Luxembourg

Vianden Castle

Luxembourg is a small country lodged between Belgium, Germany and France. In the 14h century it became a Dutchy (ruled by Dukes) forming part of the German Empire. In the following centuries it was annexed by the Spanish, French and Austrians at different times. In 1798 the Luxembourg farmers rebelled against the French but by 1815 it was in the hands of the House of Orange-Nassau. The Dutch King William I was the first Grand Duke of Luxembourg and disliked by Luxembourgers due to high taxes and Dutch proclaimed as the official language. His successor granted independence to Luxembourg.

The Castle of Vianden is picturesque personified. It was originally built in the 9th-10th century on the site of a Roman fort (4th-5th century). From the 11th-13th centuries the Counts of Vianden exercised a lot of power before losing it to rival Counts of Luxembourg in 1264. Through a marriage connection with the House of Orange-Nassau it found its way back to the Counts of Vianden. It suffered significant damage from an earthquake in 1692 and it was sold by William I as a ruin. The State acquired it in 1977 and is restoring it to its former Gothic glory.

Beaufort Castle

This castle, like Vianden, was also built on the site of a Roman fort – Castellum Belforti. The oldest part of the ruins of the Castle date to the 12th century when it was built by Count van Beaufort. In 1639 the Castle landed in the hands of the Austrian Field Marshall, Johann von Beck, who restored the Castle in the Renaissance Style. 

 

 

 

 

Over the next hundred years the castle changed hands a few more times and eventually was abandoned and landed in a state of disrepair. It was even used as a quarry in the early 1800s but obtained a new owner by the 1890s who started restoration. It was opened to visitors in 1928 and acquired by the Luxembourg State in 1981.

Today the ruins are in the process of being restored. Visitors can visit this castle as well as the dungeons below which display various methods of Medieval torture.

Larochette Castle

The Lords of Larochette built the caste around the 12th century. By the end of the 14th century the castle housed 5 grand families in stately manor houses in the grounds. The castle burned down along with the town in the 16th century and was never rebuilt. 2 of the Gothic Manor houses have been restored: Homburg and Crehange .

Restorations have, however, begun – particularly with the Gothic Crehange Manor, originally built around 1385.

Brandenbourg Castle

There are beautiful ruins of this castle above the town of the same name in the north-east of Luxembourg. The castle was built in the 10th century and went to ruin by the 18th century. A surprising amount of the structure remains and the underground cellars can be explored by flashlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is built on top of a hill, as most Medieval castles were. The castle walls are still mostly intact as well as a tower which is 4 stories high. It was formerly lived in by the Counts of Brandenbourg who are buried in the town church yard.