A picturesque commune near the border of Germany, Echternach is one of the oldest heritage towns of Luxemburg. With deep religious roots, the town still harbours centuries-old monasteries, abbeys, relics and crypts. Museums, cultural events and a charming central square showcase old-world European experience.

Things to do

Abbaye d'Echternach on the banks of Sauer River boasts reconstructed abbey buildings from the 1700s, which house illuminated manuscripts and a copy of a Celtic high cross. You can also view a Merovingian sarcophagi and stroll formal French-inspired gardens with an orangery planted in 1736. For a slightly macabre experience, creep past the white-marble vaulted crypt inside St-Willibrord Basilica.

Stroll the town square and stop for handmade pastries at old-fashioned patisseries dotting narrow streets. Seek out the Denzelt court structure dating back to the 14th century, which still features rebuilt neo-Gothic facades, turrets and statues. Spend a leisurely afternoon boating and picnicking on the lake at Villa Romaine.

Don’t miss a trip to the Museum of Prehistory "Hihof" to follow a fascinating timeline of tools and weapons spanning more than a million years. Discover lithic objects, maps and artefacts from the Palaeolithic period and Stone Age housed in a building from the Middle Ages.

Dozens of eateries fill the central square, but side streets harbour some local favourites. Book a table at Grimougi Restaurant to sample a fusion of Italian, Portuguese and French dishes or drop in at Oktav Amadeus for terrace dining on pizza and pasta. Gelateria Venezia dishes out pistachio and coconut gelato to enthusiastic customers.

Getting around

You can rent a car at Luxembourg Findel Airport, about 34 kilometres from the centre of Echternach. The entire area is pedestrian-friendly, but taxis and bicycle hires are available as well.