Wiltz

Wiltz is a town in Éislek. It is located on the banks of the river Wiltz spanning mostly across a steep hill with 100m of altitude difference. It was a battleground during the Battle of the Bulge.

Understand

One of the many attractions of Wiltz is its castle, Wiltz Castle. This castle concludes of 2.4km2 (600 acres) of lawns and gardens and hundreds of rooms. The construction of the Wiltz Castle was completed in 1727 and was used until the last Count of Wiltz died in 1793. From 1851 to 1950 it was used as a private girls school, becoming a retirement home after 1950.

The welfare and industrialisation of Wiltz boomed in the late 19th and early 20th century due to the leather industry.

During World War II, which started on the 10th of May, 1940, Wiltz became the city that stood up against the Nazi Germans by starting the general strike, a reaction to the directive of enlisting young Luxembourgers into the Wehrmacht. This general strike of 1942 paralysed the country and led to violent responses from the Nazi German occupiers. The town also was involved, though not directly in the Battle of the Bulge.

Wiltz is nowadays a very international town and has the largest community of people from former Yugoslav countries in Luxembourg.

Get in

By car

Wiltz can be reached directly from both the north and south (including Luxembourg City) by using the Route national 12, which goes through the town's centre. The quickest way from the south is by taking the motorway A7 until Ettelbruck and then follow the N15 and N12 respectively.

When coming from Belgium, Travel to Bastogne using the A26/E25 and turn onto the N84, which will get you to the Luxembourgish border, where it will change into the Route national 15. Follow this route until it merges with the Route national 12. Where these roads intersect, take a left in the direction of Wiltz. This road will get you straight to Wiltz.

By public transit

🌍 Wiltz Station is located on railway 1b, a branch of railway 1 between Gouvy (Belgium) and Luxembourg City, which runs via Clervaux, Troisvierges, Ettelbruck and Mersch. All rail travel to Wiltz will have to switch to line 1b at Kautenbach. Bus services connect the town to Bastogne (Belgium) and Esch-sur-Sûre as well as the aforementioned Clervaux, Troisvierges and Ettelbruck.

Get around

The town of Wiltz is best travelled by foot. As the town of Wiltz is located on a hill, cycling is rather demanding.

See

Do
  • Visit the Garden of Wiltz, ☏ +352 95 74 44, . 24/7. The Garden of Wiltz is a living monument consisting of 2.5 ha of plants, sculptures and lakes. (updated Jun 2017)
  • Wiltz Festival: . Theatre, opera, ballet and concerts of classical and modern music in open air, held by the Wiltz Castle. Late June to mid-July. (date needs fixing)
  • Nuit des lampions (Night of Lanterns): . A music and arts festival in mid-September featuring lanterns of all kinds on display at night. (date needs fixing)
  • Skydiving, ☏ +352 661 551 540. (updated Aug 2016)
  • Hiking Wiltz has many routes for hikers, many passing by the Wiltz Castle.
  • Cycling The steep terrain makes for difficult climbs, but nothing beats cycling in the Ardennes.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Connect

Go next

Explore the rest of the Luxembourgian Ardennes by visiting Clervaux, Diekirch, Esch-sur-Sûre, Ettelbruck or Vianden.

If you are interested in WW2, visit the Schummanseck memorials and continue west to Bastogne.

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