Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Today we decided to go to Luxembourg with a group of friends to explore their famous casemates and visit the Luxembourg American Cemetery Memorial.  We had gone to Luxembourg before but this time we were able to find parking!

Our first stop was the cemetery to pay our respects to the American soldiers who died in WWII.

The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, 50.5 acres in extent, is situated in a beautiful wooded area. The cemetery was established on December 29, 1944 by the 609th Quartermaster Company of the U.S. Third Army while Allied Forces were stemming the enemy's desperate Ardennes Offensive, one of the critical battles of World War II. The city of Luxembourg served as headquarters for Gen. George S. Patton's U.S. Third Army. Gen. Patton is buried here. 

 

Not far from the cemetery entrance stands the white stone chapel, set on a wide circular platform surrounded by woods. It is embellished with sculpture in bronze and stone, a stained glass window with American unit insignia, and a mosaic ceiling. Flanking the chapel at a lower level are two large stone pylons upon which are maps made of various inlaid granites, with inscriptions recalling the achievements of the American armed forces in this region. On the same pylons are inscribed the names of 371 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. 

Sloping gently downhill from the memorial is the burial area containing 5,076 of our military dead, many of whom lost their lives in the Battle of the Bulge and in the advance to the Rhine River. Their headstones follow graceful curves; trees, fountains and flower beds contribute to the dignity of the ensemble. 

Our next stop was Place d'Armes in old town Luxembourg City.  It was a beautiful square with tons of little shops and restaurants (not many of which would sit 14 people for lunch by the way).  We did end up finding a table at Pizza Hut though which satisfied the kiddos.  It was really cool because seating was outside and they were having their bi-monthly antique market, Marche aux Puces.  Even better, we ended up finding an old Luxembourg bible for our aunt who collects them!

After lunch we explored Old Town for a while finding the Notre Dame Cathedral and National Library.

View of the State Savings Bank in the Garer Quartier (Gare Quarter)
from Place de la Constitution

Bibliotheque Nationale de Luxembourg

Cathedral Notre-Dame

Then, it was off to find the casemates! The kids really had a blast exploring all the underground "tunnels," finding random cannons, and all the great views from the lookout points!  (P.S. this is NOT stroller friendly, despite what good-intentioned locals might tell you).

Passerelle (Viaduct)

Pont du Chateau

View of Neumunster Abbey from the casemates

Known as Casemates du Bock, the city’s labyrinth of defensive passageways boosted Luxembourg’s military reputation so much in the past, that many called it in awe the "Gibraltar of the North."  The casemates were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994.

All-in-all it was a very chaotic, busy, WONDERFUL day!  We finally got to see "Luxembourg" and we made some awesome memories with some awesome friends doing it...can't wait for the next one!