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This photo was
taken from the train as I traveled between Liege, Belgium and Luxembourg
City, Luxembourg. There were some open fields like you see here, and there
were rather high mountains covered mostly with evergreen trees - similar
in appearance to the Ouachita Mountains. |
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The Luxembourg
train station is just south of the city center. I walked about ten minutes
and came to this bridge - the Viaduc - that connects old Luxembourg City
with the newer portions. The Viaduc extends across a deep gorge that encircles
the city. You can see the old city on the other side of the Viaduc. |
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This is a look
at the Viaduc from across the gorge. This perspective allows you to have
an idea of the height of the bridge. A small river, the Petrusse, flows
beneath the bridge. |
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This is a view
from the Viaduc down the gorge. If you look carefully, you can see the Petrusse
River flowing through the middle of the gorge. You can see how well protected
the city was in former times. |
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The Petrusse River
flows into the Alzette River at the southeastern "corner" of the
city. The Alzette River has formed the eastern gorge. Here you can see the
cliffs in the background and the buildings at the bottom of the gorge. If
you look carefully, you can see the river flowing under a small bridge.
Luxembourg City is on the high ground to the left. |
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Just
after I crossed the Viaduc, I found this monument. It is the Monument to
National Unity. Luxembourg was the only occupied country during World War
II to stage a general strike against the Nazis. This monument commemorates
that event. |
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This is the 17th
century, Notre Dame Cathedral. It is located on the southern edge of the
old city and is the focal point of an annual pilgrimage which honors the
Virgin Mary for saving the city from the bubonic plague in the 14th century. |
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The modern building
on the left is the Casino Luxembourg, an art gallery where contemporary
art exhibitions are mounted. The street that runs to the right between the
buildings is the Royal Boulevard, which encircles the old city on the west
and north. |
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This is on up
the Royal Boulevard. This boulevard is Luxembourg's mini-Wall Street, and
is lined with as many of the duchy's 220 financial institutions as could
be crowded into five blocks. |
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On the Royal Boulevard
on the north side of the old city is this five star hotel, the Royal Hotel.
Royal Boulevard contains many very modern buildings. Let's take a look at
the old city center. |
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All of the interior
streets of Luxembourg City are pedestrian streets. The one shown here runs
east and west across the center of the city and called the Grande Rue. |
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One of the main
squares of the city is the Place d'Armes. This is the city's "liveliest
and most welcoming square." It contains a bandstand, sidewalk cafes,
fast-food restaurants, and a twice-monthy flea market. |
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The north side
of the Place d'Armes. Notice the McDonald's "M" at the right. |
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More buildings
on the Place d'Armes. |
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I found this plaque
on the wall of a building on the Place d'Armes. I am sure that this square
must have been an exciting place on September 10, 1944. |
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Near the Place
d'Armes, is the square known as the Place Guillaume. It is also in the center
of the city and is very beautiful. |
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Another photo
of the Place Guillaume. |
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On the Place Guillaume.
Former Town Hall. |
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On the Place Guillaume. |
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This is a statue
of the Grand Duke Guillaume, for whom the square is named. |
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This is the Palace
of the Grand Dukes. This palace is the city residence of the grand ducal
family. |
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This is the sole
guard at the entrance to the Palace of the Grand Dukes. |
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One of the government
buildings in the southeastern portion of the central city. |
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Buildings in the
southeastern portion of the central city. |
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More buildings
in the central city. |
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Across the Viaduc,
to the south of the old city, is the main portion of the new city. This
photo shows just a few of the buildings on the south side of the gorge. |
