he drama and beauty of Luxembourg’s capital often comes as a surprise to the first-time visitor. The Grand Duchy – the world’s only sovereign nation whose head of state is a Grand Duke – emerged in 963 AD when Count Siegfried built a castle on top of the Bock cliffs. Today the Bock and Old Quarter – a UNESCO World Heritage site – perch on a sandstone plateau high above the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers, and wandering its upper and lower cities is like strolling through history.
The grand architecture of the old town is testament to Luxembourg’s longheld wealth, not to mention a location that led to half of medieval Europe coveting the city. French influence in the capital dates back centuries – and numerous invasions – but it wasn’t until the 1600s that the military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban transformed the city into one of the most impressive fortifications on the continent. However, the Grand
