Home & Away with Robert Walshe
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Weekend Hotspot – Luxembourg
Luxembourg is probably less visited than it should be. The capital of one of the world’s smallest countries is a vibrant, dynamic city within a romantic, peaceful countryside that gives it plenty of natural space to breathe. Luxembourg’s visitors tend to focus on its rich history but today’s city is a modern, open, friendly place that has embraced the opportunities of high-tech life without losing its soul. From small café
bars to Michelin-starred restaurants, this city enjoys the best in gastronomy alongside a lively and diverse cultural scene including a number of popular outdoor festivals throughout the year. After working with many of the best chefs, gastronomists and wine-makers in Luxembourg, Tanja de Jager decided to strike out on her own and opened Dipso, a wine bar in the old town. The name is highly appropriate, since it is the Greek root of the word “thirst”. The bar serves both local and in-
n Museum of Modern Art Grand-Duc Jean Luxembourg.
ternational wines. www. dipso.lu La Grand Rue is Luxembourg’s smartest shopping street with lots of upscale designers, including Max Mara and Gérard Darel, as well as smaller boutiques. The city has twice been honoured as European Capital of Culture and it buzzes with artistic creativity such as the music, dance and theatre performances at the Grand Théâtre and the stateof-the-art Philharmonie. Luxembourg’s multilingual character is reflected in its variety of exciting stage productions in Luxembourgish, French, German, Dutch and English. Luxembourg’s capital is a two-tier city: the Old Town is perched high above the green gorges winding around it. It grew from a 10th century fortress on the promontory, and spread across the valleys, which are today spanned by an extensive bridge system. A signposted two-hour stroll, the Wenzel Walk, takes tourists along the city’s historic ramparts, and through cobbled streets that pass churches, towers and palaces. The musts: the bustling Place d’Armes, a
www.keeshotel.ie
n Dipso Wine Bar &
Restaurant Luxembourg.
square in the heart of the pedestrian zone; the Bock Casemates, n Grand Ducal Pa an extraordinary lace Luxembo warren of tunnels urg. cut through the stone cliffs; and the Chemin de la Corniche, a promenade overlooking the valley, and spaces of the building show described as Europe’s most the mastery of the architecbeautiful balcony. The capi- tural language by the famous tal’s cultural kingpin is the architect in combining stone Musée d’Art Moderne. Built and glass. More traditional within the ruined walls of tastes are met by the National an old fortress, it’s not just Museum of History and Art a challenging forum, but an which includes works by Céartwork in its own right. De- zanne, Picasso and Magritte. signed by Leoh Ming Pei, this Hôtel Simoncini is a modernnew building completes his ist hotel less than a minute’s “European Trilogy”, along- walk from Place GuillaumeII. side the Louvre extension in Its thirty six newly refurParis and the German Histori- bished rooms are compact cal Museum in Berlin. The but stylish, with original art simple volumes and generous on the walls; there’s also a
gallery on the ground floor. For best rates see www.hotelsimoncini.lu Luxair offers flights to Luxembourg City from Dublin airport with an early afternoon departure www.luxair.lu For information on this must see destination. www.lcto.lu Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com