Visit Vianden Castle

High up on the hilltop, the castle dominates Vianden. For a thousand years, it has looked over the town in some form. And now it is people who look up to it, as one of Luxembourg’s most iconic buildings.

Vianden is a small town in Luxembourg’s north with a population of about 1500. Up from the river, the road leading to the castle has a small collection of restaurants and bars.

One of them, a dark and smoky video bar with music and pool tables, seems out of place in such a provincial location. But it’s a reminder that this is not a tourist trap… this is a home and there are young people here who need some release.

Once you’re at the top of that road, past the beers and the schnitzels, it is as though you have stepped back to medieval times. And Vianden Castle beckons.

After falling into disrepair by the 1800s, several attempts were made in the 19^th and 20^th centuries to restore it. Unfortunately, wars and other factors kept getting in the way.

It wasn’t until 1990 that it was finally restored and refurbished in such a way that it was suitable for visitors.

Today, exploring the castle gives you a sense of what life was like back in the Late Middle Ages. It has been furnished and decorated in the style the Counts of Vianden would have been accustomed to.

That includes the huge dining room with its long wooden table and its fireplace from 1450; and the master bedroom with the red curtains around the sleeping area and six small windows.

It takes much longer than expected to see everything in the castle – it is deceptively large. There is the armoury, the crypt, the chapel, the kitchen, the halls and more.

Staircases appear where they’re least expected, transporting you up to another level of expansive rooms.

And at the top is what many people would consider to be the highlight – the views out across Vianden.

To be a count here in the 1500s, you would feel like a king. Looking out across your land from such a majestic of homes must have been truly incredible.

From eavesdropping to the conversations around me, I think most tourists here are from Luxembourg itself – or at least the neighbouring countries.

This is not part of the usual trail of European tourism but it is a gorgeous little place with a stunning castle.

I stopped here when I was walking across Luxembourg (a trip that’s fairly easy to do within a week). But regardless of how you’re seeing the country, visiting Vianden Castle is worth the detour if you’re nearby.

Visiting Vianden Castle

A few years ago, CNN listed Vianden as one of the 21 most beautiful castles in the world, so it’s worth taking your time to enjoy the details and the views.

As well as the castle itself, there are the collections on display in many of the rooms. Plus there are often events happening on the grounds (particularly on summer weekends).

It’s worth checking to see when the Medieval Festival is being held at the castle, because that changes the whole visit! (In 2024, it’s 27 July to 4 August).

You can visit the castle independently – if you prefer, you can book tickets in advance here.

I think you’ll get a lot more out of a local showing you around, and a fantastic way to do that is on a tour from Luxembourg city.

I would recommend this full-day trip from Luxembourg City that also includes Beaufort Castle, Schiessentümpel Waterfall, and Echternach Old Town.

It is also possible to do a guided tour of Vianden Castle if you contact the castle and arrange it in advance. There’s also an audioguide that you can get on site for €2.

Typically, touring the castle takes about two hours, but it could be even longer if you’re listening to the entire audioguide and doing some other activities here.

A few other useful bits of visitor information:

• Due to the many stairs in the castle, it is inaccessible for visitors with limited mobility.
• The castle is located on a rocky promontory and has a total length of 90 metres, which might make it challenging for strollers.
• Dogs are only allowed in the courtyard and in the cafeteria.

Regardless of how you approach it, I recommend you take your time – there’s a fair bit of uphill involved with a visit!

For more information, see the official website of Vianden Castle.

Of course, a visit to Vianden Castle could make a side trip if you’re already spending some time seeing the sights in Luxembourg City.

But there’s also enough to see in the region to justify a whole day trip – including the nearby Victor Hugo House literary museum, the Hydroelectric Vianden Dam, and the Vianden City Museum.

Also in the region, there’s the interesting Beaufort Castle and dramatic Schiessentümpel waterfall.

For food in Vianden, have a look at the charming Cafe-Restaurant Du Pont set on the waterfront, or Auberge Aal Veinen Beim Humm, which serves charcoal grilled food in a former blacksmith.