Today’s 64 km ride took us to Luxembourg city in Luxembourg.

We followed the Mosel again for the first part of our ride. The landscape was flatter here, with almost no grapevines. We crossed the border into Luxembourg at Wasserbillig, around 15 km into our ride.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

After this, the bike path (Luxembourg national route 4) took us up some hills – quite a shock for us after getting used to the flat river trails. We were on very quiet roads, alongside some cows. We have also left the grape vines behind, riding alongside ripe wheat fields and corn again.

• 

• 

Our route was alongside Luxumbourg national cycle routes 4 and 2. We rode through Manternach, Wecker, Hagelsdorf, Roodt sur Syre, Mensdorf, Niederanuan.

We enjoyed looking at this building under construction, with beautiful wooden arches, using CNC cut cross laminated timber that fits together perfectly. The consultant is from a Swiss University (Lehrstuhl Fur Holzkonstruktionen Lausanne).

• 

• 

• 

The towns were very quiet – with hardly anyone about. In fact, the only people we saw involved in Saturday recreation activity were other cyclists – all dressed in lycra on racing bicycles. We didn’t pass any cafes or shops to buy coffee or cake. There are some beautiful modern looking houses, and well kept older ones.

The cycle ways were not purpose built, but rather along small paths or quiet roads. This all changed when we got to the outskirts of the city, where we rode on a luxury two way cycle road, including traffic signals at intersections.

We enjoyed the view of part of the old town, down in a steep (Alzette) river valley, from a bridge as we rode into Luxembourg.

This is an odd place. The country side was basically empty, and when we got into Luxembourg city, all the people were packed into the pedestrian malls. In fact, most of them were tourists. We rode around and had some coffee and cake (custard squares) at a bakery/cafe.

• 

• 

• 

We enjoyed taking the Pfaffenthal lift down to the Alzette river valley part of town, like a small village 60 m down from the old city centre. The elevator is free to use and large enough for several bicycles and pedestrians. It also has glass sides.

• 

• 

• 

Our hotel was a few kilometres away from the historic centre, near the railway station. It has lots of pretensions (4 stars), but the area is not that great, with lots of dubious characters hanging around on the street (drug dealers?). We had some kebabs for dinner, and then some (expensive) beer at a swanky pub.