Diana Petterson European Continent, Luxembourg

Lovely Luxembourg

My wild-haired selfie taken while walking on the Old Town ramparts of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. It was hot and muggy but for a very little while, there was a cool breeze and I enjoyed every second of it. A lot to do an see with only today to do it. (June 3, 2018)

With one day to see as much as we could, Alice, Tammy and I speed dated through the grandness of Luxembourg City. Although the country of Luxembourg is so small that it is also known as Luxembourg City, it’s capital, this little diamond packs a stately medieval punch.

“Luxembourg’s old quarters and fortifications, the impressive vestiges of an ancient city, are set in a striking natural environment. The city itself was founded in 963 and has played a significant role in European history through the centuries,” so says the UNESCO World Heritage.

Our Airbnb apartment truly wasn’t located far from the Old Town, but it is at the bottom of a nice curved hill so the going up part was a whole lot more work than the coming down part. But the views…well, you’ll see what I mean. We took a bus tour through the modern portion of Belgium, which is nice, but really nothing to me has more character than the Old Town and walking along the promenade.

We have an early train tomorrow…in fact it will take two trains to get us to Bruges, Belgium. I leave you with a Luxembourg motto: “We would like to remain what we are.”

My wild-haired selfie taken while walking on the Old Town ramparts of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. It was hot and muggy but for a very little while, there was a cool breeze and I enjoyed every second of it. A lot to do an see with only today to do it. (June 3, 2018)
Peering into the Grund, a valley below the center of Luxembourg City, on the banks of the Alzette River. Along the sides are the cliff walls. (June 3, 2018)
The foundation walls and city gates of the Luxembourg City’s first stronghold as we walked along the Chemin de la Corniche promenade. (June 3, 2018)
It’s called the Grund or the lower part of Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
Walking on the Chemin de la Corniche promenade offers dramatic viewpoints of the Grund or lower area of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (June 3, 2018)
The Rham-Plateau with its fortifications in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (June 3, 2018)
A Sunday flea market in the Town Hall square with the Town Hall in the background. The Town Hall was built between 1830 and 1838 in neoclassical style using dismantled stones from an old Franciscan monastery to build it. (June 3, 2018)
The 16th century Flemish Renaissance styled Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City, is the residence of the Grand Duke and is the official seat of the head of state. (June 3, 2018)
A close-up of the exterior of the 16th century Flemish Renaissance styled Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City.  (June 3, 2018)
The square with the Grand Ducal Palace to the right and 16th century buildings to the left in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (June 3, 2018)
Once the Fish Market in the old town of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. As the former crossroads between two Roman roads, it is the historical center of Luxembourg’s City Old Town. (June 3, 2018)
Clairefontaine Square in Luxembourg City with the bronze statue of Grand Duchess Charlotte (1896-1985). (June 3, 2018)
A close-up of the bronze statue of Grand Duchess Charlotte (1896-1985) on Clairefontaine Square in Luxembourg City was very popular with the Luxembourgeois when she ruled from 1919 to 1964. (June 3, 2018)
The Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City has two ornate entrances, this one is on the west side and when you enter, you see the altar. (June 3, 2018)
A close-up of the entrance to the Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
The beautiful Madonna and Child that adorns the west exterior entrance of the Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
The interior of the Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
The interior side chapel of the Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
The interior carved balcony at the west entrance of the Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
The Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City has three towers and a second entrance and exit to the south. (June 3, 2018)
The Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City second entrance and exit to the south. (June 3, 2018)
Details above the door to the exterior south entrance of the Cathedral to the Blessed Virgin in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
She’s referred to as the “Golden Lady,” but her official name is Gëlle Fra monument in the Constitution Square in Luxembourg City. She commemorates those who volunteered for service in the armed forces of the Allies of World War I. (June 3, 2018)
She’s referred to as the “Golden Lady,” but her official name is Gëlle Fra monument in the Constitution Square in Luxembourg City. She commemorates those who volunteered for service in the armed forces of the Allies of World War I. (June 3, 2018)
A close-up of the “Golden Lady” memorial base located at Constitution Square in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (June 3, 2018)
The sites of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (June 3, 2018)
The sites of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (June 3, 2018)
As we were strolling through the Grund, the lower portion of Luxembourg City, we came across this Amazon sign. Come to find out, Amazon has one of its headquarters here and from the look of their website, they have a number of jobs to fill in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
More to me of what makes Luxembourg City so gorgeous, the views. This is the Pulvermuhl Viaduct that was opened along with the railway track in 1862 and has been electrified since 1988. (June 3, 2018)
More to me of what makes Luxembourg City so gorgeous…the rocky ledge with the medieval Stierchep bridge in the Grund or lower area. In 962 Siegfried, Count of Ardenne, acquired this massive rocky ledge and gave birth to Luxembourg. (June 3, 2018)
St. Michael’s Church in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg is the oldest religious site in Luxembourg City. The first church was built on the spot in 987 as the castle chapel for the Count of Luxembourg. However, over the centuries, the building was destroyed, rebuilt, and renovated several times. Its current appearance dates to 1688, and unites Romanesque and Baroque architectural styles. (June 3, 2018)
The interior of St. Michael’s Church in Luxembourg City. (June 3, 2018)
We decided to end our day in Luxembourg City with a short walk along the promenade to catch the city at night, but even at 21:30 or 9:30 pm, darkness had not taken over. This wall is just some of what remains of Luxembourg’s original fortress. (June 3, 2018)
This wall is just some of what remains of Luxembourg’s original fortress. (June 3, 2018)
Alice and Tammy…enjoying the cool breeze and the views from the Chemin de la Corniche promenade in Luxembourg City, but ready to get back for our early start tomorrow. Bruges, Belgium, here we come. (June 3, 2018)