The top of the top: labelled hikes
Luxembourg's hiking trails are internationally renowned. In fact, two of them have been awarded the "Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe" label by the Fédération Européenne de la Randonnée Pédestre. The first is the Mullerthal Trail, a 112 km trail comprising three circuits of 37 to 38 km each and four extensions, which traverses the landscapes of Luxembourg's Little Switzerland. The second is theEscapardenne Lee Trail & Eislek Trail, a 158 km hike comprising two trails through the Belgian-Luxembourg Ardennes. The Eislek Trail consists of a 106 km main route, signposted from the Rhine basin to the Meuse basin, in five stages of 18 to 25 km each. Six discovery loops (from 30 to 98 km) are also available on the trail. Created in 2015, the Escapardenne Lee Trail is a 52 km extension of the first hike. It links Kautenbach to Ettelbruck in three stages of 17.6 km, 19.6 km and 15 km.
Other well-known hikes include the NaturWanderPark Delux, a series of 23 hiking trails certified by the German Hiking Institute (Deutsches Wanderinstitut), covering parts of Germany (South Eifel and North Eifel Nature Parks) and the Grand Duchy (Our Nature Park). The 9 German-Luxembourg tours represent some 170 km of signposted walks, divided between the Luxembourg Ardennes (5 circuits of 13 to 18 km) and the Mullerthal Region (4 circuits of 20 to 30 km).
Luxembourg's Moselle region also boasts a number of signposted trails between its borders: "Sentier Vin & Nature Palmberg Ahn" (9 km), "Schengen - sans frontières" (7.7 km) and "Manternacher Fiels" (9.6 km). All three are "Traumschleifen"(Dream Loops), awarded the Premium label by the German Hiking Institute.
For some hikes, several organizations and hotel associations offer a "luggage" service, enabling you to explore the Luxembourg Ardennes and Mullerthal Region on foot, without worrying about your bags being transported from hotel to hotel. The package generally includes half-board accommodation.
Luxembourg through its national trails
In addition to its internationally renowned hiking trails, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has a network of national footpaths covering the entire country and linking the most important tourist centers. The network comprises some twenty routes, ranging in length from 15 to 68 km. Regularly maintained, these trails are marked in both directions with yellow symbols on a blue background. With a few exceptions, the national trails do not form loops. They are ideal for multi-day, stage hikes. The Moselle Trail (55 km) is one of the must-do trails, taking in the most beautiful sites in a landscape rich in diverse cultures with a tradition stretching back thousands of years (Moselle region). The Lac de la Haute-Sûre circuit (42 km) takes you through several picturesque villages bordering the immense lake, with a breathtaking view of the dam from the cornice road. Eating and sleeping facilities are available in Esch-sur-Sûre, Kaundorf, Bavigne, Liefrange, Bavigne, Boulaide, Arsdorf, Insenborn and Lultzhausen. The Seven Castles Valley Trail (37 km) takes you through Gutland and the green Eisch Valley, from Mersch, where the first of the famous seven castles is located, to Gaichel, close to the Belgian border. On this hike, you can see or explore in greater detail the castles of Schoenfels, Hollenfels, the two castles of Ansembourg, Septfontaines and Koerich. The even, wooded terrain is ideal for a peaceful walk that's not necessarily very sporty. The natural and cultural appeal of the route may also slow your progress. The walk can be completed over two days, with a possible stopover in Bour or Septfontaines. The Panorama National Trail is one of the latest additions to the national network of hiking trails. It takes in the extreme north-west of the country and the Oesling plateau, along the Belgian border from Troisvierges to Wiltz. As the name suggests, the trail offers magnificent views at altitudes of between 400 and 500 m. This 42 km walk invites you to split the route into two stages, although accommodation on this circuit is relatively rare. You can, of course, try to complete the walk in a single day, but you run the risk of not taking full advantage of the scenery.
Self-pedestrians and CFL: everyone finds their happiness
While these numerous hikes seem to be aimed at a well-informed hiking public, less sporty hikers and families will also find something to enjoy in Luxembourg. In fact, there are many walks lasting just a few hours, particularly on self-pedestrian circuits, local trails or CFL hikes.
A total of 5,000 km of hiking trails are spread over 208 signposted self-guided circuits through the different regions of Luxembourg, of all kinds and accessible to all. These trails are particularly suitable for family outings, as they are easy to walk and offer itineraries from 4 to 16 km, forming loops. For example, in the Lëtzebuerg West region (north-west of Luxembourg City), the Mersch walking trail starts at Place Saint-Michel and takes you through the Miescherwald forest to some very picturesque sites. You can discover the rock formations of the Mamerlayen and the prehistoric caves of the Mamer valley, such as the Huellay. Then on to the Dreibouren and Hunnebuer springs and the Goblins' Rocks, and finally the Priedigstull, from the top of which you can enjoy an impressive view of the entire Eisch Valley. Finally, we return to Mersch, where the walk began.
To stimulate the younger ones, you can also opt for an educational walk, where you can learn more about Luxembourg's flora and fauna. A good example is the "Am Brill" educational trail , which starts and ends at the Bestgen mill in the town of Schifflange (3 km east of Esch-sur-Alzette). This is a very short trail on stilts, with observation huts, platforms and information panels to introduce visitors to the flora and fauna of the marshy areas surrounding the former industrial town of Schifflange. The trail was designed in the Am Brill nature reserve, in parallel with the project to return the Alzette to its original course, in order to regulate the area's flooding problems and restore habitat for flora and fauna. Since the work was carried out, the vegetation has become very dense and is home to numerous bird species. It's hard to imagine such an ecosystem on the edge of town. The trail starts and finishes at the 19th-century Bestgen mill, now a brasserie-restaurant.
Another important educational trail: Natura 2000, which starts opposite the Ellergronn visitor center, 2.5 km south of Esch station. This trail, set up by the Water and Forestry Administration, takes you through the rich natural surroundings of Esch-sur-Alzette, from Ellergronn via Burgronn to the Gaalgebierg heights. The trail is divided into three successive loops totalling 12 km. Loop A, entitled "Man and forest", is 5 km long and starts at the Ellergronn visitor center. Loop B, "The use of fertile land, then and now", is 4.5 km long and starts at Gaalgebierg Park. Loop C, "Plant succession in a former mining area", is 2.5 km long and starts near the animal shelter.
In Schifflange, the planetary trail called "De Saturn " offers walkers an attractive 3.9 km walk through nature, to discover our solar system. The path is perfectly signposted and laid out, and includes 13 panels, also written in Braille. These provide information on the celestial bodies and the mythology behind their names.
As for the Hoscheid sound trail (6.5 km), its route was designed by four Luxembourg and foreign artists who created sound points to present the region from a new angle, that of listening to nature and the sounds we produce ourselves. Part of the tour is wheelchair accessible.
CFL hikes are the so-called "station-to-station" trails, using trains or buses to get to your destination. A total of 460 km of hikes, spread over 43 trails marked out with yellow CFL signs, enabling you to reach the various stations on your chosen route. This means of transport is not only practical, but also inexpensive: Société nationale des chemins de fer luxembourgeois offers attractive fares for those wishing to combine train and bike rides. Bicycles are transported free of charge when accompanied, while train (and bus) travel is free with the Luxembourg Card. Taking the train can therefore prove to be an interesting solution, especially when you compare the low cost of the ticket with parking rates in the capital and elsewhere.
...And then there's the Nordic walks..
Luxembourg will also satisfy the most sporty among you, summer or winter, with its trails adapted to Nordic Walking. There are 18 Nordic Walking circuits in five parks in three regions. They are subdivided and marked by color code: blue, red and black - from the simplest (short and fairly regular) to the most demanding (long and steep). In the Luxembourg Ardennes, there are three Nordic walking trails: Nordic Walking Park Uewersauer (23.3 km), Nordic Walking Park Klierfdall (33.9 km) and Nordic Walking Ourdall (52.1 km). In the Mullerthal Region, the Nordic Walking Park Mëllerdall links Mullerthal to Christnach, with a 27.9 km trail divided into three circuits: easy (6.5 km), medium (10.2 km) and difficult (11 km). Please note that since 2016, the Mullerthal Region no longer provides signposting for its park: it is therefore advisable to check with the relevant tourist offices to find out the level of practicability during your visit. In Moselle, the Nordic Walking Park Miselerland has a 33.5 km route, divided into four circuits: easy (4.1 km), medium (5.7 km) and difficult (9.7 km and 14 km).
Whichever type of hike you choose, its itinerary will be easy to find: there are a multitude of brochures to download from the Internet, or available from local tourist offices free of charge or at low cost.
