Day 6 - Luxembourg Sightseeing

Thursday 1st September 2016
Sunrise 6:52am – Sunset 8:18pm

Weather Forecast:   25-27c and partly cloudy

Steps:    11,599        8.57 kl

We had a late start this morning and didn’t depart the hotel until 9am.  It was a 20 minute drive into Luxemburg city and we met our local guide at 9:30am. 

We were supposed to see a view over the Petrusse Ravine, from the Pont Adolphe but it was under wraps, so we didn’t see the view from the bridge.

At that time of the morning, there didn’t appear to be a lot of activity around, as we walked through the old part of the city, visiting the Cathedral, 

which is right next door to the Library. 

The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin was originally a Jesuit church, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1613.  It is a remarkable instance of late Gothic style, revealing various components and ornaments inspired by Renaissance style.  At the end of the 18th century it adopted the picture of the Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, who had the power to work miracles, and who is the patron saint of the city and the country.  50 years later it was consecrated Saint Mary's church and in 1870 Pope Pius IX dedicated the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin.  Between 1935 and 1938 it was enlarged.

We also viewed the Palace of the Grand Duke. 

In its function as the city residence of the Grand Ducal family, it is situated right in the core of the Old Town.  Formerly the first town hall of the city occupied the site of the present palace; destroyed by a gunpowder explosion (1554), the town hall was rebuilt 20 years later.  In the middle of the 18th century the former City Scales were added as an extension, whereas the Parliament was built as an annex in 1859.  Since 1890 the main building has been the Palace of the Grand Dukes'.  From 1992 to 1995 it was restored thoroughly.

According to our guide, 15July to 15 September is when Luxembourganians have their 2 month holiday. 

In the same street as the Royal Palace, are also the European Court of Justice and the Luxembourg  European Parliament.

The walking tour finished around 10:45 and we didn’t have to be back at the coach until  12:30, so had plenty of time for a stroll around and a bite to eat, before then.

  

We went back to the hotel to freshen up, before departing on the optional to Trier in Germany, at 2:00pm

We arrived in Trier at 3:00, picked up Elka, our local guide and then did a slow bus tour around part of the city, including a view of the city from the top of a hill,

 before being dropped of for the walking tour.

Once the tour was finished, we had a couple of hours of free time and I went looking for some t-shirts, as I had packed tops for cooler weather than what we have been having and what is forecast for the next week or so.  We all met again at 6:15 and continued out to the winery  

for our tour of the winery and our wine tasting dinner.  It was a fun night and we departed there at 9:30pm and were back at the hotel shortly before 10:30pm.

6:45am wake up tomorrow and on the road at 8:30am.