PHOTO: Castle Urspelt. (photo by Worldwide Scott)
Conveniently located in one of Northern Europe's nicest neighborhoods - right next door to Belgium, Germany and France - Luxembourg still manages to get skipped on most "Eurotrips."
It's not that travelers don't appreciate a good small country (just take one look at the lines in Vatican City), or that people haven't heard of Luxembourg before, it's just more that the nation remains a bit of an unknown quantity. Hey, let's face it, no fantasy trilogies have been shot there lately and there's likely no Luxembourg-ish food truck rolling around in your town. But you could always still go to there though, because I can personally attest it's got a ton of allure, and let's not kid ourselves, it gets you travel street cred to go to lesser-known places.
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The Captivating Capital
Luxembourg City is not only the business, culinary and cultural hub of the country; the town is also home to an embarrassment of historic riches. Formed on a rocky outcrop in 963, the city was secured repeatedly over the centuries to eventually become one of the most fortified in all of Europe. While in modern times this was reduced, parts of the original fortress can still be viewed, and the city's old quarters and fortifications are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These windy streets are home to hundreds of nationalities and a stimulating arts and restaurant scene, not to mention sweeping views of the city and countryside, best taken in from the Chemin de la Corniche - regarded as one of the most romantic strolls in all of Europe.
Countless Castles
When it comes to the collection of that most romantic of European residences, the castle, Luxembourg punches well above its weight. With over 50 of them in country, there's one here for everyone. The Valley of the Seven Castles leads past seven quaint castles, making it a fantastic drive or hike, and for those looking to do some fairytale reenacting, Bourscheid Castle and Vianden Castle fit the part just fine. If you prefer the stateliness of a chateau, there's Chateau de Septfontaines and Chateau Urspelt, the latter having been turned into a fantastic hotel that kept us warm on a cold February night.
Steal-the-Show Clerveaux
PHOTO: Clerveaux. (photo by Worldwide Scott)
This town in northern Luxembourg stole my heart on first sight, with its setting at the bottom of a dramatic river valley so superb I had to halt the car and take a picture. In addition to simply enjoying the scenery here, there's a castle in Clerveaux, (naturally - it's Luxembourg) and inside its walls, you'll find the iconic Family of Man photo exhibition which shows - via moving images - how much all people around the world truly have in common.
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Magnificent Moselle Wine
PHOTO: Moselle Winery. (photo via Flickr/sangre-la)
The meandering Moselle River makes up a large swath of Luxembourg's border with Germany, and over the centuries, the steep hills surrounding it have become a haven for wine making. Crisp whites are easily the most popular wine produced, with the sparkling Cremant de Luxembourg certainly the most fun.
Luxembourg's Moselle Valley is visually stunning to say the least, with romantic villages nestled upon the river's shores at every turn. Hiking and biking trails are widespread, and make a great way to soak in all the scenery, or you could take a river cruise, which promises to have way fewer crowds than the ones across the border in Germany.
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