Surprisingly versatile – active vacations in Luxembourg
Sometimes the ceiling really falls on my head and all I can think is "I just want to get out!"Get out into nature, get away from the daily grind and just get moving again. Do you know this?
One place that is perfect for this is Luxembourg. On an area of only 2.586,4 km² (in comparison Germany: 357.021 km²), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is not only home to a babble of 3 languages (French, German and Luxembourgish) but also to an extreme amount of greenery. During my 4-day active vacation in Luxembourg, I took a closer look at 2 natural regions and actively put them through their paces while hiking and mountain biking.
The Mullerthal Region – Active Holiday in the "Little Switzerland of Luxembourg
The Mullerthal, also called "Luxembourg's Little Switzerland" thanks to its bizarre rock formations and untouched nature, is Luxembourg's No. 1 active region. 1. Whether hiking, mountain biking, cycling, climbing or caving – here everyone can get active in their own way. Over thousands of years, wind and weather have given the sandstone rocks their present, sometimes quite peculiar appearance. The most prominent among them have names like Goldkaul, Goldfralay, Eulenburg as well as Schelmelay and Ramelay, which often go back to legends.
Day 1 | Discover the Mullerthal by mountain bike (26,5 km)
The picturesque village of Larochette is the hub of our first outdoor activity in Luxembourg: a 26.5 km long mountain bike tour. Over hill and dale, sometimes steeply uphill and sometimes rapidly downhill. We cross woods and meadows, enjoy panoramic views and some tricky parts. From time to time the rock formations so typical for the region are our companions. Also on a cultural level something is offered: Thus, the route leads along the ruins of the castle of Larochette – Castle Fels – and the romantic Meysemburg Castle, which can only be visited from the outside, parts of which date back to 1880.
Day 2 | A hike through the enchanted Mullerthal (12.1 km)
During our hike through the Mullerthal, the landscape seems to be enchanted in places, like in a fairy tale. Moss-covered rocks, weathered steps and gnarled trees line our way. The Mullerthal Trail, which has been awarded the title of "Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe", is 112 km long and can be hiked in several daily stages. We choose the 12.1 km long circular walk on a part of the trail from Mullerthal to Consdorf and back, which connects two former mills.
The starting point of the hike is the Heringer Millen, a beautifully restored flour mill from the 17th century. We visit the old mill of the 19th century, which houses a mill museum, gastronomy and a wood-fired stone oven, where people still bake their own bread, as well as a "Best of Hiking" test center, where you can rent hiking equipment for free. Well equipped we start the round trip from here.
A 2.8 km long detour near the Consdorfer Millen, which is really worthwhile is the one to the Kuelscheier (or also Kohlscheuer). However, you should not have had too good a breakfast to hike through this one. Because the only way through the rock group is an about 100 m long and dark rock tunnel. This path is so narrow in some places that only one-way traffic is possible. A (cell phone) flashlight is necessary to make the adventurous way through the crevice. By the way, the Kuelscheier got its name from its former function – it once served as a temporary storage for charcoal from the coal piles in the area (Kuelscheier = coal barn).
The Consdorfer Millen, a former grain, oil and saw mill, currently houses a dog hotel with bistro, where dogs are welcome but not a must. An ideal stop for refreshments along the way!
The route then continues along interesting rock formations with fabulous names like Goldralay, Schlemelay and Ramelay, some of which resemble whimsical figures and are a lot of fun to explore. A real highlight of the tour is Shooting Pond, a picturesque waterfall complete with stone arch bridge – a romantic reminder of the first summer vacationers over 100 years ago. From here, it's just a hop, skip and a jump back to Mullerthal, always following the river's course. A truly rewarding and diverse hike!