Directly on the Luxembourg border lies the small winegrowing village of Schengen. Schengen is known for the "Schengen Agreement" and is synonymous with an area without border controls.
From the vineyards of the Upper Moselle to the scattered fruit meadows of the hilly Saargau, the picturesque Saar Valley and the deep forests of the Hochwald, the landscape always offers new impressions. But the cities of Luxembourg and Metz also delight with their sights and cultural offerings.
One of the most famous squares in Luxembourg is the Wilhelmsplatz. Together with the Place d'Armes, the Parade Square, it forms the centre of the pedestrian zone. Wilhelm Square is a very good starting point for sightseeing tours, it is also called Place Guillaume II. A bronze equestrian statue of Wilhelm II stands on the square and the neo-classical town hall is also located directly on Wilhelmsplatz.
Characteristic of Luxembourg are the large bridges. They connect the various plateaus of the city. The best known are the Adolphe Bridge or New Bridge, the Old Bridge also called the Passerelle and the Grande-Duchesse Charlotte Bridge, which the people simply call the Red Bridge.
The imposing Palais des Grand-Ducaux is located in the old town of the capital of the Grand Duchy, is the state residence of the Grand Duke with offices for him, his wife and for employees and as a reception venue for foreign heads of state.
Another cultural highlight of the city is the Philharmonie at Place de l'Europe, which opened in 2005. This large concert hall is the seat of the Orchestre Philarmonique du Luxembourg. Since its opening, the programme of the Philharmonie has offered a very astonishing and artistic quality.
Notre-Dame du Luxembourg Cathedral is the city's most important religious building and delights visitors with its choir, two organs and eleven bells. The Octave of Our Lady is celebrated in the church, a pilgrimage in honour of the Mother of God, who is the city's patron saint. The annual celebration takes place between the fourth and sixth Sundays of Easter.
The city of art and history Metz, a good 80 km from Ockfen, has a rich heritage from the Gallo-Roman era to the present day. One of the most famous sights the city has to offer is the Saint-Etienne Cathedral.
The Centre Pampidou art centre is dedicated to modern and contemporary art and pursues the cultural project of showing temporary exhibitions and performing arts. The architectural masterpiece with a total of three exhibition galleries was opened in 2010 and offers a breathtaking view of Metz and the cathedral with its glass walls.
The most beautiful building in the Nouvelle district was built in the Rhenish neo-Romanesque style: the Metz railway station. This famous building, 300 metres long, contained flats and the emperor's reception pavilion, as well as reception halls, galleries and service rooms. At the time, it served both the transport of goods and people, as well as the strategic goal of moving many soldiers in the shortest possible time.
The Theatre-Opera is the oldest opera house in France still in operation. Here you can experience cultural diversity and lyrical art.
The wide ring road with the green strip reveals the course of the city wall, which was levelled at the end of the 19th century. The German Gate is the most important remnant from the 13th and 15th centuries. It got its name from the Teutonic Order, which used to have a branch with a hospital here. The oldest parts from 1230 are the two slender round towers with the pointed slate roofs and the bridge protected by high walls. On the other bank of the Seille, a mighty pair of round towers with battlement and battlements was built. On the north wall, a portico with a groined vault connects the two buildings. Other remains of the town fortifications are the Roman Gate and the Tour Camoufle.
Park your car on the Glacis (Mon-Fri chargeable), a large square northwest of the city centre, which you can reach by bus or on foot (ten minutes through the city park). Or you can use the free park-and-ride lots on the outskirts of the city.
SaarLuxBus
There is a bus from Saarburg to Luxembourg from Monday to Saturday.
You can find a list of parking spaces here: Metz parking space
