Travel Guide to Vianden, Luxemburg

Vianden is the capital of the canton of Vianden, which is part of the district of Diekirch. It lies on the Our river, near the border between Luxembourg and Germany. And it is known for its impressive castle - the Castle of Vianden which is the largest castle in the region. In 2001, the town of Vianden, which lies in the east of the commune, had a population of 1,511 inhabitants. Vianden is one of Luxembourg's most important tourist centers with large numbers of holidaymakers and local visitors at all times of the year.

This beautiful castle was built between the 11th and 14th centuries and became the seat of the counts of Vianden. It was further developed until the 18th century. But when the Counts of Luxembourg departed to the Netherlands, it little by little deteriorated because of the effects of fire and an earthquake.

In 1820 William I of the Netherlands sold it to a local merchant who sold off its contents and masonry piecemeal, reducing it to a ruin. Several times there appeared attempts to restore it but these were hampered by problems of ownership. Vianden is also known for the house of Victor Hugo which houses a small museum nowadays. He lived in the castle for three months in 1871.

Some interesting events and celebrations take place in Vianden. The most famous of these is the nut market in October when the local walnuts are on sale together with walnut cakes, confectionary, brandy and liqueurs. There is a lot of with visitors in the streets and if you come by car, you should try to arrive before lunch unless you want a five kilometer walk to the town!