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In
the early morning haze Luxembourg City is reminiscent
of an ancient
fairytale city, with its towers and turrets. The old
centre of town, which has been declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, can trace its history back to the 10th
century, when Siegfried, Count of the Ardennes, built
a castle on a rock above the Alzette River. He named
the castle Lucilinburhuc. Over the centuries the castle
and surrounding town was strengthened with numerous additional
fortifications, walls and gates until it became known
as the 'Gibraltar of the North'. Today the various components
of the fortress are the city’s chief tourist attraction.
There are some other interesting sights in the old centre
of town too, including several museums.
Modern Luxembourg on the plateau du Krichberg is more
concerned with business than pleasure, as the work of
a major international financial centre goes on inside
the many modern office complexes in the area. Luxembourg
has the highest number of banks of any city in Europe,
and it is also home to numerous European Union institutions.
The European Council of Ministers holds their sessions
in the city for three months every year, and the European
Court of Justice presides here too.
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Car Rental
If you like to drive and stay at hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, that is
fine. We offer a choice of 3
companies offering budget vehicles, new vehicles and mini-buse. If you tell us
your requirements we will happy prepare a quotation for you. See details: Luxembourg
Car Hire
You can also travel by boat. As the largest global canal boat wholesaler,
we offer you a choice of 3 self skipper companies: Amadeus, and Canal and Company.
Self drive barging or cruising is lots of fun. No license is required and boats
are available
for 2-12 passengers. It really is a terrific bonding time for families or just
a great time for a group of friends. The boats are very comfortable and most
boats have en-suites and comfortable cabins. BBQ's , fishing rods and outdoor
deck furniture complete the picture.
For details, Luxembourg
River Cruises - Canalboat Hire
Luxembourg Passport & Visa Requirements
Entry requirements for Americans: United
States citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid for
at least 3 months
after period of intended stay). No visa is required for a stay
of up to three months. It is recommended that visitors have
return or onward tickets, documents required for next destination
and sufficient funds.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British
citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is required for
a stay of up
to three months if holding a passport endorsed British Citizen,
British Overseas Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen
or British National (Overseas). In all other cases, a visa
is required and passports should be valid for at least three
months beyond intended period of stay; it is also recommended
that visitors have return or onward tickets, documents required
for next destination and sufficient funds.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians
must have a valid passport (must be valid for at least three
months after period
of intended stay). No visa is required for a stay of up to
three months. It is recommended that visitors have return or
onward tickets, documents required for next destination and
sufficient funds.
Entry requirements for Australians:
Australians must have a valid passport (must be valid for at
least three months after
period of intended stay). No visa is required for a stay of
up to three months. It is recommended that visitors have return
or onward tickets, documents required for next destination
and sufficient funds.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South
African nationals require a valid passport (valid up to three
months after intended
stay) and a Schengen visa.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New
Zealand citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid
for at least three
months after period of intended stay). No visa is required
for a stay of up to three months. It is recommended that visitors
have return or onward tickets, documents required for next
destination and sufficient funds.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish
citizens must have a valid passport. No visa is required for
a stay of up
to three months.
Passport/Visa Note: The
borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following
countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg,
The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these
countries issue a standard Schengen visa that, in principal,
allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all.
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at
short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry
requirements with their embassy or consulate.
ATTRACTIONS IN LUXEMBOURG
Clervaux
In the heart of the Ardennes Mountain
region about 30 miles (50km) north of Luxembourg City, the
village of Clervaux is
overlooked by a 15th-century castle, a Romanesque church with
twin spires, and a large Benedictine monastery. The castle
houses three small museums, including one that features a collection
of World War II memorabilia from the Battle of the Bulge that
was fought in the region. Another room is dedicated to the
Luxembourg Holocaust victims, its walls lined with mementoes
of Luxembourgers who died in concentration camps. Behind the
castle a road leads uphill to the monastery, where the monks
sometimes hold Gregorian chant concerts. The town itself has
numerous appealing restaurants and cafes.
Echternach
The beautiful town
of Echternach lies on the border between Germany and Luxembourg
on the banks of the Sûre
River. It boasts a famed abbey, founded in the 7th century by
St Willibrord,
whose remains are contained in a magnificent white marble sarcophagus
in the crypt of the Basilica. There are also three museums
in the town, one dedicated to the history of the abbey, another
showcasing ancient artefacts and a third detailing rural architecture.
Echternach also has its own unique event: a centuries' old
traditional dancing procession takes place each Whit Tuesday,
attracting thousands of pilgrims and spectators. The town is
also a jumping-off point for hikers wishing to explore the
area known as the Mullerthal, a fascinating landscape of curious
sandstone rock formations, waterfalls, creeks, springs and
forests. Also known as 'Little Switzerland', this region is
criss-crossed with hiking trails and dotted with picturesque
villages.
Grand Ducal Palace
The city residence of the Grand Ducal family
is right in the heart of the old town, and is surprisingly unpretentious,
recognisable
more by the fact that there are sentry boxes outside. The building
features ochre yellow stone decorated with spires and railings,
overlooking a paved pedestrian square. It was originally the
site of a medieval town hall that was destroyed by a gunpowder
explosion in 1554, and rebuilt 20 years later. An annex to
the building was built in 1859 and is the seat of the Chamber
of Deputies. Guided tours are available in July and August
by arrangement with the Luxembourg City Tourist Office.
Address: 17, rue du Marché-aux-Herbes; Telephone:
22 28 09; Opening time: The palace can be visited on a guided
tour between 18 July and 2 September; Admission: €6
(adults), €3 (children)
Hamm Cemetery
In a silent forest
clearing near the village of Hamm, a few miles east of Luxembourg
city, lie the graves of
more than
5,000 American soldiers killed during World War II, when the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg became a battleground in the Allies’ last
bid for victory on the Western Front. One of the graves is
that of the legendary commander, General George Patton, who
died in a traffic accident just after the war. The cemetery
has become a place of pilgrimage and homage, and is immaculately
maintained by members of the American Battle Monuments' Commission.
Not far away, at the village of Sandwieler, is a German war
cemetery with some 10,000 graves.
CONTACTS:
Luxembourg Tourist Office: +352 428 2821 or www.ont.lu
Luxembourg Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible
for Canada): +1 202 265 4171.
Luxembourg Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible
for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7235 6961.
Luxembourg Honorary Consulate, Johannesburg, South Africa:
+27 (0)11 463 1744.
United States Embassy, Luxembourg: +352 460 123.
British Embassy, Luxembourg: +352 229 864.
Canadian Embassy, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for Luxembourg):
+32 (0)2 741 0611.
Australian Embassy, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for
Luxembourg): (+32 2) 286 0500.
South African Embassy, Belgium, Brussels (also responsible
for Luxembourg): +32 (0)2 285 4400.
Irish Embassy, Luxembourg: +352 450 610.
New Zealand Embassy, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for
Luxembourg): +32 (0)2 512 1040.
Emergencies: 112/113
AIRPORTS:
Luxembourg Airport (LUX) Location:
The airport is located four miles (6km) east of Luxembourg city.
Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Sunday in March
to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel:
+352 4798 1. Flight Information: +352 4798 5050. Transfer to
the city: Bus route 16 connects the airport to the city centre,
and there are taxis available at Arrivals. Car rental: Car
hire firms Avis, Budget, Eurodollar, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty
are represented at the airport. Facilities: Airport facilities
include a bank and bureau de change, a post office, restaurants,
a newsagent, duty-free shop and bar in the single airport terminal.
Parking: There is a small short-stay carpark opposite the terminal
buildings. Other car parks are temporarily closed or have been
moved because of the building of a new air terminal. Airport
users are therefore discouraged from bringing private vehicles
to the airport. A parking shuttle bus connects the distant
car parks, which are signposted along access routes to the
airport, to the terminal. Departure tax: None.
