Day trips & escapes

The Luxembourg Castle Drive: A Two-Day Loop With Six Real Castles

5 min read

Bourscheid castle ruins on a hilltop above the Sûre valley

Day 1: the northern loop

Start in the capital at 8:30 and drive north on the N7. First stop Mersch (40 minutes) for a quick look at the Château de Mersch, then continue to Bourscheid Castle (another 30 minutes) — the largest fortified castle in Luxembourg, dramatically sited above the Sûre. Give it 90 minutes and eat lunch at the castle café or drop into Bourscheid-Plage below. Continue to Clervaux for the afternoon: the castle houses the Family of Man exhibition and a model museum. Sleep in Clervaux at Hotel Koener (from about 130 euros) or push 25 minutes back to Vianden.

If Vianden makes more sense as your overnight, drive there via the N7 and N17 — it's a beautiful road along the Our. Vianden itself is best walked at dusk when the castle floodlights come on. Dinner at Auberge Aal Veinen for wild boar or the simpler Bel Air on the river.

Day 2: south through the Mullerthal

Vianden Castle opens at 10:00 — do the full interior tour, about 90 minutes. Then drive south 30 minutes to Beaufort, which has two castles side by side: the medieval ruin and the 17th-century Renaissance château. Tour both on one ticket (10 euros). Lunch in Beaufort at Auberge Rustique. Continue 15 minutes to Larochette for the last castle, a compact ruin on a crag above a small town square. Back to the capital via the N11, about 45 minutes. Total driving: roughly 220 km, all on paved secondary roads.

Frequently asked questions

Which castle should I skip if I’m short on time?

Larochette is the smallest and most easily cut. Mersch is more a stop than a visit. Vianden, Bourscheid and Beaufort are the three you shouldn’t miss.

Are the castle roads okay for a small rental?

Yes — everything on this route is standard tarmac. The only tight driving is inside Vianden village, where parking on the lower lots is easier than the top.