Best things to do in Echternach, Luxembourg
Get to know the oldest city in Luxembourg, Echternach. Echternach is a small town with about 5,000 inhabitants on the river Sûre, which forms the border with Germany. The historic town is one of the most popular touristic destinations in the Grand Duchy and you should definitely visit it during your Luxembourg road trip or holiday in Luxembourg. The city is quite compact and can therefore easily be explored in a few hours, but is also located in the most beautiful region in the country, the Mullerthal region. In this article we share the most beautiful sights in Echternach in Luxembourg and the surrounding area.
The oldest city in Luxembourg
Echternach is the oldest city in Luxembourg and you will notice this immediately in the charming – largely car-free – historic center. The most important place in the city center is the market square, Place du Marché. Around the market square are several cozy bars and restaurants to visit for a drink during the sunny days. The colorful houses and narrow streets give the city an unique character.
It is best to wander through the historic center without a map. This way you will be able to discover the most beautiful places.
Willibrordus Abbey
One of the most striking sights in Echternach is the enormous Wilibrordus Abbey. During the Second World War, Echternach, including the abbey, was almost completely destroyed, but the grave of Willibrord and the basilica survived the war. Although the abbey was almost completely destroyed, it was rebuilt in 1950 to its original forms.
Right next to the church is the Abbey Museum, which is open to visitors.
The City wall of Echernach
The fact that Echternach is also visible because of the old city wall, a restored part of which can be found at the Kack car park. The city wall is more than 1000 years old and was originally two kilometers long. You can take a nice walk around the old city wall next to the river Sûre.
Tolbooths on the border with Germany
I love borders between countries and everything that has to do with them, so I couldn’t resist taking pictures of the cute toll booths in Echternach. The city is on the border with Germany and the toll booths that were once used to open the borders are still there. You can also see some in the villages in Germany on the other side of the river.
The gateway to the Mullerthal region
The main reason for a visit to Echternach is its location in the most beautiful region of the country. The Mullerthal region. This region is also called “Little Switzerland” because of its impressive rock formations and hilly landscape. Echternach is the starting point of the Mullerthal Trail routes 1 and 2.
Where to stay in Echternach
Echternach is quite compact and there are only a few hotels, almost all of which are quite dated. Fortunately, there are also a number of campsites located in and around the city. Especially Camping Martbusch – from where you can also start Mullerthal Trail route 2 – and Camping La Pinède in Consdorf are recommended. Another option is to choose accommodation just across the border in Germany. We spend the night in the cozy village of Bollendorf in Holiday Home Leonie. Just like Echternach, Bollendorf is located on the river Sûre and is therefore right on the border.
Click here to compare all accommodations in Echternach.