During a recent two-week journey through Europe, Glenn and I spent a few nights in Luxembourg. We took a train from Paris to Luxembourg City and it took just a little over two hours. Luxembourg is a small European country surrounded by Belgium, France, and Germany. The official languages are Luxembourgish, French, and German but we felt like we heard a lot of French.

The capital, Luxembourg City, is a beautiful medieval town perched on cliffs created by the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. It’s known as the “The Gibraltar of the North,” because it had not one, not two, but three layers of defensive walls! But most of the fortifications were taken down in the late 1800s.

Why, you ask? Well, it was all thanks to the 1867 Treaty of London. Luxembourg became a neutral state and bringing down the defenses was a way to ease tensions with neighboring countries like France and Prussia.

Over the years, various Luxembourg occupants created underground tunnels called casemates. Originally made for military defense, they served as tunnels to protect the soldiers, stash cannons and provide living quarters. During wartime, these tunnels turned into bomb shelters and even housed workshops, kitchens, bakeries, and slaughterhouses. Pretty incredible how they became pivotal piece of the city’s history!

One of the coolest neighborhoods in Luxembourg City is Grund. With its picturesque streets and stunning riverside views, it has a vibe that’s hard to beat. This area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits in the lower part of the city, right in the middle of the historic fortress that was taken down due to the Treaty.

There are tons of cute bars and restaurants in Grund – we checked out more than a few while soaking up a perfect summer evening. Plus, we were super happy to find out we didn’t have to hike back up the hill to get to our hotel… there’s an elevator!

We spent two nights in Luxembourg City, which allowed us to explore the historic city center, Bock Casemates and Grund. However, there were many opportunities for day trips outside the city. With free public transit, getting around would be a breeze!