Secret Places in Luxembourg for Families with Kids

Hello there! Since it’s been a while since the last time I’ve published an article, I’ve decided to make it special, with a short-list of my very secret places in and around Luxembourg. As I’m used to say: Luxembourg has always something to offer to everyone’s taste. Just get out of the house and explore!

Scenario:  It’s a hot summer day and I need a decent, not overcrowded, water fun

Answer 1: Grab your picnic stuff and head to Vianden swimming pool. There is a total of 3 swimming pools, including a baby splash area together with a playground. Lots of big trees do a very decent job providing a good amount of shaddow places. I must mention though, the water is slightly heated, but not as much as the majority of the swimming pools in Luxembourg.The cherry on top of the cake is definitely the view… You know, the swimming pool is located exactly on the opposite hill facing the castle, so you will definitely feel like being in a fairytale scenario.

Some more inside tips:

– Get there early as on hot days it tends to be full (though not as super crowded as others)

– There are some parking areas around the entrance, just follow the signs (though the available places get taken quite quickly)

– There’s toillets and shower facilities

– There’s a snack corner with some very basic offer, but enough to cover any extra demand or simply an ice-cream.

Answer 2: Grevenmacher Playground and Swimming Pool by the Mosel. Drive in direction of the swimming pool parking lot and start by letting the kiddos spend some energy at the playground located right next to the parking lot (opposite side to the swimming pool). Then head to the swimming pool. There are 3 swimming pools, including an adults one, an ‘all-family’ L-shapped pool with a slide and a baby splash pool. The spacious grass area by the Mosel river along with the boats here and there, complement the beautiful scenario.

Some more insider tips:

– There is a snack corner where you can buy some pizza, drinks and ice-creams

– There are toilets and shower facilities

Answer 3: Pick one of the many playgrounds with water fun areas. Here are some ideas:

– Pirate Ship Park in the City Centre

– Park Kaltreis in Bonnevoie

– Park in Rosport

– Park in Crauthem/Roeser

Note: I haven’t tried yet the one in Roeser, but it seems to get a lot of good reviews!

Scenario: It’s Sunday and I’m just looking for some comfy food, a bit of sightseeing and some adventure for the kids

Answer: Book your lunch at the most famous Portuguese chicken bbq in Luxembourg – Restaurant Fielser Stuff in Larochette. Remember: It has to be a Sunday, because only Sundays are chicken bbq days! 🙂 Also, be there at noon. The chicken (and pork ribs) are yummy and the price range is excellent, as well as the staff who take care about the Client. Yes, true! Then, walk up in direction of the Castle ruins. Just take the road of the restaurant and walk up a few meters until you see a small local grocery store on your right. Just after, you’ll spot a little sign (also on the right) to go up to the Castle. Walk up the stairs and follow the path towards its right side, all around the ruins, until you reach the Castle entrance. Once there, you can either go inside for a visit or just enjoy the view over Larochette from the free-access balcony. Then, a little suprise for the kids! Take your car and head up to the Camping Auf Kengert, just outside Larochette. Just by the swimming pool you’ll find a nice bar with an inside playground plus a huge outside playground as well (so depending on the weather, your call!). Adults can enjoy a glass of wine and a piece of the delicious homemade apple pie, while the kids run around. To top all of this, just next to the playground, by the entrance of the forest, you’ll find the Barefoot Path. Fun is guaranteed, for sure!

Scenario: It’s just a normal weekend, but I really want a nice restaurant topped with a decent wine tasting

Answer: Book your table at the Winery and Restaurant Apel Weingut, in Nittel. If the weather is nice, ask for a table in the terrace, as it is set with a lovely playground (private to the Restaurant). Then, if you feel you’d like to upscale your Mosel experience on the German side, then just stay at the guesthouse. The service is family friendly and relaxed. Plus, the rooms are topped with an open view over the vineyards and the Mosel. All you can ask! 🙂

Scenario: I know everything in Luxembourg, so I would need a different cute village nearby to impress

Answer: Saarburg! What a nice surprise. Tucked midway between Trier and Remich, one wouldn’t find out about this secret gem. It has a Castle, river waterfalls, esplanade, nice local shops and very good local Riesling. What else? First things first, be sure to book a table outside at the restaurant Zunfstube. It gets super full quite quickly and I guarantee you don’t want to waste this opportunity. Local food, local wine, completed with a smile on the face! Though skip the dessert and have the best ice cream ever at the Eis Cafe, just round the corner. Insider tip: Be sure to tell the waiter when the ice cream is for the kids as he’ll do quite a pretty nice job to please them! 😉 Food checked, so time to wonder around. Follow the signs to the castle (‘Burg’) and enjoy the views from every hidden corner. Just amazing.. On the way, you can also explore some of the local shops. I’ve found some super cute and good quality handmade jewellery there.

Scenario: I have visitors that I really need to impress!

Answer 1: Drive up to Grevenmacher for a guided visit to the Bernard-Massard cellar and production facilities. The most proeminant cremant producer will make it up for you. In the end, you are directed to the bar where you are offered the drinks. What about the kids, you will ask? No worries, as they are not only welcomed and offered a grape juice ‘tasting’, but also the visit is just short enough to keep them entertained. Then, also here I have a cherry on top of the cake for you, hehe 🙂 My very best kept secret, the viewpoint of Koeppchen. Just google it, and follow the directions to that tiny little church on the very top of the vineyards overlooking the Mosel. It’s just so quiet, so peaceful, so amazing… the perfect pic for your most difficult-to-impress visitors!

Answer 2: Book a table at the Restaurant Du Pressoir in Remich. Ask for a table by the window to get access to the amazing views. It’s a bit fancy but not too fancy, if you know what I mean. Besides the views and the yummy comfy food, the kids will be delighted with the inside corner fullfilled with toys. Then, explore the outside grounds of the restaurant and take some nice pictures with a view over the Mosel.

Scenario: I’m just looking for a quiet place with playground and animals, out of the usual places

Answer 1: The horse farm Mutferter-Haff offers a perfect setting to enjoy a drink or simple food, while the kids play in the playground. It offers a home for horses and often you can enjoy the trainings or just the daily care of the animals.

Answer 2: The Haus vun der Natur in Kochelsheuer also offers free-access to several farm animals. Just park your car at the Kochelsheuer parking lot, cross the playground (or, even better, spend some time there), then walk down the path (direction Roeser) just for a few meters, until you spot the first cute animals.

Scenario: I’m looking for an outstanding Zoo

Answer: Pairi Daiza, near Mons, Belgium. No need for further description, this place is just amazing. It’s more than a Zoo, it is a travel-around-the-world experience in one day.

I would continue over and over with so many other secret tips, but I’ll leave it for another day 😉

What about you? Do you have any secret places to share? Do let me know!

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings: Dinant, Citadelle and Saxophones

So, you might be wondering about the title of this article, no?! Well, first let me tell you a little detail: Dinant is not next door to Luxembourg, but it is just one (very worthy) hour driving away! It’s a lovely little city with a lot of history to teach us all.

Even though the most prominent building nowadays is the Cathedral, the historical landmark that defines Dinant is its fortress, the so called Citadelle de Dinant built in 1815 under the direction of the “architect” Vauban (any link to our dear Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is NOT pure coincidence, but I’ll let that for you to find out 😀).

My recommendation is for you to enter “Citadelle de Dinant” in your GPS. By doing this, you avoid some craziness on the parking quest as the parking facilities at the Citadelle is free for its visitors! You will also avoid the traffic down there in the city center as the access to the Citadelle is done by the suburbs. Actually, at some point you might have the impression that you’re completely lost in the countryside as you will only spot the city once you enter the Citadelle! So don’t worry, just trust me that you’ll get there! 🙂 

Entrance tickets to the Citadelle have 2 options: Citadelle and Cable Car to the City (return ticket) or Citadelle, Cable Car and Boat Ride. This time we skipped the boat ride as we didn’t have plans to spend all day there. Otherwise, it’s a good deal, especially when compared to buying separate tickets for each attraction!

Visiting the Citadelle

Although you can visit part of the Citadelle by yourself (map area number 2 and common areas), most of the fun can only be reached by joining one of the guided tours. The guided tour is included in the ticket, so all you need to do is to head to the main square of the Citadelle where the guides are waiting to form the groups (there’s a big clock with the time of the “next departure”). 

The visits are conducted in French and Dutch but, you can look for Joseph, the most funny “old teacher/guide”. He makes sure to engage you into the group dynamics with an excellent level of English. Plus, he also engages all children with funny details and intimidating questions to double check if anyone knows a bit of history 😉

All areas of the tour are equally interesting and full of history, but there are 3 points that clearly stand out (in my humble opinion):

– At the free access area (number 2), the rooms with binoculars where you can compare the city view of the present time with the exact same view about one hundred years ago;

– The main viewpoint of the Citadelle (guided tour), from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over Dinant and the river Meuse;

– And the big surprise at the very end of the guided tour is the Barracks and Bunker room. It’s a unique room that simulates the trenches in a war scenario followed by an impressive reconstruction of a bunker hit by a bomb. I’ll just tell you that walking through that bunker is a scary experience with tons of laughing (even though we all know that behind this kind of a touristic experience are very sad history times…). If you are easily impressed by dizziness, maybe you should skip this last room, otherwise, go for it!! (PS – Even little kids, without stroller, are welcome to enter it . It is not dangerous, but a parent should absolutely help them walking through it). 

Having lunch at the Citadelle

As you might notice by the entrance of the Citadelle (inside the Citadelle grounds), there is a very nice and big playground by an onsite snack-bar / restaurant. Although it is not a perfect place/service nor it serves perfect food (it’s kind of fast-food, with hot-dogs, hamburgers and pizzas), this place is perfectly located by the playground and offers plenty of outdoor tables under the shadow of big trees.

Visiting the City of Dinant

So, after having lunch and spending a bit of energy at the playground, your family might already be ready to continue exploring Dinant. So head to the Cable Car (or adventure yourself through the 408 steps down to the old city!).

The Cable Car will bring you directly to the Cathedral’s side door and from there to the Saxophone Bridge (Did I already tell you that Dinant is the birth city of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the Saxophone?). The official name of the bridge is “Pont Charles de Gaulle”. However, in 2014, some huge and colorful saxophones were placed in there in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Adolph Sax, so people started calling it the Bridge of the Saxophones!

You may also pop by the House of Adolph Sax (“La Maison de Monsieur Sax”). Admission of this so called interpretative center is free and it’s an opportunity to better understand the wonderful story of the saxophone (address: 37 Rue Sax, 5500 Dinant).

Some additional insider tips:

– Plan to arrive to the Citadelle no later than 10 o’clock. By doing this you’ll not only avoid being included in a huge group visit, but it will also allow you to have lunch by 11:30 (12:00 the latest);

– There are many visitors that, not knowing about the parking at the Citadelle, start by visiting the city center and then go up to the Citadelle by Cable Car. This usually results in long waiting queues by the Cable Car ticket office. BUT, you, being already a ticket holder, can indeed avoid the queue and just show your ticket to the ticket office lady (I did confirm this point at the ticket office!) – anyway, even though you are still following the rules, you might have to face some very upsetting people staring at you 😉

Enjoy!!

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings – Vianden Swimming Pool

The warm temperatures out there call for an outdoor swimming pool! Luxembourg has plenty of them, but there’s one that clearly stands out for its beautiful scenario – The Vianden Swimming Pool.

This year, the swimming pool already opened its doors (last Thursday 25th May), so all is good to start already enjoying this amazing view. Basically, the swimming pool is set on the hill opposite to Vianden Castle, so while you’re laying down on the grass, you face the enchanted castle in front of your eyes! Just like a magical painting! 🙂

The complex is not new, but it offers some changing rooms and toilets, a snack bar with some “fast-food” meals, one big swimming pool with slide and a paddling pool for the little ones with a nice shadow. Next to the kiddie pool you will also find a little playground. There are some shadows but definitely not enough of them for everyone, so better to consider bringing your own parasol. 

There are some parking areas next to the entrance of the swimming pool, but be aware that if you arrive late you’ll have some difficulties to park and people start parking on the road – not that family-friendly, in this last case.

Address: rue du Sanatorium, L-9425 Vianden 

Website : http://www.vianden-info.lu/english/leisure/swimming-pool

Enjoy!!

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings: Remerschen Beach

As the Summer seems to be back in town, our natural reaction is to go out there and look for the perfect outdoor venue… And you know what? Luxembourg is quite perfect on answering to that question: there are amazing lakes and swimming pools all over the country.
The other day we ended up exploring a little secret that is actually pretty close to our home. Remerschen has a beautiful natural reserve where you can not only find dozens of unique birds (and many other natural and animal species), but also a lovely “beach”. Ok, not really a beach, but a very pleasant lake that is nicely surrounded by sand, pebbles and grass.

On the plus side, this place is super family friendly. Not only it has a shallow and safe lake area especially dedicated to children, but it also keeps an onsite lifeguard. There’s plenty of space to place some towels and picnic blankets. Even though there are many trees offering shadows, bringing a beach parasol would be a better idea if you’d like to stay by the water to keep a closer look to your little ones.

Onsite there is also a restaurant with a outside bar in the terrace by the shallow lake area and it serves drinks, snacks and ice-creams (the terrace is only open during the warmer months).

The lake area is fenced and there is an entrance fee of €4 per adult (free for children up to 10yo). In exchange, you get access to the public toilets with babychange facilities, and to the beach area with all the amenities on site (lifeguard, playground, voleyball pitch and maintenance).

On the minus side, I would need to add that the place is very clean around the shallow lake area and the restaurant – where it matters to most of the families with young kids. However, it changes dramatically if you go further to the more distant and isolated areas where you can also make bbq (you need to bring your own). I just explored a bit further and I was quite disappointed – some garbage on the grass and dogs poo..

And if you are in the mood to combine beach fun with a nice walk, you can also explore the local trail around the whole natural reserve, starting by the impressive building dedicate to the nature (on your right side, once you arrive to the lake area – there’s absolutely no way you can miss it J).

All in all, I would say that this place is very nice and a perfect option for a day out in a warm day. You just need to make sure you choose a nice and clean place by the shallow area – big enough for plenty of families!

Address: Breicherwee, L-5441 Remerschen (there is a big parking onsite – free of charge)

More info on the restaurant Le Chalet: http://lechalet.lu

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings – Rosport fun by the lake

Hello there! Yesterday we decided to explore one more family-friendly place in Luxembourg. I confess that I’m quite surprised when I realise that even after almost 5 years living in the Grand-Duchy (how times fly…), there are still so many fun places to discover!! 🙂

So let me present you the lovelly village of Rosport and it’s amazing promenade by the Saurlake.

So, grab some snacks and your picnic blanket and head to Rosport (address below). As soon as you arrive, you are presented by this gorgeous nature view… And, as soon as you park your car (and even before that), you’ll spot the huge playground, with an “adventure park” style.

There are some picnic tables here and there and a huge table by the fortress (perfect for big groups) and plenty of space for picnic blankets with good shadows if desired. There were also some groups doing bbq (you need to bring your own – if you don’t have a portable bbq, just buy a cheap disposable one – many supermarkets and gas stations sell them).

The playground itself is very well structured with different areas suitable for different ages. There is also a water play area (yesterday the water was still off, but should be on soon), though I freak out with the slippery side of water play areas… A cute detail is an open-air (and free use) library with some nice wodden lounge chairs (behind the amphitheatre). Finally, a very important detail to know of is that the is also a public toilet (quite clean) by the library.

Address: rue du Barrage, Rosport

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings – Bostalsee

About one hour and a half from Lux city, there’s a fantastic family-friendly resort called Center Parc Bostalsee.

Some of you who know me best would ask: but, I thought you were not a fan of Center Parcs?! Well, that’s indeed true! Even tought there are many details that I’m not a fan of, I have to admit that the advantages of this particular one make me put a pro-vote on it! 

First of all, let me explain the concept for those of you who are not familiar with it! Center Parcs are a group of all-year-round family-friendly resorts that you can find in Europe (mostly in France, Belgium and The Netherlands). The concept is simple: you rent a nice and comfortable mobile home (the level of comfort will depend on you budget) in the middle of a huge park whose center point is a big “dome”. The “dome” is a big building with restaurants, supermarket, playgrounds and the well-known “aqua-mundo”, an indoor swimming pool complex with a tropical theme and warm waters.

The Center Parc Bostalsee has it all, it is quite recent, so you have that “new” feeling, it has a little farm with friendly animals (including poneys) and lies around a big lake. Plus, it’s just by Luxembourg making it perfect for a long weekend or just a day out of family fun (yes, you can visit it for the day!). 

Now, time to say something about the “minus” details: in my humble opinion, Center Parcs are overpriced… In the majority of the deals, nothing else is included in the price besides the overnight stay: for example towels or bed linen or even the final cleaning. The resorts are big, so that means that depending on your mobile home location you migh need to walk a lot everyday. Even though there are golf carts and bikes for rent, again it’s quite overpriced. And so are the onsite restaurants. 

So, my tips to keep the budget acceptable and get the most out of your experience would be:

• Avoid the high season and long public weekends. Instead, take advantage of those weekends when your kids school is off on a Friday/Monday for other reasons (like staff meetings) and find out about the promotional deals available online
• Take your own bed linen and towels
• Plan your meals in advance and take your own food 
• Bring waste bags (even if you get final cleaning in your package, you’ll have to collect all waste)
• Bring a kitchen kit (kitchen towel, dishwasher tabs, dish soap and sponge)
• Take your own bikes if you have a bike rack or consider at least the micro scooters or a kiddy wagon
• If it’s still cold season, bring your own wood and oil to lighten up the fireplace at the mobile home

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings – Bambesch Forest

Hello there! So this time I don’t go far away as there’s also plenty of hidden secrets just by Luxembourg city!

In a Sunny day like it was today, nothing like going out for a lunch in a place with outdoors and beautiful views. And the restaurant Juegdschlass is quite something for that as it’s ideal for a family lunch on a weekend. Plus, the restaurant has a garden with a small playground. 

Source: juegdschlass.lu

Book your table a few days in advance, if possible, as it’s always fully booked. And don’t forget to ask for one of those tables with a view!

Practical info: 400 Rue des Sept Arpents, Bambesch, Tel. 337137

Though, if you have time to arrive a bit earlier, park the car by the restaurant and take a walk alongside the little road. Within very short walking distance you can find several farms where you can spot several animals, including horses and an American bison.

After lunch, head to Bambesch Playground, down the hill on the way to Luxembourg – Rollingergrund. You’ll just need to drive to the Tennis Club Spora and, by the entrance of the club, you’ll spot a huge wooden-framed playground. The playground has several picnic tables and you can also explore some hiking paths from there.
Source: Justarrived.lu

Insider Tip: On Sunny days it becomes quite crowded in the afternoon and you might face some issues to find a parking place. There is a toilette at the Tennis Club premises (though you’ll need to follow the signs to “jogging vestiaires”).

Have fun!!

WeekendInFamily@Luxembourg – 1st and 2nd April, 2017

Hello there! Another weekly post is back to the blog, this time my once called “picks for the weekend”. So, just to clarify, this is NOT a complete agenda of activities. Instead, it is my way to share with you the best family-friendly events for families (by personal choice, of course 😉 ) — Hopefully you’ll agree with me 🙂

Farm in the City – On Saturday and Sunday (from 10am to 6pm), place de la Constitution will turn into a huge farm with cows, porks, goats, sheep and even alpacas. There will be also info points promoting the local products, activities for the kids (including pedal tractors) and show-cooking events (some dishes will be prepared by the Lux politicians!!).

Easter Egg Hunt – On Sunday, 2nd April, from 10am to 11.30am, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt at the Parc Marédoc (1A, rue de Müllendorf, L-7329 Heisdorf), arts and crafts activities and even a special visit of Mr Easter Rabbit himself!!

Have fun!!

 

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings – Bastogne

As promised, here I am again with some ideas and insider tips on places nearby where you can easily spend a few hours or a day in family.  So if yesterday I came up with the Saar Loop idea, perfect for a sunny day, now I present you with an all-weather option. Because, you know, in Luxembourg we can always have sun or rainy or hot or cold… We never know… 😉

Bastogne is just about 80km (1h) driving from Luxembourg and it hosts an amazingly renovated Bastogne War Museum. Especially if you have boys… 🙂

Plan to be there by 10h so you have plenty of time to visit the Museum. It is a very pleasant surprise to see the high standards of this museum. They offer you the chance to see tons of real war equipment as well as to experience some episodes through 4D movies (in some of them you even experience the cold air of the mist in the forests! Incredible…).

Insider Tip: Take advantage of the included audio-guides, not forgetting the ones for the kiddos as they will have the chance to follow the experiences of a little boy throughout the scenarios.

In the meantime, be sure to call the local restaurant “Wagon Leo” and book a table in the “wagon room” – yes, part of the restaurant is set in a real antique wagon! Little ones will love it, right? And so the big ones, I must say! 🙂

On the way back to Luxembourg, and if the weather is not rainny,   You can stop mid-way at the wonderful Ferme d’Ayaaz, in Attert. It is home to many friendly goats, sheep, poneys, rabbits, chicken… And the entrance is free! Just make sure to check the opening times before hand.

Useful Information:

Bastogne War Museum

Address: Colline du Mardasson 5-6600, Bastogne
Opening Times: 9.30am to 6pm

Restaurant Wagon Leo

Address: Rue du Vivier 6, Bastogne
Tel. +32 61 21 14 41

Ferme d’Ayaaz

Address: 348, route de l’Ermitage, 6717 Attert

Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings – Saarland Postcard

Welcome to my brand new post series – “Discovering Luxembourg and Surroundings”. So every week till Summer, I’ll be posting 2 articles with ideas and insider tips on my favorite secret places for one day out (or a weekend out, that’s also fine ;)).

Saarland Postcard

Today, we’ve decided to explore something new, someting unique. And we’ve found it! Just about 40min from Luxembourg city, there is a unique tree-top path way that leads you up to more than 1 thousand meters up and gets you an amazing view over what I always called “The Saarland Postcard”, aka, the Saar Loop.

 

Source: bawmwipfelfad-saarchleife.de

The walkway is super family friendly and it can all be done with a strolley. Through the way, you find several didactic stations with information about the fauna and flora of the region.

 

Then, once you reach the end, there is a nice biergarten on your right with a playground. The big hit is the slide. The next picture speaks for itself!q

 

Finish your day with an ice-cream at the nice and sunny terrace by the entrance of the park while the kids can spend some of the left energy running around safely.

Some important notes:

– There is a parking lot by the entrance, but make sure not to forget to pay the ticket, even during the weekend!

-the family ticket costs €21,50 (2 adults and 2 kids) – please see all details and other options at the website.

– the visit takes about 30-40min in total, at a toddler-walking speed.

– There are two options for meal time onsite: the terrace by the entrance or the biergarten by the end of the path.

Website: http://www.baumwipfelpfad-saarschleife.de

Address: Baumwipfelpfad Saarschleife, Cloef-Atrium, 66693 Mettlach, Germany

Enjoy!!