A small country often overlooked when planning an overseas vacation, is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, southeast of Belgium and between France and Germany. During a visit in June this year my wife and I discovered that it indeed is worth a visit. Packed into its small territory of 2 586 sq km you will find beautiful scenery, a world famous wine region, many impressive medieval castles and churches, interesting villages, and historical artifacts dating back to the time of the Roman occupation. And the capital, Luxembourg City, is most impressive.

Luxembourg was once part of Charlemagne’s empire, but became an independent state in 963. But over the centuries different countries such as Spain, France, Austria and the Netherlands held the country. In 1815 it became a grand duchy, lost half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy, attaining full independence in 1867. During both World Wars Germany occupied the country, but Allied troops liberated it in 1944. The so called Battle of the Bulge brought mass destruction of much of the Grand Duchy, but within a remarkably short time after the war the damage was restored. 

The topography varies: in the central region gently rolling hills with broad, shallow valleys, the green mountains of the Ardennes in the north with its deep wooded valleys spiked with sharp, craggy hills crowned with castles, and the steep slopes down to the Moselle’s flood plain in the south. Most of the country can be seen on day trips from the capital - nowhere more than a couple of hours’ journey away. With moderate temperatures (mild winters, cool summers) Luxembourg is a great destination any time of year, but the best times are between mid-April through mid-October. Three languages are primarily spoken: the national language Luxembourgish, German and French. However, English is also widely spoken, especially in the city and surrounding areas. 

The history of Luxembourg City is closely connected with that of the country itself. It originated in Roman times when camps were established at the crossroads of trading routes between Metz and Liege, and Trier and Paris. It is situated on one of the most spectacular sites of any capital in Europe: on a rocky promontory where the valleys of the Pètrusse and Alzette Rivers, which meet here, forms deep canyons around, natural obstacles to invading forces. Today only a small portion of the original fortifications can be seen; now beautiful parks cover the terrain once occupied by strong forts, and many bridges span the gullies, such as the Adolphe Bridge (1899 - 1903), separating the Old Town from the modern one.

The day began with the changing of the guard (which we unfortunately did not see) in front of the Palais Grand-Ducal. But at 22:00 that evening there was a torch-lit parade through the center of the Old Town. The streets were decorated with banners and colourful lights, and packed with people celebrating, dancing, with rock, pop and folklore concerts, as well as dj’s and street musicians entertaining the crowds, and livening up the streets, bars and cafes until dawn. At 24:00 the crowd gathered at the central square for a dazzling fireworks display.

The next morning we got up early, and walked to the nearby Old Town. The streets were empty, with everyone taking the day of and sleeping late. To our amazement the same streets which were a few hours ago packed with throngs of celebrators had already been spotlessly cleaned and washed! We were in time to see the beginning of the day’s celebrations with a military parade, followed by a Te Deum service at the majestic Cathèdrale Notre-Dame (for the royal family, government officials and special guests only. A red carpet was rolled out along which the celebrities entered the cathedral. The monarch and his wife arrived in his official vehicle bearing the royal flag on the bonnet. I took the opportunity of taking a photograph of my wife standing next to this luxurious Bentley! After the Te Deum, a 101-gun salute was fired outside the cathedral. Celebrations open to the public took place afterwards at various locations, with interesting parades and marches.

We drove north through Luxembourg, from where we entered Belgium. On the way we admired the beautiful countryside, sometimes turning of to some of the smaller towns, like the beautiful Clerveaux built around a loop of a river, and topped with a castle dating from the 12^th century. The Battle of the Bulge Museum inside recounts this battle. The castle also exhibits a moving collection of photographs by Edward Steichen, called the Family of Man.  Next to the castle stands a Medieval Gothic Cathedral.

We did not have the time to visit the valley of the River Moselle, which forms the border with Germany, and where the excellent Moselle wines are produced. However, we took the opportunity to taste some of the excellent white wines produced there, like the fruity Rieslings, the delicate Pinot Blancs and the flowery Gewürtztraminer. I think we should return to Luxembourg to taste more of this fascinating country!

We’re listening to what YOU have to say

• "Dear Johann, I sincerely wish to express my thanks to you and your staff for the excellent service and support rendered during my colleague, Rudolf van Buuren and my official visit to Turku (Finland), Bremen (Germany), Vienna and ulmitately Kufstein in Austria, during June 2007.  I can modestly claim to have travelled all over the world, making use of the services of several agencies throughout the years.  However, what I experienced during this visit, is in a class of its own, far above anything else!  The trouble that your staff went to in preparing our travel arrangements in every detail, is unmatched.  In all circumstances and at every airport, we never doubted the outcome of our next step. We would literally study our itinerary beforehand and then know exactly what to expect at each airport or hotel.  However, even being an experienced traveller, there is always the unexpected and the unforeseen. It felt to me that Etnique always had solutions ready for such occasions.  Although I prefer making my own arrangements and being in control of my comings and goings, your staff have also foreseen that. Thanks for treating me as an individual and listening to my needs, thanks for not deciding what I must do and for never letting me feel one of the herd that must be satisfied with the standard format.  Unique, different service distinguishes Etnique from the rest. My congratulations!"
  Prof Tienie Crous, Dean, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, UFS
   

• ”Yolande, wil net graag vir jou bedank vir jou puik reelings en wenke. Alles het vlot verloop, en ons het dit regtig vreeslik baie geniet. Die valle was oorweldigend mooi en die vlakvark was toe regtig so lekker sag en heerlik. Mooi bly, lekker dag..”
  Ima Barnard - Welkom
   

• “Dear Melanie, thank you very much for your prompt and efficient attention to my USA problems. In the end I managed to sort them out with Delta. I was feeling so rotten that the cost of doing so was of little importance. I must say that Etnique has always given me the very best service, first Tessa, who was amazing, and now you. I hope we can do business again in the future although I am no longer in Bloemfontein.”
  Judge Conradie - Cape Town
   

• “Hi Tessa, I did promise you an e-mail, but since then the world has just gone a little crazy, so before I trek off to Jhb tomorrow for the Gauteng reunion and Durban the next week for the Durban reunion and … I will write a short note to thank you very much for all the hard work in preparing for what turned out to be a lekker trip to England.  I enjoyed my time in London – even though I discovered that I was not used to walking around parks the size of Hyde Park.  All the arrangements for that leg of the journey were superb.  I found the train trip up to Carnforth quite an experience and as I said to you the only hitch there was having to use my best English accent to discover what to do when the main line train was delayed.  Unfortunately it rained while I was up in the North West but I must say that it is a really beautiful part of the world.  The flight back also went without a hitch even though people were trying to blow up Glasgow airport the day before.  Carol and I are talking about next year so we will be in touch some time.  Sorry no chocolate cake this time but have to work off those holiday pounds (I speak like a pommy now).
  Chris Thomas, Head Master, Saint Andrews School, Bloemfontein
   

• “Hallo Lizelle, Ons drie stuur hierdie briefie met baie liefde en om dankie te sê vir die moeite wat jy gedoen het om die toer vir ons so lekker en onvergeetlik te maak.  Die toer plan was baie mooi uiteengesit en het dit vir ons so maklik gemaak om te weet wanneer om waar te wees.  Ons sal regtig in die toekoms weer van Sure Etnique Travel gebruik maak en dit vir ons vriende aanbeveel. Ons vlugte met British Airways en Air-France was baie aangenaam, maar wil vra dat julle tog die mense wat van Air-France gebruik maak bedag sal maak op die gewig van hul bagasie aangesien hulle baie streng is en ons groot boetes betaal het. Ons week in Spanje waar ons op ons eie aangewese was, was een groot fees, ons dank aan Manie vir die aanbeveling.  Weereens was die toerplan en padaanwysings foutloos wat dit vir ons baie vergemaklik het. So wil ons dan ook die 12 dae "European Whirl Tour" met Trafalgar aanbeveel. Lizelle, baie-baie dankie vir jou moeite en hulp met die reëlings, dit word opreg waardeer. Etnique en Trafalgar is 'n puik span!”
  Laura Fouche - Schweizer-Reneke
  Grietjie van Wyk - Schweizer-Reneke
  Marianne de Villiers - Lichtenburg
   

• “Hi Maquida, baie dankie vir al jou insette vir ons reis na Rome en Parys. Parys was werklik fantasties en een van die hoogtepunte van ons reis - ja! Ek het my en Andri op ‘n foto met die Eiffeltoring in die agtergrond! Sorrento is uniek, die kusstreek is werklik beeldskoon en ons was selfs op die “Isle of Capri”, daar is ‘n lied van heelwat jare terug oor die eiland. Tussen Napels en Sorrento is Pompei wat ‘n mens moet besoek; wat ‘n ondervinding om tussen bouvalle van meer as 2300 jaar gelede rond te loop.”
  Prof Pieter van Wyk,  Sentrum vir Konfokale- en Elektronmikroskopie, UFS, Bloemfontein
   

• “Geagte Johann, ek het die naweek ‘n probleem gehad en julle noodnommer geskakel. Yolandé het my gou teruggebel, en was dadelik kantoor toe gewees om ons te help. Ons werk gewoonlik met Marié, en as gevolg van die goeie werk wat sy reeds Donderdag gelewer het, is die probleem binne ‘n paar minute opgelos. Dit is ‘n plesier om met mense te werk wat so ‘n goeie diens lewer, en ek wil graag die 2 dames komplimenteer!”
  Erica Viljoen - Navorsings Verpleegkundige, Farmovs-Parexel, Bloemfontein