Tiny Countries Part Four: Luxembourg

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

We alighted at Luxembourg and settled at a French cafe for breakfast. The history of the country is fraught with conflict, and centred around Luxembourg Castle, which had great strategic value. I think Wikipedia says it best when it explains: "Luxembourg Castle was repeatedly strengthened so that by the 16th century, Luxembourg itself was one of the strongest fortifications in Europe. Subsequently, the Burgundians, the Spanish, the French, the Spanish again, the Austrians, the French again, and the Prussians conquered Luxembourg." Must be one helluva fortress.

Old stone and pointy spires on the cathedral.

We walked through the city and saw several things: a square being set up for a festival, the patrolling of the guards outside an official type building, and some very old architecture.

Vianden, Luxembourg

The large and impressive Vianden Castle. But before we went to the castle, we had lunch. It was challenging to find an open and decent place to eat. We found a highly recommended one from Lonely Planet, but it was full up. It seemed that the whole town had gone there. We considered getting things from a bakery, but decided to look just a bit longer. We found a place that was a little eccentric. I had a curry - not something you expect to find in a little restaurant in Luxembourg, but good nonetheless.

This white cat came and sat with us for most of our meal. He was very polite and though I could tell he wanted my food, he never tried to eat it. He did at one point put his paw on the table, but that was the most insistence he showed. 

Yannick laughed and laughed at this photo, because apparently it looks like I'm about to murder the cat.

The town sprawling and the castle at the top. Over the centuries, the castle fell into ruins, but has been renovated.

The castle itself was a fairly standard castle, but the cellar was great. It housed old barrels and looked like a medieval feast could take place at any moment.