Bourglinster Castle

Bourglinster stands on a ridge above its village east of Luxembourg City, a castle documented from the eleventh century, ruined and then restored through the twentieth. It is now run as a cultural venue: the halls host concerts and exhibitions through the year, two restaurants operate in the buildings, and the courtyard and chapel are open. The village below has kept a set of old houses along the road up to the gate. The castle changed hands repeatedly through the medieval period and was divided between two families at one point, which is why the site has an upper and a lower castle rather than a single building.

History

The castle is first mentioned in 1098, as belonging to St Symeon of Trier, with a residential keep, a chapel and a wall, and the lower castle with its moat and two towers was built in the 15th century. The State of Luxembourg bought it in 1968, restored it and opened it in 1982 for exhibitions, concerts and receptions (Wikipedia, Bourglinster Castle).

The main sights

• The restored halls - the rooms used for concerts and exhibitions.
• The courtyard - the enclosed centre of the castle, open to visitors.
• The chapel - the surviving castle chapel.
• The village - the old houses along the approach below the gate.

When to go

April to October is the most comfortable. The concert programme runs through the year. Access depends on events and functions.

Things to know

The castle is a working venue and access depends on what is on; it closes for private functions. The restaurants are expensive. Interpretation is limited.

Nearby

Junglinster is nearby, and Larochette is north.

Key facts