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The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is one of Europe's most picturesque countries, a fact exemplified by its beautiful and historic capital, Luxembourg City. And what better way to start discovering this diminutive landlocked nation than by exploring the city's charming Old Quarter—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Luxembourg's bewitching Old Quarter is enclosed by ancient weathered walls, a ring of solid fortifications once crowned by a near-impregnable fortress. The garrison was demolished in the 18th century, but the neighborhood it defended is now a major tourist attraction for the city.

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Despite its small size, Luxembourg City has several notable museums, among them the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA). Located in Fishmarket, the city's historic hub, MNHA's enviable ensemble of artworks, archaeological finds, coins and medals, and rare documents chronicling the history of the nation deserve to be examined at leisure.

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The solid walls and ramparts of Fort Thüngen guard another must-see museum, the Musée Dräi Eechelen, which in fact is part of MNHA. The museum's name translates into English as "Three Acorns Museum," named for the three rounded turrets that define the shape of the 19th-century fortress, which underwent considerable reconstruction in the 1990s. The 600 artifacts that make up the permanent collection document the history of the country, from the 14th century to the turn of the 20th century.

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Bock Cliff is a promontory in the north-eastern corner of Luxembourg City's old historical district. This natural fortification is where you'll find the entrance to the famous casemates, a network of underground passages and fortified gun emplacements, some of which date back to the late 17th century, built to shelter thousands in times of attack. This remarkable warren can be explored on foot or as part of an organized guided tour.

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This splendid honey-hued Renaissance building serves as the official city residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, the country's reigning monarch. Dating back to 1582, the palace is a city-center landmark and can be visited by the public on special organized tours made available from mid-July to the first week of September.

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The Chemin de la Corniche is often described as the most beautiful balcony in Europe for the stellar views if affords across The Grund, one of the oldest parts of the capital and distinguished for its village character. The panorama extends towards the verdant Alzette River valley.

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The focal point of The Grund is the photogenic Neumünster Abbey, notable for its 17th-century cloister of Limoges. The former abbey is now a cultural center and hosts year-round concerts, exhibitions, and seminars.

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Luxembourg City's Place Guillaume II is one of the largest and most illustrious of the capital's open spaces. Created over the site of a former Franciscan convent, this popular pedestrian zone is flanked by the mid-19th-century town hall (pictured), built using masonry from the old monastery, and the 16th-century House of Raville, among other notable landmarks.

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Abbreviated as MUDAM, this impressive museum preserves one of the most comprehensive collections of modern art on the continent. The building was designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei (1917–2019) and is set within the grounds of the old Fort Thüngen. Visitors can admire works by Gilbert & George, Blinky Palermo, Cindy Sherman, and Bruce Nauman, among other innovative creatives.

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There's much to admire beyond Luxembourg's capital. Echternach, which lies on the Sûre River near the border with Germany, is the oldest town in the country, having been founded in 698.

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Echternach's standout visitor attraction is its abbey, a 7th-century Benedictine monastery. The magnificent basilica looms large over a crypt in which is found a beautiful white marble sarcophagus containing the remains of St. Willibrord (658–739), the founder of the abbey and patron saint of Luxembourg.

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Set within the heavily wooded Luxembourg Ardennes is the picture perfect medieval town of Wiltz. Situated on the banks of the Wiltz River, which curls round the base of the lower town, Wiltz is known for its role in the Battle of the Bulge, which took place near here towards the end of the Second World War.

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Competing with Wiltz for stunning visual appeal is Clervaux. The town is also associated with the Battle of the Bulge, more specifically the December 1944 Battle of Clervaux, which ended in disaster for American forces after they were encircled by numerically superior German troops. A survivor of the brutal engagement is the Benedictine Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maur (also known as Clervaux Abbey), built in 1910 and a cherished regional landmark.

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Those who just can't get enough of Luxembourg's rich 1,000-plus-year history should ensconce themselves in this absorbing facility, itself an ensemble of four historic properties, the oldest of which dates back to the 17th century.

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Elegant Adolphe Bridge is a city landmark. Inaugurated in 1903 and named after Grand Duke Adolphe, who reigned over Luxembourg from 1890 until 1905, the bridge serves as impressive access into the Old Quarter.

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The Luxembourg countryside is dotted with wonderful centuries-old strongholds, including the fairy-tale Bourscheid Castle, which stands majestically over the village of Bourscheid in the country's northeastern region. The castle dates back to the 10th century, its keep enclosed by walls punctuated by 11 watchtowers.

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One of the most famous towns is Schengen. It is here that the Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985—a treaty that led most European countries towards the abolishment of their national borders.

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One of Europe's great waterways, the Moselle river snakes through the eastern region of Luxembourg. Flanking its hilly slopes are terraces of neatly-combed vineyards where some of the best Rieslings grow. Adding character along its banks are numerous picturesque towns and villages, and all worth a peek.

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Esch-sur-Sûre is situated by the Sûre River in northwestern Luxembourg. This idyllic little town enjoys a spectacular location, its ruined 10th-century castle adding extra allure when it's caressed at night by spotlight. Esch-sur-Sûre is an ideal base from which to explore the Upper Sûre Natural Park.

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A popular outdoor pursuits destination, this fabulous national park is a forested wonderland of high plateaus, narrow valleys, and castle ruins. At its heart is Upper Sûre Lake, a year-round watersports destination. The park serves as a haven for wildlife, and is a specially protected area for wild birds.

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The hard-to-miss late Gothic style Notre-Dame Cathedral is the only cathedral in Luxembourg. Its three spired towers dominate the city skyline, but it is what lies within that's truly eye-catching.

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The cathedral's interior highlights include the resplendent nave, the choir, and the organ gallery, each set in front of a dazzling stained glass window display. Look out, too, for the decorative tomb of John of Bohemia (1296 –1346). Also known as John the Blind, he is considered a national hero in Luxembourg.

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The partly ruined 11th-century Larochette Castle dominates the skyline of its namesake town, located in central Luxembourg. Visitors find the castle much as it was left in the 16th century, after fire destroyed most of the building.

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Those with a taste for the outdoors should venture into Berdorf, a vast tableland of sandstone in eastern Luxembourg where some truly amazing rock formations can be admired. Dozens of footpaths and hiking trails serve the region, which crisscross deep valleys and yawning chasms.

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Beaufort lies on a plateau in the country's eastern Mullerthal region. Consisting of the ruins of a medieval fortress and an adjacent Renaissance château, the empty shell is a wonder to explore, the remnants evoking a long-gone age of valiance and chivalry.

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Vianden is one of the largest fortified castles west of the Rhine. Named for the town huddled underneath its weather-worn battlements, the castle sits on 10th-century foundations, with architectural additions made right up until the 14th-century.

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In fact, Berdorf lies near the area known as Black Ernz, better known by its nickname Little Switzerland, itself named for the craggy terrain, thick forests, shallow caves, and myriad of small streams that typify the region. A favorite beauty spot is the romantic Schéissendëmpel waterfall, above which spans a wooden bridge.

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If all this sightseeing has made you hungry, why not sit down to a plate of Judd mat Gaardebounen, a savory dish of smoked pork collar, potatoes, and broad beans. This delicious and hearty fare is the national dish of Luxembourg.

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And there's only one way to wash down Judd mat Gaardebounen, and that's with an ice-cold beer. The major brands available in Luxembourg are Bofferding and Battin (pictured), as well as Diekirch and Mousel, brewed by the Brasserie de Luxembourg, and Simon and Ourdaller, brewed by Brasserie Simon. Cheers!

Sources: (Britannica) (History)

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MNHA's art collection numbers fine pieces like this, 'The Money Changer or The Tax Collectors' by Dutch Renaissance painter Marinus van Reymerswaele (c. 1490–c. 1546).

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Diminutive Luxembourg is one of Europe's smallest nations. But what it lacks in size it makes up for with an astonishing variety of unique visitor attractions. The Grand Duchy's capital, Luxembourg City, delivers an impressive assortment of outstanding monuments and points of interest, collected together in a historic UNESCO-listed core. Further afield, the country unfolds over a blanket of forested hills peppered with stunning medieval castles crowning idyllic towns and villages. The Moselle River flows through this region of the continent, where some of Europe's best wines are produced. So, have you got a thirst for adventure?

Click through and learn more about Luxembourg.