Homburg caves Germany, Luxembourg City

Day 88, Germany 11, Luxembourg, France 56

Travelled: 207km to Homburg caves Germany (€6pp), Luxembourg City then parking area in  Longwy, France.

Well what a different day it was from yesterday. The rain came and cooled everything down to a pleasant 26°c, so off exploring we went. Not far in Homburg was Europes largest red sandstone cave system (12 storeys high, 140m long by 60m wide). The self guided tour (€6pp) only allowed us in parts of the 10,11 and 12th floors but it was still interesting. In the medieval times they mined the sandstone. Due to its high quartz content it was ideal for glass production, as foundry sand and scouring sand. The caves were expanded and used for storerooms during the French occupation (1679-1714). At the end of WWII the caves became air raid shelters for several thousand civilians. 

Throughout the caves we could clearly see the different coloured sandstone layers. 

Some layers had wave ripples from temporary water cover. 

Fossilised animal tracks were also visible. 

The brick shaft led down to 2 x 30m shafts. One went down to town level and had been used as draft beer cellars by the Karlsberg brewery. The other went 30m up into the Schlossberg hotels’s basement kitchen. 

 The large brick chamber was built in 1955 as a bunker for the government but was not completed as Saarland was ré affiliated to the Federal Republic in 1957.

We walked back up to the top of the hill and had a look at the castle ruins (1550-1620) and the Vauban fortress (1679-1715). 18 signs around the site indicated and explained various structure elements and their uses.

So now we find ourselves in an area we have explored previously, near the French, Luxembourg and Belgique borders and only a week left of our trip….as we have never visited Luxembourg city we decided to head there. It’s only 1.5 hours (125km) or so away! As per usual in Germany we navigate route closures and traffic jams but eventually cross into Luxembourg at Schengen. This small wine village is the name sake of the Schengen Agreement, signed here in 1985. Initially only with neighbouring countries but since 1990 all EU countries have abolished border controls allowing easy travel through these 26 countries. 

We choose one of the many P&R surrounding the city . The closest on our route was Lux Sud. We get 24hr free parking and free and quick public transport into the city centre. 

Gare Centrale

Tram stop

Even tho Luxembourg city was built on a promontory with the valleys creating natural defences, it didn’t prevent it from being attacked. Over 4 centuries Burgundy ,Spain, France, Austria and Germany ended up turning it into one of the most fortified places in the world. There is an amazing 23km of underground tunnels and galleries. Most of the fortifications were dismantled after a signed treaty in 1867 with only 10% visible today. So with walking map in hand we set off to have a look at the city’s major sites. 

The Grand Ducal Palace. Duke Henri’s residence and official office.

The Bock Promontory fortress ruins with views of the surrounding districts. 

We walked along the corniche enjoying the views there too of the Alzette Valley.

The Letzebuerg city museum had interesting exhibits about the towns history.

We went to have a look at the Cathedral.

From the Place de La Constitution we had views of Adolphe Bridge, the National Bank building and the Petrusse Valley below. 

The Gelle Fra war memorial erected in 1923. 

With the tour over we wondered around the city centre full of international tourists, restaurants and high end shops.

We had a bite to eat and ventured back to Bluey. After a cuppa we drove out of Luxembourg and to Longwy, a french border town, for a quieter night.