Echternach, Luxembourg
As I made my way across Luxembourg, walking the entire country from north to south, I had a chance to see the variety it has to offer.
The capital, Luxembourg City, has a modern feel in some of the more commercial regions… but here in Echternach, just thirty kilometres away, you can get the best sense of the history of Luxembourg from the country’s oldest town.
The woman in the photo below is walking down the side of the Echternach Abbey towards the stairs which lead to the crypt. The sun shines through the stain-glassed window and is caught on the stone tiled ground… right on to the spot where the town was founded.
The first abbey opened here in the year 700 and it was that which brought people to settle here on the bank of the Sauer River.
The original church was lost in time and the building that stands here today is just the latest in a series of churches which have been built (and then destroyed). The current one was constructed in 1953.
Although the lights inside the church glisten with colour and energise the bland walls and floor, there’s a dullness to the sky outside today. Still, you can’t easily darken the intricate and beautiful details of the design and architecture of Echternach.
In the historic part of the town, where I took all these photos, you can see the Baroque style in many of the buildings.
This is the outside of the church, officially known as the Basilica of St Willibrord, which is considered to be the most important religious building in the country.
And just next door is the old abbey, which is used these days as a high school and has a small (and rather unimpressive) museum in the basement.
The courtyard around the abbey is protected by these wings.
And just over the road is a garden called the ‘Orangery’. It was built in the 1700s and, at the peak, had more than 400 fruit trees in it.
Looking back towards the basilica from the Orangery, you can appreciate the careful attention given to the landscaping by architect Leopold Durand – including the central water basin.
Some statues remain in the Orangery – these feet give away just a few inches. At one point, though, there were a lot more all through the garden and towards the abbey. They seem to have just disappeared.
And finally, just across from the church, is a quaint authentic Luxembourg cafe. A perfect place to rest and have a coffee before we continue on the march across the country.
THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN ECHTERNACH
There’s only a small selection of places to stay in Echternach but most travellers will find something that suits.
BACKPACKER
A large modern building, the Youth Hostel Echternach is great for backpackers and for families.
GUESTHOUSE
Slightly out of town, B&B Alferweiher is a quiet and homely spot with wonderful hosts.
HOTEL
Recently renovated and in the city centre, Hotel Le Postillon has comfortable and quiet rooms of different sizes.
RESORT
Surrounded by a private park and woods, Hotel Bel Air Sport & Wellness has excellent dining and is a beautiful place to relax.
For some reason Echternach sounds to me vaguely like the name of a cheese – so I’m already sold. But also I love all these buildings! It seems to be a good town to wander around in – manageable, too. And all the pictures are really good, despite the “dullness to the sky”:) Cool post!
Ha ha. Would you like another slice of Echternach? Hmmm… it works, now you mention it. This could be our grand retirement plan. We will buy a dairy in Luxembourg and make a new type of cheese? Nein?
Wow, the sun shining through the stained glass and creating that light is just absolutely gorgeous!
I would love to say that it was a very clever intentional shot and not just a lucky accident 🙂
Nice post! I should definitely do a trip to luxembourg. Perfect distance weekendtrip distance from cologne:-)
I don’t think you would regret a trip there. Especially in the spring, perhaps. If you make a weekend of it, you could go for a long hike through some of the more interesting areas in the east of the country.
Really enjoying your posts from Luxembourg, a country that until now I knew very little about…
Thanks, mate. It’s not a particularly complicated country, I don’t think. But it’s not one that most people have ever given much thought to…
That photo of the stained glass rainbow on the floor is stunning!
It was incredible the way the light was just falling like that. Very lucky shot!
Great photos. You really captured the town’s charm.
Thanks. It was a very cute little place.
great photos of the small town! Echternach also makes for a great base for hikes and mountain biking just few minutes in to Germany.
So close to Germany! I love the location of Luxembourg with access to so much of Europe.
I had biked into Germany from Echternach without realizing it until I crossed the border back into Luxembourg. Quite weird for me, as an American, to be able to cross a country border without border control or some sort.
I find that (as an Australian) very weird too. We don’t have any borders at all back home! I always enjoyed walking down a river in Europe knowing that it was a different country on the other side. Hike through Luxembourg and stare at Germany as you do it. Quite cool!
Nice job capturing the essence of the city despite the rather overcast weather 🙂
It does help when the city is so pretty already. I find Europe and the weather to be quite interesting – there are a lot of dreary days (even in summer) but the cities and the countryside can always come alive.
I’ve never been to Luxemburg, but I’ve actually heard people are really impressed by it. This makes me want to go there even more!
It’s the kind of place that you can pop in to for the day, for a couple of days, or even for a week or more. It’s a really cute country and it’s worth taking the time to see a few different things if possible. I get the feeling many people just see the capital or one of the smaller places.
Michael,
Very beautiful photos in all your travels through Luxembourg!
Thanks,
Glenn Rossi
Twitter: @GoGlennR
You’re welcome. I’m sure you’ll get some great ones on your trip too. It will be nice and warm if you’re there in July so perfect for some photography.
A wonder place to visit stayed in luxenbourg three months. Free transportation bus or train. People were very nice very different from Germany. Echternach Was a beautiful place full of charm can’t miss destination .
Notice that “Lux” doesn’t mean deluxe or anything like that. It’s from a very old word “Luxien” or something like that, which meant “little”…of course.