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Luxembourg may be one of the world's smallest countries, but in terms of kids amusements it must count as one of the biggest, or so it would seem, simply because there is so very much there is to see and do for kids.
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One third
of Luxembourg's tiny territory [the country measures just 50 by 30 miles!]
is covered by forests, which means that there are plenty of things to
do outdoors. Add to that the fact that the world's only Grand Duchy has
one of the world's densest networks of hiking paths [Yes, all of 2500
miles of paths crammed into 999 square miles of surface], and a sizeable
network of cycling tracks (600 km in 2009, set to grow to 900 km by 2015),
and you have a perfect outdoors offer. And even if you do not have your
own bikes along, there are plenty of cycle hire
places. |
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The lakes of Esch-sur-Sûre, Echternach, Weiswampach and Remerschen are just perfect for swimming, snorkeling, boating and paddling about as motorboats are not allowed here. |
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The "White Ernz" and "Black Ernz" streams in the "Little Switzerland" region are spot on right for building dams (plus there's plenty of building material lying around). |
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In the village of Medernach (next to Camping Kengert) is the brand-new: "barefoot woodland walk" (='Sentier pieds nus'), a 750 metre long circular path designed to be walked barefoot. Feel the
various materials such as bark mulch, gravel, sand, grass, wood, stone,
pebbles, etc. |
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Walk the sound trail in Hoscheid, a new sound experience in the "Our" nature park: This trail -with a total length of 6.5 km (4 miles)- has 17 stations inviting the visitor to a rest, or to make music, to listen to nature, or just to admire it. Bang the forest gong, play the marimba and rotate the oozlers whilst discovering a sound world you never knew existed. |
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Take your skates to the "Red Rock skate park", the country's largest concrete skating piste. |
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Many towns and villages have an outdoor (and/or indoor) swimming pool, or check out the ice rink in Berdorf if you're passing in the low season. |
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Don't fail to check out the "What's on" Calendar of events , there are plenty more things to do for free with kids, that we can't list here! |
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The "Parc Merveilleux" in the south of the country, near the town of Bettembourg is the place to go especially for smaller children. It's open daily from the end of March to the middle of October and costs 5 €/child and 8€/adult. Apart from animals from 5 continents (so yes, it's like a zoo) there are rides (so yes, it's like an amusement park) and there are fairy tales (some of the brother Grimm's famous stories are told here in a gorgeous setting, though they are told in Luxembourgish, French and German only, not English, alas) |
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"Adventure
Island" – Fun, action and adrenalin in the Mullerthal. The ropes course, situated on an island in the Echternach lake, is about 10 m high and allows adventure freaks as well as groups and families to enjoy an aerial view of the ground. We offer you action-packed elements such as the 70 m flying fox which crosses the isle of pirates and the giant swing which accelerates you up to 70 km/h. Come and find out how brave you are. If you're after a team experience with your group, we are fully at your disposal for that too. |
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The "Butterfly garden" in Grevenmacher
on the Luxembourg Moselle shows the life cycle of butterflies small and
large. It is open Mon-Sun 9:30 to 17:00 (Butterflies go to sleep early!)
from April 1 to mid-October. Added advantage: Those adults who don't like to hang about with the butterflies might like to amuse themselves in the wine cellar across the road (the Butterfly garden is owned by the wine company) |
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The town of Vianden -an hour away from the capital- is a firm favourite to visit: There's a stunning castle, said to be the largest castle west of the Rhine.
Every year in August they hold a medieval festival where you can join the 'knight-school' by taking lessons in shooting a bow or a crossbow, watch falconry displays, and -on occasion- attend a jousting tournament. But even in the absence of any special event, Vianden castle is a stupendous place that brings alive the Middle Ages. That said, Luxembourg has a number of castles well worth visiting: Bourscheid, Bourglinster, Larochette, ... we've even got a "Valley of the seven castles"!
Vianden also has a toy & doll museum, (and there's another one on the Moselle in the folklore museum "A Possen" ) and a couple of miles north of Vianden near the village of Stolzembourg is an ancient copper mine that can be visited. (and we mean "ancient"; it was last used about 500 years ago!)
Several other attractions are in Vianden: The "Indian Forest" Adventure park includes a "rope garden" -open from 1st April 2010 to 31st October- where you can rope around from tree to tree, or ride over rough terrain with electric quad bikes (for ages 6-12, max 40kg), or mount a shire horse and be carried gently about the forests. Note that there's yet another rope garden in Dudelange (south of the country), the "Parc Leh Adventures"
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Talking of mines: in the south of the country (uh, ok, it's about an hour and a half from Vianden, in our tiny country distances simply don't play!) near the town of Rumelange is Luxembourg's "National Mine Museum" -> Go down (yes down to 230 ft below ground) and see how miners extracted the iron ore in days gone by. |
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Train
buffs -small and large- will develop an irresistible itch to head for Pétange,
a couple of miles away from Rumelange, for a ride on the "Train
1900" which runs steam trains (among others) every Sunday (from May
1 till the last Sunday in September), taking you to the open-air
museum of Fond-de-Gras from whence you can take the “Minièresbunn”
to visit more mines. A fascinating day out not just for kids(!) |
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A narrow-gauge miniature railway (but nevertheless for transporting people!) is in Esch-sur-Alzette |
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Get lost! To do so,
check out the massive labyrinth created
every year in a corn field in "Route de Soleuvre" in Limpach |
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The "Domaine touristique du Cheval de trait Ardennais" (aka "A Robbesscheier") is a firm favourite with kids, not only the horse-loving variety, although -as the name implies- the huge Ardennes draught horse takes centre stage in this park near Munshausen. There's a mill where you can see how corn is turned into flour, there are bees to see how honey is made, gardens to show off vegetables and spices, a [working!] smithy forge, a museum of old farming machinery, you can take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, or enjoy a donkey ride, and much more. They also hold regular workshops on nature, farming, baking, etc, there's a monthly market, you can hire bikes to discover the area, plus you can stay here in groups or with your family, and of course there's a restaurant. |
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Adrenalin junkies (kids as much as parents!) will love to hear about the Mondercange karting track. Kids aged 10 and older may use the track on Sunday mornings [and every morning during school holidays!] |
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Should you be so lucky as to visit during the last 2 weeks of August and the first week of September, the City's huge funfair, called "Schueberfouer" is bound to light up every kid's eyes. |
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The
Luxembourg City Tourist Office offers a new "City
Labo" circuit especially designed for young explorers and scientists.
It covers seven locations with scientific experiments to do - helping children
to learn whilst having fun - how natural and historical conditions have
shaped the face of the city. At the end each participant earns the right
to bear the title of "official" city scientist. For groups : from June 20th to September 12th daily except Monday. For individuals : from July 15th to September 12th Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. Departure at 2.30 pm in front of the Luxembourg City Tourist Office, Place Guillaume II. Advance booking required: Tel. (+352) 47 96-2709 Duration: 2 hours. Cost per participant : 6 € Guided return of unaccompagnied children to initial meeting point. |
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The
"Service
National de la Jeunesse" (=National Youth Service) organises tons of
activities for youngsters. Check out their web
site or tel: +352 478 6465. While it is true that most of these activities will not be held in the English language, it should be borne in mind that kids very often do not need to know each other's language, and that contact with a foreign language at an early age can really help kids master languages later in life. |
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Luxembourg
City - Kids Workshops Musée national d'histoire
et d'art, Marché-aux-Poissons Tel (info): (+352) 47 93 30-214 Fax (info):
(+352) 47 93 30-271 E-mail (info): edmond.thill@mnha.etat.lu All year long Art theme (Tue 2:30-4:30 pm, L/F), Archeo theme (Thurs 2:30-4:30 pm, L/F). For children from 6 to 12 years. Advance booking required. |
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Luxembourg City - Kids Art Programme
Casino Luxembourg - Forum d'Art Contemporain, 41, rue Notre-Dame Tel
(info): (+352) 22 50 45 Fax (info): (+352) 22 95 95 E-mail (info): anne.reding@casino-Luxembourg.lu
All year long Regular workshops (Sat 3-5 pm), School holiday workshops and kids anniversaries (from 6 to 12 years). Advance booking required. |
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Luxembourg City - Mudamini Workshops
Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (Mudam), Kirchberg Tel (info): (+352) 45 37 85-1 Fax (info): (+352) 45 37 85-400 E-mail (info): workshop@mudam.lu 30/07: 2-6 pm 13/08: 2-6 pm 27/08: 2-6 pm 03/09: 2-6 pm Workshops and visits for kids from 6 to 12 ans (L/D/F/E). Advance booking required. |
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Luxembourg
City - Panda-Club Musée national d'histoire
naturelle ('natur musée'), 25, rue Münster, Grund Tel: (+352) 46 22 33-450 Fax: (+352) 46 22 33-451 E-mail: panda-club@mnhn.lu All year long: Tues and Thurs afternoon, Mon-Tues during school holidays Kids activities (6 to 10 years). Advance booking required. |
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Luxembourg
City Science-Club Musée national
d'histoire naturelle ('natur musée'), 25, rue Münster, Grund |
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Munshausen - Entertainment Programme
Tourist-Center Robbesscheier, 1, Frummeschgaass Tel: (+352) 92 17 45-1, Fax: (+352) 92 93 47 E-mail: info@touristcenter.lu All year long: Mon-Tues 10 am – 6 pm Workshops and guided visits for kids and adults |
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Redange-sur-Attert - Minouï Les Ateliers
de l'Inouï, 67, Grand Rue Tel: (+352) 26 62 02 31, E-mail: info@minoui.lu All year long theatre and creative workshops for children from 2 years of age. |
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Remich - Creative workshops A deux
mains, 16, rue Macher Tel: (+352) 27 07 57 05 / 621 428 478 E-mail: adeuxmains@pt.lu All year long for kids and adults. Advance booking required. |
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Useldange
- A'Musée Kanner Musée Lëtzebuerg Château et village Tel: (+352) 691 854 504 E-mail: info@amusee.net All year long Workshops and courses for kids. |
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And - would
you believe it - with all the above, we still haven't covered the entire
country! |
Last update: February
2, 2011
