Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Luxembourg: Vianden Castle


We spent the Columbus Day weekend visiting Luxembourg.  It's a charming country, dominated by forests, hills, and farms.  We've been there before- pre-kids- and we were eager to share it with the children.  Our first stop: Vianden.

Vianden Castle has a history familiar to fortifications: a once-mighty stronghold, reduced to ruin and used as a quarry, and subsequently restored in recent times.  The approach is spectacular, both on foot and by car (for the latter, there's a convenient overlook just outside the town).  The photos don't capture just how high this thing is- the town is far below.



Time to go inside.  The rooms here are an unusual mix of furnished rooms (done to Medieval standards), empty halls, unfinished rooms (see second picture below- you walk on catwalks to get around, showing you the ruin), and modernized spaces.  Note the view from the top, looking out over the town- you can see the ruins of the old city walls.  Neat!









Time to leave.  Heading out, I needed a few more looks at the castle from afar.  Its imposing perch grants photo opportunities galore.  We stopped at the overlook again on the way out, as the sun poked through.



Vianden is a great castle, well worth your time if you're in the area.

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