Valley of the Seven Castles

The Eisch valley west of Luxembourg City carries a run of castles close enough together to have earned the name: Mersch, Schoenfels, Hollenfels, Ansembourg with both its old castle and new château, Septfontaines and Koerich, spread over about twenty-four kilometres. Some are ruins, some are lived in or used as institutions and closed, and one, the New Castle of Ansembourg, has formal gardens open to the public. A marked walking route links them.

What you'll find

• The castle string - seven castles within about twenty-four kilometres of valley.
• Hollenfels - the keep standing on its rock above the valley.
• The Ansembourg gardens - the formal terraced gardens open to the public.
• The linking route - the marked walk following the valley past them.

When to go

April to October is the season for walking. Castle opening varies enormously and several are closed to visitors. Autumn colour along the valley is good.

Things to know

Most of the castles are privately owned or in institutional use and cannot be entered; the walk is largely about seeing them from outside. Opening arrangements differ for each. The route needs a car or planning around infrequent buses.

Nearby

Mersch is east, and Luxembourg City is southeast.

Key facts