A Guide To Luxembourg's Magical Mullerthal Region
It may not occur to visitors staying in this gorgeous little country to look further than the capital city, but Luxembourg has much more to offer. Even a small portion of Grand Duchy is brimming with opportunity; the Mullerthal Region, also known as Luxembourg’s ‘Little Switzerland,’ and the lower region of the Ardennes offer fabulous experiences for both nature and culture lovers alike, and are laced with some enchanting eateries.
Must Do – The Victor Hugo Museum
Vianden isn’t only a pretty face – it is also a great spot for literature fanatics, specifically fans of the famous French author and poet Victor Hugo. The writer frequently visited Vianden, and even took up residency there after being expelled from his home in Brussels for harbouring defeated revolutionaries. He found refuge in a house situated on the river, which has since been transformed into the Musée Littéraire Victor Hugo. The museum is informative without being overwhelming, and presents an outline of the author’s biography, and the history of his relationship with the Grand Duchy. The restored house still contains its original furniture, and presents some fascinating artifacts, such as some of Hugo’s letters, paintings, and possessions. It is certainly a quaint and quirky alternative to visiting the large Maison de Victor Hugo museum in Paris.
Where to Stay – Echternach’s Medieval Towers
While it is sadly impossible to make a vacation abode of one of Luxembourg’s many majestic castles, a stay inside one of the towers of Echternach’s former city walls might serve as the next best thing. Two of the wall’s medieval towers have been inventively restored and revived as self-catering holiday residences; sit atop your imposing ashen grey tower and pretend you’re Rapunzel, while gazing out over your medieval kingdom. The Laange Veit Tower is furnished with a modern but simple touch, so you can enjoy a sense of medieval imperium, but with all the comfort of the 21st century. The Hämelmaous Tower is slightly more basic, but nonetheless cozy, and for the novelty value of staying in a 13th century tower, who’s to complain? Visit their website to make reservations.
Where to Dine – Pizzeria Chez Emil
Indulging in oodles of fancy dishes while traveling is always a treat, but there always comes that point in the vacation when you just need something honest and simple, in order to cleanse your palette in preparation for your next culinary escapade – so, pizza, anyone? Pizzeria Chez Emil is one of those good and honest-type places; it has a very modest exterior, and inside the comfortable atmosphere is furnished with muted brown tones, and a 50-strong list of fantastic pizzas from which to choose. The menu offers all of the classics, along with some other quirky ideas such as the ‘Popeye’, which hosts plenty of spinach of course, the spicy ‘Dynamite,’ and the intriguing ‘Mystery.’ Or, if you’re still in the mood for some culinary exploration, why not try something like the ‘Exotic,’ which is flavored with kiwi and pineapple. What’s more, you can walk off your pizza by strolling around the cute streets of Ettelbruck, and perhaps wandering up to the General Patton Memorial Museum to have a gander at some war-time military equipment.
By Alice Barber
Alice Barber is an English literature student and aspiring journalist who simply loves to write. She also has an incurable passion for theater, and along with being addicted to attending shows, currently produces for Green Door Theatre Company.
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