Vianden Castle

Vianden Castle is one of the largest and most beautiful feudal residences built during the Romanesque and Gothic periods in Europe. Built on the foundations of a Roman castle and a Carolingian refuge between the 11th and 14th centuries, Vianden Castel was thus the first stone castle of the medieval era and the first residential castle of the 1100s. this name because it belonged to the line of Vianden. In this article, we will travel through time and discover together the history of this wonder and then we will see how to visit it.

History and origins

Around the year 1000, the beginnings of what will be the castle are built on a spur 310 meters high and dominate the Our valley by a hundred meters. The square keep, the kitchen, the living rooms and the chapel were then added around 1100, which allows us to say that the castle was used by an aristocratic family at this time as a permanent residence. Over the centuries, the castle underwent new works such as the Gothicisation of the constructions in the 13th century, which aimed to compete with the house of Luxembourg and to highlight the monumental structure of the building as in the Romanesque period. For a long time, the Grand Ducal family held the castle.

In the 19th century, the idea of ​​a complete restoration took shape a little more, but for lack of means this idea had to wait until the 1970s to see the light of day thanks to its new owner: the State, who would classify it as a national monument. This renovation was necessary because in 1667 a fire had destroyed the Gothic character of the building and in 1820 its new owner by public tender, Wenceslas Coster, dismantled the castle buildings and sold the materials.

In 1977, the castle passed into the hands of the State and this one since the acquisition of the domain proceeded to a restoration of the place in the respect of the historical forms, thus restoring its charm. The monument is among the main European historical monuments, even designated as one of the most beautiful castles in the world in 2019 by CNN, the American media.

Recently, the INPA (National Institute for Architectural Heritage) had a modern interactive information center erected in the entrance hall.

Visit to the heart of a thousand-year-old castle

The castle bears witness to its fascinating history in different ways. Architectural marvels fill the wings of the castle and make it all the more unique. The wings, the chapel or the two mansions are striking and transport us to their times. The castle offers a spectacular view which is breathtaking over the valley and over the town of Vianden.

The castle surrounded by greenery makes the atmosphere unique, it is a quiet and isolated place making the visit more enigmatic. Moreover, to the west of the Grand Palace, the Jülich building is incredible. The visit is all the more pleasant with the audio guide available.