Luxembourg is a bustling modern city with approximately 110,000 inhabitants, a melting pot of people and cultures stemming from over 150 nations. The city is home to international corporations and the European Court of Justice, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is also a delight to stroll around, with a third of the city given over to parks and open spaces.
Luxembourg is a fairyland destination; it is home to over 50 castles, many of them beautifully restored. A hike through the Eisch Valley (the ‘Valley of the Seven Castles’) is a mesmerising way to explore its heritage and landscape, and Clervaux Castle, high on a rocky hill, hosts the amazing ‘Family of Man’ collection of post-war photography documenting the world’s people, donated by Edward Steichen. But you don’t have to leave the city to find culture glories; its medieval centre is a Unesco World Heritage site.
If modern architecture is more your thing, visit the Kirchberg district for the acclaimed Philharmonie concert hall by Christian de Portzamparc and Mudam modern art museum by IM Pei.
These venues have a packed schedule of concerts, events and exhibitions, and the Old Masters at the National Museum of History and Art are not to be missed. There are small galleries all over town, theatres staging national and international productions, and the Neumünster Abbey arts centre hosts exhibitions, festivals and free jazz and blues gigs. For shopping, car-free Grand-Rue and Rue Philippe II have many top brands, and a few blocks away there’s a twice-weekly organic food market.
Life’s too short to drink bad wine, or eat without pleasure. Relax on a terrace with a view, and sip a local beer, a Moselle wine or a sparking crémant, made in the traditional champagne method.
Dinning out is a big part of the Luxembourg lifestyle. Global cuisines reflect the multicultural society, and among eateries for all tastes and budgets, the Grand Duchy boasts 11 Michelin-starred restaurants, three in the city and all in easy reach. That’s one of the best things about being small, in Luxembourg, the good life is all within your reach.