Diekirch and Echternach, Luxembourg
Diekirch
According to Wholevehicles, Diekirch is a small picturesque town, famous primarily for the eponymous brewery and a stunning military museum.
Located in a very beautiful place on the Sauer River (a tributary of the Moselle), Diekirch is one of the few settlements in Europe whose history refers us not to the Romans or Greeks, but to the Germans. The ancient name of this place “Didokirch” is translated as “Temple of Dido”. (And around the whole commune there are a lot of ruins and remains of the settlements of the ancient Celts and Germans.)
How to get to Diekirch
Diekirch can be reached by car, bus or train from Luxembourg City, the journey takes no more than 40 minutes. The railway station is located just 1 km from the city center.
Entertainment and attractions in Diekirch
The heart of the city is the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, built on the ruins of a Roman villa, which in turn was erected on the foundations of a pre-Roman church, presumably from the 6th-7th century BC. e.
The most popular attraction in this charming little town is the National Military Museum (Musée National d’Histoire Militaire). Here are exhibits telling about the events of 1944-45. – the famous “Battle in the mountains” to liberate Luxembourg from the Nazis. Address: 10, Bamertal. Opening hours: April-October 10:00-18:00, November-March 14:00-18:00. Entrance 5 EUR, audio guide 2.5 EUR.
Museums in Diekirch
Another popular museum is the historical one, which tells about the life of the city from the very first days to the present day. The main exhibit is an amazingly beautiful and well-preserved mosaic. Address: 13, rue du Curé, opening hours: Tue-Sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission fee 5 EUR.
It is worth visiting the unique museum of vintage cars and vehicles – a rare collection not only for Luxembourg, but throughout Europe. Here you can get acquainted with bizarre and very beautiful cars that have been born since the end of the 19th century. The museum has its own cafe, archive, souvenir shop. Address: 20-22, rue de Stavelot, opening hours: Tue-Sun from 10 to 6. Admission fee 5 EUR.
Finally, the museum of the same name as the DIEKIRCH brewery should not be ignored. Fortunately, it is located on the second floor of the “auto-museum” described above. Here you can learn everything about the famous brand of Luxembourg beer, see vintage bottles and advertisements, fancy glasses and much more. The cost of visiting is 5 EUR.
Surroundings of Diekirch
Nearby is the picturesque Bourscheid Castle, an ancient structure dating back a thousand years. This fortress, located on a plateau overlooking the river Sur, is open to visitors daily from April to October, the rest of the time – only on weekends.
Echternach
In the lower reaches of the Ur, on the banks of the Sur River, which flows on the border with the territory of Germany, lies one of the most picturesque and ancient settlements in the country – Echternach. This small town, with a population of only 5 thousand people, boasts an interesting thousand-year history that began with a monastery founded on this site in 698.
How to get to Echternach
From the country’s capital, Luxembourg City (30 km), Echternach can be reached by bus number 110-111, which departs from the main station and bus station (Aldringer). In addition, it will not be difficult to get here by car (on the road to Kirchberg, then follow the signs) or by bike (3 hours along a well-equipped cycling track).
Entertainment and attractions of Echternach
It is worth visiting the abbey around the ancient basilica of St. Willibror, built on the site of that same ancient monastery. The history of this abbey is quite interesting: it was founded in the 7th century by the monk Willibror, who was later canonized (the ashes of the saint are kept here). At one time, this basilica was a major Christian center; decorative copies of the Bible inlaid with precious stones were produced here. Nearby is an interesting abbey museum dedicated to the history of the city.
And also: the church of St. Peter and Paul (13th century, one of the oldest in Europe), the Market Square, the town hall, a remarkable historical building of the 15th century, the pavilion of Louis XV, the historical museum, the ancient Roman villa, located 20 minutes walk, and also the ruins of the old fortress walls and the Wolf’s Mouth Canyon located nearby.
You can go to the picturesque 60-hectare artificial lake, located a 20-minute walk from the center of Echternach. Or go to the oldest cinema in the country Cine Sura; Working hours: Fri-Wed. In addition, in the vicinity of the city lies the German-Luxembourg Nature Park with well-groomed paths leading to rocks, waterfalls and other natural attractions.
