies was also housed there, so the executive and legislative powers shared the same building. The latter power, which became the "Assemblée des Etats" (Assembly of the States) in 1857, remained there until 30 October 1860, when it moved to its present site to the right of the Palace.

The alteration of the Palace for the exclusive and official use of the sovereign coincided with the arrival of the new Nassau-Weilbourg dynasty in 1890.

The Palace is open for viewing from mid July to late August. As with all working palaces there is the required watching of the changing of the guard.

Address: In the city centre - Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes

Phone: 22 28 09

Website: http://www.gouvernement.lu/dossiers/famille_grand_ducale/chregneuk/annexeact/palaces/

Notre Dame Cathedral Cathedral Notre Dame Review

Perched on the edge of one of the cliffs in Luxembourg in is the Notre Dame Cathedral. This magnificent Gothic structure was built between 1613 and 1621. It holds the royal family vault and the huge sarcophagus of John the Blind, in addition to a remarkable treasury (it can only be viewed on request, so ask the sacristan, whose office is on the right as you enter).

An annual ceremony on the fifth Sunday following Easter takes place called the Octave of Our Lady of Luxembourg, Thousands of pilgrims arrive to pray to the miraculous statue of the Holy Virgin for protection. They then form a procession to carry the statue from the cathedral through the streets to an alter covered with flowers in the av. de la Porte Neuve.

Address: Bd. Roosevelt (entrance on rue Notre-Dame)

Website: http://www.gouvernement.lu/dossiers/famille_grand_ducale/chregneuk/annexeact/cathedrale/