Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
The Liebfrauenkirche of Trier is one of the oldest Gothic-style churches in Germany (together with the Elisabethkirche of Marburg). Therefore it is enlisted in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites and very well worth a visit! What might be confusing at first sight is that the cathedral of Trier and the Liebfrauenkirche (two separate churches) are directly connected to each other.
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The Porta Nigra is simply amazing: a decorated and well-preserved Roman city gate at Trier. You can enter the building and climb up three floors to enjoy the architecture and wonderful views on the city. The gate to the city Augusta Treverorum was built from the year 170 CE on, but it was never finished.
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If you want to get out of the touristy areas of Lëtzebuerg and dive into ordinary everyday life you can turn towards the West and visit the city quarters Hollerich and Bel Air. At their border you’ll find the Parc de Merl which feels like the center of this residential zone.
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Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban was a French general and an expert in fortification building. He was responsible for many fortresses and fortifications in the French-speaking world and also created a fortress in Luxembourg. As a result of the London Conference of 1867 the fortification of Lëtzebuerg was removed and on the grounds of the former fortress built by Vauban a villa was created in 1873. As the rest of the fortifications has been converted into a large park, this villa is now standing in a nice green area close to the city center.
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Only 300 meters away from the main railway station of Lëtzebuerg the Hôtel Perrin is a good place to stay for people travelling by train. It was built in 1932 and the Art Déco architecture combines well with the modern approach of the hotel. The heart of the hotel is the gentleman behind the desk who seems to speak every language of the modern world.
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It’s one of the perfect places when you have a rainy day at Lëtzebuerg: the Musée national d’histoire naturelle. The museum is modern, fun and educating; it gives you insight into natural history on three floors, from the big bang to life in the seas, from biodiversity in the city to minerals and volcanoes. Or you just use your time to watch leafcutter ants to their work.
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Ready to learn more about the city of Lëtzebuerg? The Lëtzebuerg City Museum is a modern museum located close to the Chemin de la Corniche and it is just around the corner of the Palais Grand-Ducal. It was opened in 1996 on eight levels containing a standard exhibition on the history of the city and changing exhibitions. The architecture itself is wonderful: modern elements connect the historic buildings dating back to the 17th century CE.
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When visiting Luxembourg you shouldn’t leave out the Musée national d’histoire et d’art. It is located at the fish market in the old town very close to the Casemates. Even if it would be completely empty this modern building would be worth a visit. It is like an iceberg – you just see some floors of a museum building in a contemporary style, but most of the museum is underground. The lower of the nine floors are carved into the rock and the archeological items exhibited blend with the rock surrounding it.
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Next to the ancient Fort Thüngen you can find the MUDAM, the Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean. It is a wonderful modern building, with lavish rooms and many areas to explore. The museum was inaugurated in 2006 and has been designed by a Chinese architect.
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When you climb up to the Kirchberg mountain or pass the bridge from the city center you’ll find the Fort Thüngen (or Draï Eechelen, Trois Glands). It is part of the extensive fortification system of the city of Luxembourg. The ancient fortress with its special structure would already be worth a visit, but within the old walls you can also find the Musée Dräi Eechelen.
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