There are several advantages to driving through Europe instead of flying. One of the biggest wins is the experiences we gain in the cities we choose to visit along our route out and back. On our way home from Corsica, we chose this time to make a stopover in Luxembourg – Europe’s green capital and heart.

I have been to Luxembourg once before, but for Peter and Sebastian it was their first time, and it was a true pleasure and joy to experience the city together with them. Without revealing too much, I think I can safely say already that it won’t be the last time we visit. Here’s a little about why we have fallen for the city – and what we managed to experience in just one day.

A small metropolis with great charm

Luxembourg is the capital of Luxembourg and one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe – and the only Grand Duchy in the world. Yet even though both the country and the capital are small, they are rich in charm, atmosphere, and authenticity. In some ways, we felt a bit as if we had “come home to Denmark,” but we quickly discovered the differences, and it was hard not to fall a little bit in love with Europe’s green heart.

Luxembourg is green and lush – and not only because of the forests surrounding the city. It is also the large green park cutting through the city that creates a living oasis right in the heart of Europe. It became a true pit stop for all our senses and a genuine breath of fresh air on our road trip home from Corsica.

After driving what felt like forever across the vast landscapes of France, Luxembourg felt like a tiny fairytale country to enter. Shortly after crossing the border, we reached Luxembourg City, and before we knew it, we had parked the car in the middle of the city center and were on our way to our hotel.

It’s not difficult to experience adventure in Luxembourg – not even if you only have one day! As we wandered through the city, we experienced many of its attractions. Here’s an outline of what we saw during our stopover in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg – the city of views

What I remember most about Luxembourg are the views. Views over the city. Views over parks. Views from bridges. Views from ramparts and old city walls. Green views. Views that tell stories – and enchant.

The first view we had was when we crossed the bridge, Pont Adolphe, which connects the two parts of the city. Pont Adolphe is like a small toothpick laid across the wide, deep gorge, where the Alzette River cuts through the city, surrounded by the park Vallée de la Pétrusse. The trees almost seemed to rush upward toward the sky with their green leaves, reaching up toward the bridge where we stood.

It’s fascinating to look down at the park and the winding paths far below. You can see the old aqueduct in the valley floor and parts of the historic old town with church towers and pastel-colored buildings on the horizon.

The Golden Lady – Gëlle Fra (Monument du Souvenir)

The walk across Pont Adolphe awakened our senses and our curiosity to explore the rest of the city. As soon as we crossed the bridge, we were met with an almost ceremonial sight.

In front of us, the Gëlle Fra monument rose toward the sky. It is a tall column topped with a golden female statue – known as Gëlle Fra (The Golden Lady). She proudly stretches a laurel wreath into the air and stands as a national memorial to the Luxembourgish soldiers who died during the First World War and in later conflicts.

The square surrounding the monument offers yet another stunning view – from here back toward the bridge and out across the valley.

Gëlle welcomed us. Now it was time to truly experience Luxembourg.

Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg

A little further down the road, our eyes were drawn to a church almost pressed into its surroundings. It was none other than the Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg.

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg is a beautiful Gothic church from the early 17th century, later enhanced with Baroque and modern additions. It is known for its slender spires, stained glass windows, and peaceful atmosphere. The cathedral houses the crypt of the Grand Ducal family and is an important religious and historical landmark in the country.

We chose not to go inside on this visit, but we will definitely step in next time we return to the city. Our attention was drawn to something just around the corner…

Palais de Justice de Luxembourg

We entered the square by the Palais de Justice de Luxembourg almost from the back side. At first, we weren’t entirely sure what we had arrived at, but a quick look at the phone revealed the distinguished place we were standing in front of.

The Palais de Justice de Luxembourg is the central judicial complex in the city, housing several of the country’s highest courts. It consists of a number of elegant buildings, some of which previously served as a monastery. Today, it is the heart of Luxembourg’s judicial system and an important symbol of the country’s democratic structure.

As a tourist, you primarily experience the Palais de Justice de Luxembourg from the outside – but it is certainly worth pausing for. The complex is located in the old town, and the architecture is a blend of classical and modern styles, with beautiful façades, courtyards, and historic details. Truly stunning. It sits peacefully, slightly set back from the busiest streets, giving the place a calm and almost solemn atmosphere. Here, we caught a glimpse of Luxembourg’s political and judicial center, right in the middle of the atmospheric old town. It was a promising start.

There is generally no public access inside the buildings, but the surrounding area is filled with history and ambiance – and often almost empty of people, creating a striking contrast to the otherwise lively city center.

Rue du saint esprit and the Wunschbaum

Hunger was beginning to set in. We started walking more purposefully in search of a cozy place to eat. We wandered a bit through the neighborhood and passed this area near Rue du Saint-Esprit and the large wish tree.

The Wunschbaum – the “wish tree” – is an art installation in the area where people hang small notes with wishes, hopes, or thoughts. Together, Rue du Saint-Esprit and the Wunschbaum create a small oasis of calm, views, and reflection in the heart of the city’s historic center.

Rue du Saint-Esprit is a lovely, slightly hidden street in the old town. It lies close to the beautiful viewpoint Chemin de la Corniche. Rue du Saint-Esprit feels calm and historic, surrounded by old walls and small pathways that give you the sense of walking through a former monastery area. Colorful umbrellas had been hung overhead… it looked so charming.

Chemin de la Corniche – perhaps Luxembourg’s most iconic view

We googled cafés and restaurants and headed toward an area where we could see there were several to choose from.

And suddenly, we were standing right there…

Without even realizing it, we had arrived at one of Luxembourg’s very best viewpoints. And rightly so – the sight that met us was truly breathtaking. The entire Grund district lay spread out before us. As far as the eye could see, there were layers upon layers of medieval buildings, green trees, old city walls, and more trees, eventually giving way to modern high-rises and perhaps even a single skyscraper.

We could see the Bock Casemates, part of the city’s old fortress system, as well as churches and monasteries like Neumünster Abbey, beautifully situated at the bottom of the valley.

Below us, there was a vibrant atmosphere from a cozy café where everyone was seated outside, surrounded by trees and what looked like the best view in town.

But we were hungry, and we wanted to head down to see what the valley had to offer. So we continued on… and from there, it was downhill.

Montée du Grund

Montée du Grund is a beautiful, cobblestoned and fairly steep street that connects Luxembourg’s old city center with the idyllic Grund district down in the valley. The walk up or down offers a historic atmosphere, charming houses, and lovely glimpses of cliffs and old fortification walls.

Eventually, we reached the bottom… but the views certainly didn’t get any less impressive.

Pont du Grund

Once we reached the valley floor, we crossed Pont du Grund to check out the restaurants… and of course, Luxembourg delivered once again when it came to views.

Pont du Grund is a historic bridge connecting the upper city with the picturesque Grund district. From here, you get the most beautiful views of the Alzette River, the old city walls, and the colorful houses in the valley. The bridge is surrounded by dramatic cliff faces and lush green areas.

There was plenty of life here – lots of locals, many students (and tourists), and the cafés were very full.

We found a small restaurant tucked away down one of the side streets. It was a shaded and cozy spot, with great service – and thankfully the prices were far more reasonable than what we had grown used to in Corsica. We filled our stomachs and continued our walk through the beautiful city.

Pont du Stierchen

Not far from there, we once again crossed the Alzette River at Pont du Stierchen. All the way there, we had repeatedly stopped to take in the many stunning views from down in the valley. And once again, here at Pont du Stierchen, we almost had to pinch ourselves to fully grasp the beauty of it all. The city just kept surprising us.

In this area near Pont du Grund, we experienced a very special atmosphere. City and nature meet dramatically right here. We stood between steep cliffs and green slopes with the Alzette gently flowing beneath us. We could see Chemin de la Corniche and the old city walls. We looked toward the peaceful Grund district with its colorful houses, cobblestone streets, and the monastery Neumünster Abbey. It felt like a complete postcard view of Luxembourg’s dramatic landscape and layered history – all in a single glance.

And then there were all the flowers…

Luxembourg is truly a lovely city. Lively. Beautiful. Genuine. As soon as you move a little away from the very center, you can sense that it’s an honest city, with real everyday life being lived here. In some ways, Luxembourg feels a little French – without actually being French. A little Danish – without being Danish at all. In my eyes, it is a far too overlooked destination.

We are already looking forward to coming back again.

  Adventures in Luxembourg we’d like to experience next time

• • The underground fortifications and defense tunnels: Bock Casemates
    (I’ve seen them before, but Peter and Sebastian haven’t.)

  • The Grand Ducal Palace: Palais Grand-Ducal

  • Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg

  • Parc de la Ville
    (I’ve been there before, but Peter and Sebastian haven’t yet.)

  • Taking the free train or bus out of the city to explore more of Luxembourg as a country

  Tips

• If you don’t enjoy walking across Pont Adolphe, there is a pedestrian and cycle path underneath the bridge that you can use instead.

• If you need to save your legs (like I do), you can take the elevator up and down to the Grund valley: Ascenseur du Grund (the Grund elevator).

• Luxembourg offers completely free public transportation – buses and trams – not only in Luxembourg City but throughout the entire country. This means you can easily get around and experience everything you wish to see.

• You can, of course, also rent e-bikes and electric scooters.

  Luxembourg