Being in Luxembourg is like being in a movie. The buildings, the routine of the city's people, the trees, the smoke coming out of the chimney. It's all so beautiful and delicate. We traveled part of Europe by car. We left Germany and went to Clervaux. The view along the road is breathtaking.
Clervaux is a commune in Luxembourg, belonging to the district of Diekirch and the canton of Clervaux. A citadel full of stories of protection in the Second World War.
We walked around the city, with almost no people on the street. We visited a castle and met a group of Brazilians. At that moment we were sure that Brazilians really are everywhere. There was a place where there were no people who would have thought we would meet Brazilians. They were Brazilian women who live in Portugal taking their tours of the old continent, we continued to admire the place more.
The little houses, the simplicity of life in that place make you think: I want to spend my old age in that place. Anyway, you don't need tours, entertainment-style tourist attractions. Clervaux is to walk around the city and pay attention to the picturesque details of a citadel set in the mountains of Luxembourg.
CLERVAUX CASTLE
The majestic castle is situated on the slopes of a rocky promontory, the so-called "Lay". The castle's origins are lost in the mists of time. Some historians believe it was growing on an ancient Roman fort, while others believe it was built on Celtic foundations.
The west wing is the oldest part of the castle, it was built in the 12th century on the initiative of Count Gerhard von Sponheim, a brother of the Count of Vianden. At the beginning of the 15th century, under the reign of the powerful house of Brandenburg, Clervaux castle was greatly extended. To protect the castle's southern flank, Frederic I built the massive Burgundy tower which also housed the castle's prison.
Later the accommodation was improved, the cellars were converted and - most importantly - the powerful "Witches' Tower" was built in the main courtyard for defense purposes. In 1634 Claude de Lannoy ordered the redevelopment of the rather shabby dwellings and stables that extended to the north, and had them transformed into luxurious spacious reception rooms, including the Knights' Hall in the Flemish-Spanish style.
A quarter of a century later, Albert Eugene de Lannoy added administrative buildings, stables and barns, but demolished a local church. In 1671, a guard house was erected at the entrance to the castle. Today, it houses the castle of the café-restaurant 'Au Vieux Chateau'.
In 1721 new stables were built to the left of the witches' tower. Albert Eugene de Lannoy's additions were demolished in 1887 and the salvaged stones were used to build a modern mansion for the Earl of Berlaymont in the park in front of the old castle.
From 1927 to 1930 the castle became private property. In the last turmoil of the Second World War, during the Battle of the Bulge, the castle was seriously damaged. Subsequently, the Luxembourg State acquired the burned ruins and undertook a magnificent restoration.
Luxembourg has very tasty cuisine. Its main dishes are judd mat gaardebohnen (smoked pork neck with broad beans) and rou-tou-tou (boiled potatoes), but Mediterranean, French and Belgian cuisines are also on the menu. It also has many wineries that we saw on the roads there, which makes wine the most consumed drink in the country, such as Elbling and Rivaner. Local beers are also very popular, including Pilsner, Mousel and Simon Dubbel Donkers. The average price of meals varies between approximately 15 and 30 euros.