It seems as if time has stood still in Esch-sur-Sûre, a small village on a bend of the Sûre. Explore Esch-sur-Sûre and discover the most beautiful places.
About Esch-sur-Sûre
Esch-sur-Sûre is one of the most beautiful villages in Luxembourg. It is a bit hidden in a bend of the river Sûre (also known as the Sauer). In the middle of the village is a hill with the remains of a castle from 927. In the village itself, you will find many narrow streets and it seems as if time has stood still here for years.
For a long time, Esch-sur-Sûre was very isolated and difficult to visit due to its remote location. There are now two tunnels, which makes visiting the village a lot easier. Esch-sur-Sûre is a wonderful place to discover during a holiday in Luxembourg.
Fun hiking trails in Esch-sur-Sûre
The best way to explore Esch-sur-Sûre and the surrounding area is on foot. Fortunately, Luxembourg is a paradise for hikers, there are beautiful trails everywhere. There are two great circular hikes that start in the village. These trails are pretty easy when it comes to navigation, just follow the blue arrows. Both trails start in Rue de Kaundorf, on the other side of the bridge.
Circular walk Esch-sur-Sûre I
- Length: 8.8 kilometers
- Difficulty: medium
Circular walk 1 is a fun circular trail if you enjoy beautiful views. From the bridge, keep following Rue due Kaundorf until you come to a large fork in the road. Here you go straight until you see a footpath on the right that goes into the forest. Follow this trail and you will soon pass a bench from where you have a great view of the dam and the Lac de Haute-Sûre.
Then you walk in the woods where you occasionally have a beautiful view of the lake.
At some point, you walk straight through a cornfield to the main road that you follow for a while. You are now walking in a hilly landscape, and it’s a gorgeous sight.
After a few kilometers, you enter the forest again, where you arrive at a viewpoint. From here you can see Esch-sur-Sûre beautifully situated in the bend of the river. Follow the path further down and you can stop at as many viewpoints as you like.
Towards the end of the trail, you will pass some old stone walls and even an empty house that must have been there for at least a couple of 100 years.
Esch-sur-Sûre circular walk I is a great way to discover Esch-sur-Sûre and its surroundings. During the hike, you climb about 370 meters, but it is not very steep. It takes about 2 to 3 hours and the route is easy to find by following the blue arrows.
Circular walk Esch-sur-Sûre II
- Length: 4.3 kilometers
- Difficulty: easy
Circular walk 2 is shorter and basically follows the same path as circular walk 1. You walk along the dam and go back to Esch-sur-Sûre halfway through the path over the mountains. If you’re short on time, this is also a great hike. It will take you about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Hiking trail Es 8
Then there is another hiking trail that I haven’t been able to explore myself yet, but is definitely on my list for my next trip to Luxembourg. This hiking trail is called Es 8. The previous two hiking trails mainly go along the north side of the village, this route continues the woods on the south side of Esch-sur-Sûre.
You walk past the campsite and then go into nature, to return to the village via a beautiful loop.
- Length: 7.8 kilometers
- Difficulty Level: Medium
- More information.
Long-distance trails in Esch-sur-Sûre
Luxembourg has about 20 national hiking trails that are perfect if you’d like to go hiking for multiple days. Two of these routes run through Esch-sur-Sûre:
- National hiking trail “Charles Mathieu” – A 42-kilometer trail through the heart of the Ardennes between Esch-sur-Sûre and Vianden.
- National hiking trail “Circuit du Lac“ – 37.6 kilometers through the Natural Park of the Bovensure. You walk all the way around Lac de la Haute-Sûre.
The castle of Esch-sur-Sûre
When you’re done hiking, it’s wonderful to go for a stroll through the narrow streets of Esch-sur-Sûre to discover more beautiful places. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes where you can get a bite or a drink.
Of course, you should also visit the castle of Esch-sur-Sûre while you’re there. The ruins of the castle are striking, as it sits atop a rock. In 1871 the famous writer Victor Hugo visited the castle and even then people still lived there. It fell into disrepair after that, because now only a ruin is left.
You can get here by climbing a flight of stairs next to the church. From the walls of the castle, you have a beautiful view of the village. A visit to the castle of Esch-sur-Sûre is free.
More things to do in Esch-sur-Sûre
Although it is a small village, you can easily enjoy yourself for a few days in Esch-sur-Sûre and the surrounding area. Here are some more fun things to do in Esch-sur-Sûre:
- Visit Musée de la Draperie (Textile Museum), a small museum that teaches you about the history, production, and cultural significance of textiles in a local context. Before it became a well-known tourist hotspot, people in Esch-sur-Sûre mainly lived from cloth production.
- Admire the Die Talsperre Von Esch-sur-Sûre, a large dam. Near the dam is a parking lot where you can take beautiful pictures.
- Go swimming in the river. About 10 minutes drive from the village (or 15 minutes by bus) is a place where you can swim in the lake (Lultzhausen). Here is also a bistro and a small chapel.
- Take a trip on the lake with the solar boat (also from Lultzhausen). More information.
- Visit the Heiligkreuzkapelle, a small chapel, and cemetery in the woods south of the village.
How do you get to Esch-sur-Sûre?
Esch-sur-Sûre is easily accessible by car and public transport.
By car
From Luxembourg City, it is an hour’s drive to Esch-sur-Sûre. There are several parking spaces in Esch-sur-Sûre where you can park for free. The best places to park in Esch-sur-Sûre are the village car park at the bend of the river (22 Rue du Moulin) and the car park between the campground and the village. Electric cars can park at the bus stop.
Public transportation
From Ettelbruck and Arsdorf you can take a bus to Esch-sur-Sûre, they depart at least once an hour. The bus stop is called An de Gäert. At the bus stop, you’ll also find a clean restroom that you can use.
Public transport in Luxembourg is free, so you don’t have to buy a ticket and you can board it right away. Check Google Maps or CFL.lu for departure times.
Where to stay in Esch-sur-Sûre
Esch-sur-Sûre is a wonderful place to use as a base for your holiday in Luxembourg. Where to stay?
Campground in Esch-sur-Sûre
There is a campground in Esch-sur-Sûre, it is called Camping Im Aal. From the campsite, it only takes a few minutes to walk to the village. You can bring your own tent or caravan, but it’s also possible to rent a safari tent, hiker’s cabin, or caravan at the campground. The campsites are located on the banks of the river, so you can take a dip in the Sûre from your tent or caravan.
Hotels in Esch-sur-Sûre
There are two hotels in Esch-sur-Sûre:
- Hotel Le Postillon (3⭐) – Great hotel with restaurant near the bus stop.
- Gourmet & Relax Hotel De La Sure (4⭐) – More luxurious hotel right in the city center with spa and wellness facilities.
Check Booking.com for more accommodations in the area of Esch-sur-Sûre.
Read more about Luxembourg
Did you feel like a trip to Luxembourg after reading this article? Order one of these travel guides for more tips & inspiration:
Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg
Luxembourg – Bradt Travel Guide (the cover photo is Esch-sur-Sûre!)
You can also read more about Luxembourg on this website:
- What to do in Luxembourg City? 22 fun sights & activities!
- The Lee Trail: a beautiful 3-day hike in the heart of Luxembourg
- 14 awesome Luxembourg attractions (the country)
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This article was published in September 2021. Last update with more tips: August 2023.
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