Vianden Castle
Victor Hugo called it "a colossus" — Luxembourg's most photogenic hilltop castle, high above the Our gorge.
Vianden Castle on its ridge above the Our valley
What to expect at Vianden Castle
Built between the 11th and 14th centuries on Roman foundations, Vianden was the seat of the powerful Counts of Vianden and later the Orange-Nassau dynasty. Left to collapse in the 19th century, it was rescued by state acquisition in 1977 and painstakingly restored — today the Byzantine Gallery, the Knights' Hall, the arms room and the chapel are all walkable. Perched on a schist ridge above the Our river valley, it is the anchor of Luxembourg's castles-and-gorges country and the single most visited monument outside the capital.
The classic approach is by the chairlift (télésiège) from the riverside, then walk down through the castle and old town — this saves the steep climb up and delivers the postcard view on the way. Ettelbruck is the rail hub; bus 570 continues to Vianden in 25 minutes. Combine with the Mullerthal-adjacent Bourscheid and Beaufort for a proper castle day, or overnight in Vianden for the floodlit evening view from the Our bridge.
Questions about Vianden Castle
Adults $11, students and seniors $9, children 6-17 $3, under 6 free. Family ticket $22.
No free hours, but the LuxembourgCard covers Vianden Castle plus transport nationwide for $15/day.
Allow 2-3 hours for the castle itself; add another 2 hours if you want to walk the old town and ride the chairlift.
Open every day of the year except 25 December, 1 January and 2 February. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Not for individual visits. Groups over 15 and the summer Medieval Festival should book via castle-vianden.lu.
Bus 570 from Ettelbruck train station (25 min) stops at "Vianden, Hôtel Oranienburg", a 10-minute uphill walk from the castle. Public transport is free.
Hotels near Vianden Castle
More walks
All walks
From the journal
All posts
Comparisons & rankings
Hotels with free parking in Luxembourg City, ranked
Parking in the capital runs $25-40 a day, so the 9 hotels below with free or bundled garages actually save you real money.
Comparisons & rankings
Best hotels near Vianden Castle, ranked
Ten places to sleep within a 10-minute walk of Luxembourg's most photographed castle, from $65 guesthouses to $220 river-view rooms.
Comparisons & rankings
Hotels with spa and thermal pools in Luxembourg, ranked
The country has exactly one real thermal town and about 8 hotels serious enough to book for a spa weekend — here they are.