Bûche de Noël (you might recognize it as a yule log) is a delicious Christmas specialty, popular in Luxembourg, France and Belgium. These log-shaped cakes were traditionally made with sponge cake and chocolate buttercream and garnished to look like a log that would be ready to be tossed onto the pile in the ancient fire-festival […]
Tag Archives | Luxembourg
Gift Wrapping
One of the best parts of Christmas shopping in Luxembourg is the complimentary gift-wrapping service offered in every shop and mall. Of course, then you have to remember who gets which package…
Kleeschen, or St. Nicholas
In Luxembourg, there is no Santa Claus. Instead, Kleeschen, or St. Nicholas, descends from heaven on the evening of December 5th. He visits every child’s house and consults his trusty “Book of Sins.” If the child has been good, he will put sweets into the waiting shoes that the child thoughtfully placed near the fireplace […]
Luxembourg Christmas Market
There was finally a break in the rain, so I headed out to the small Luxembourg Christmas market. I’m sad to report that neither the food nor the shopping approached the quality of Strasbourg or Trier. The latkes were too thick and unflavorful, perhaps because they were preformed and sitting in industrial-sized stacks for who-knows-how-long. […]
European Christmas Markets
‘Tis the season for holiday markets! I always love to support local businesses and there’s no better place to do it than in the quaint Christmas markets (yes, that’s right – these are all Christian, all the time) that pop up all over Europe. Grab a glühwein or nog and wander the aisles for unique […]
Akkordeon Orchester Menningen-Minden
Seen and heard in Echternach: an all-accordian orchestra. Who knew ABBA could sound so good? My favorite member was the sound guy who also doled out the beers.
Basilique Saint-Willibrord
Echternach is dominated by Basilique Saint-Willibrord. Saint Willibrord was a Northumbrian monk who arrived in town in 698 A.D. Immediately after receiving this land from Irmina, daughter of Dagobert II, King of the Franks, he began construction. A Benedictine abbey developed around the basilica and a town around that. If you’re seeking an ancient basilica, […]
Echternach
Echternach, one of Luxembourg’s oldest towns, is a tiny (population 5,000), picturesque village surrounded by medieval walls and towers. It sits alongside the River Sûre, near the German border. Aside from the charming town square, the main attractions are the hiking and biking trails that lead into the mountains and along the Sûre. I also […]
Gare de Luxembourg
Like Grand Central’s ceiling if you were on acid. Luxembourg’s main train station is the hub of the country’s domestic railway network and also serves as the international rail station with direct lines to France (including the whiplash-inducing TGV), Belgium and Germany. The original station opened in 1859 and was built entirely from timber. The […]
Vinothèque Speltz
Sommelier Benjamin Fanuel knows what you will like. He personally selects the wines, champagnes and crémants and spirits in this small but robust vinothèque, which features Luxembourgish (from private caves only), French, German, Chilean and American selections, to name but a few. Mr. Fanuel is passionate about wine and loves talking about it. He knows […]
