Castles and fortifications in Luxembourg
Petrusse Casemates
Petrusse Casemates origin goes back to 1644, when the Spaniards reinforced the medieval fortifications. Under the supervision of the Swiss fortress builder Isaac von Treybach, they built - among other defence works-the powerful Beck Bastion, named after Governor Baron Johann von Beck, a native of the city who had played a key role in the Wallenstein affair on the side of the Emperor. Initially this bastion was as high as ...
Founded: 1644 |
Location:
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Bock Fortifications
The Bock is a promontory in the north-eastern corner of Luxembourg City's old historical district. Offering a natural fortification, its rocky cliffs tower above the River Alzette which surrounds it on three sides. It was here that Count Siegfried built his Castle of Lucilinburhuc in 963, providing a basis for the development of the town which became Luxembourg. However, the Romans and later Franks had probably already in ...
Founded: 963 AD |
Location:
Luxemburg, Luxembourg
Vianden Castle
Vianden Castle is one of the largest fortified castles west of the Rhine. Set on a rocky promontory, the castle stands at a height of 310 metres, dominating the town of Vianden and overlooking the River Our about a hundred metres below. The castle and its dependent buildings have a total length of 90 metres. The castle was built on the site of an ancient Roman castellum in the 10th century. The basement appears to have b ...
Founded: 10th century |
Location:
Vianden, Luxembourg
Fort Thüngen
Fort Thüngen is a historic fortification in Luxembourg City sited in Dräi Eechelen Park. Named after the Austrian commander-in-chief of the fortress, Baron of Thüngen, it was built in 1732 to enclose the defence work called Redoute du Parc (Park Redoubt) set up by Vauban 50 years before. A deep moat surrounded Fort Thüngen which was accessible only through a 169-metre long underground tunnel through th ...
Founded: 1732 |
Location:
Luxemburg, Luxembourg
Clervaux Castle
Clervaux Castle dates back to the 12th century. The oldest parts of the castle were built by Gerard, Count of Sponheim, a brother of the Count of Vianden. The large palace and the rounded towers are probably from around 1400 when the prosperous Lords of Brandenbourg lived there. In 1634, Claude of Lannoy built the reception halls, including the large Knights' Hall in the Spanish style of Flanders. In 1660, stables, store ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Clervaux, Luxembourg
Beaufort Castle
Beaufort Castle consists of the ruins of the medieval fortress and an adjacent Renaissance château. It probably originates from the 11th century when a small square-shaped fortress was built on a large rock protected by a moat and a second wall above the valley. A reference from 1192 indicates that Wauthtier de Wiltz et Beaufort was its first lord. During the first half of the 12th century, a keep was added and the gate ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Beaufort, Luxembourg
Bourscheid Castle
Bourscheid Castle stands on a site with archeological evidence of structures dating back to Roman times. Standing majestically some 150 metres above the River Sûre, it is enclosed by a circular wall with 11 watchtowers. Although first mentioned in records from 1095, the castle appears to have been built around the year 1000 on earlier foundations. It was extended on several occasions: the outer wall dates from 1350, the ...
Founded: c. 1000 AD |
Location:
Bourscheid, Luxembourg
Schengen Castle
Schengen Castle dates from 1390 but it was was torn down by the industrialist Jean-Nicolas Collart in 1812. He built a residential manor house in its place and now Schengen Castle is a hotel and conference centre. All that remained of the medieval building was its round central tower. The castle's most famous visitor was certainly Victor Hugo who visited the Collarts in 1871 and made a sketch of the old tower.
Founded: 1812 |
Location:
Schengen, Luxembourg
Ansembourg New Castle
The New Castle of Ansembourg is one of the castles belonging to the Valley of the Seven Castles. In 1639, industrialist Thomas Bidart built the central part of today's castle as a comfortable house surrounded by walls and towers, two of which still stand. Originally from Liège in Belgium, Bidart, who was a pioneer of Luxembourg's iron and steel industry, named the building Maison des Forges (House of the Ironworks). Duri ...
Founded: 1639 |
Location:
Ansembourg, Luxembourg
Wiltz Castle
In the 13th century, the Lords of Wiltz built a fortified castle on a rocky promontory, initiating the development of the upper town of Wiltz. In 1388, the French attacked the town and burnt the castle down but it was soon repaired. In 1453, Wiltz was again attacked, this time by the troops of Philip of Burgundy. The round Witches' Tower to the east of the gardens is the oldest part of today's castle. Under Count John VI ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Wiltz, Luxembourg
Bourglinster Castle
Bourglinster castle is first mentioned in 1098 as belonging to St Symeon of Trier. At the time it had a residential keep, a chapel and a wall. During the second half of the 14th century, the chapel was extended and a tower was added on the northern side. The lower castle with a moat and two defensive towers was built in the 15th century. Both castles were partly destroyed during the 16th century wars (1542–1544) but wer ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Bourglinster, Luxembourg
Schauwenburg Castle
Schauwenburg Castle has a history dating back to the Middle Ages when, according to historical references from the early 13th century, the Lords of Bertrange occupied a fortified castle. Today"s building originated in the 16th century as testified by the Renaissance windows on the eastern and northern wings, the façade being completed in 1710. Around 1780, the d"Huart family who lived in the castle found ...
Founded: 16th century |
Location:
Bertrange, Luxembourg
Bettembourg Castle
There was a small fort in Bettembourg as far back as the 10th century. A tower was added later but was removed when further extensions were made in the 17th century. A second castle was built around 1733 by Lothaire de Zievel and his wife Appolinaire-Agnès-Elisabeth de Haagen Motten. The neighbouring stream known as the Düdelingerbach was probably one of the reasons they chose the site. The rather austere arch ...
Founded: 1733 |
Location:
Bettembourg, Luxembourg
Mamer Castle
Mamer Castle is the town hall for the commune of Mamer, in south-western Luxembourg. It is made up of four buildings, set in recently landscaped surroundings. At the main entrance, there is a sculpture of Nicolas Frantz, two-time Tour de France winner, and Josy Barthel, Luxembourg"s only Olympic gold medallist, both of whom were born in Mamer. A castle was originally built in Mamer in the 10th century. By the French ...
Founded: 1830 |
Location:
Mamer, Luxembourg
Hollenfels Castle
Hollenfels Castle, with a history dating back to the 11th century, is one of the castles located close to the River Eisch in the so-called Valley of the Seven Castles in central Luxembourg. Located at the southern end of the village of Hollenfels, the castle stands high above the River Eisch. A path with steep steps and wooden bridges leads to the foot of the castle where hollows in the rock can be seen, explaining the or ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Hollenfels, Luxembourg
Differdange Castle
Differdange Castle was built in 1577 although an earlier fortified castle of Differdange dates from around 1310. The first lord of the castle was Wilhelm, brother of the Lord of Soleuvre, who is mentioned in documents from 1310 when he owned a fortified castle. However, the lords of Differdange lasted only until the death of Wilhelm"s grandson around the year 1400. When Soleuvre Castle burnt down in 1552, the owner A ...
Founded: 1577 |
Location:
Differdange, Luxembourg
Walferdange Castle
William I built the Walferdange Castle as a stud farm for breeding horses between 1824 and 1828. His son, William II, converted it into a royal residence where he stayed when visiting Luxembourg. It was however his son Prince Henry and his wife Amalia who extended the castle and its gardens while they lived there from 1853. Prince Henry, who was governor of Luxembourg, was well liked, especially in Walferdange where he di ...
Founded: 1824 |
Location:
Walferdange, Luxembourg
Septfontaines Castle
Septfontaines Castle is one of the castles belonging to the Valley of the Seven Castles. It is not clear when the first castle was built in Septfontaines. In 1192, there is a reference to someone by the name of Tider who was Lord of Septfontaines. In 1233, Jean de Septfontaines placed the property under the protection of Countess Ermesinde of Luxembourg. At the beginning of the 14th century, Thomas de Septfontaines, a fri ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Septfontaines, Luxembourg
Wintrange Castle
Wintrange Castle built around 1610 by Alexandre de Musset, the Lord of Foetz. The main building with its four towers still stands today. Fortifications and a gunport were added as defences during the Thirty Years" War (1618-1648). The barn with a fifth tower was added in the 18th century. In 1938, the industrialist Nick Schlesser bought the property. The castle was badly damaged in the 1940s when it was used by the G ...
Founded: 1610 |
Location:
Wintrange, Luxembourg
Sanem Castle
Sanem Castle has a history dating back to the 13th century. Today"s building was completed in 1557 after the medieval castle had been partly destroyed. The castle still maintains much of its original character. There are historic references mentioning a castle in Sanem during the 13th century when it was closely related to the nearby Soleuvre Castle. Originally a typical medieval fortified castle complete with a moa ...
Founded: 1557 |
Location:
Sanem, Luxembourg