The south-west of the Grand Duchy has a narrow band of Dogger iron ore. Excavations in the caverns and at the foot of shelters under rocks in the valleys of the Ernz Blanc, the Ernz Noir, their confluents and the Sûre have revealed the presence of Man in these regions since the Paleolithic period. The oldest tomb discovered so far in the Grand Duchy dates from the Mesolithic period (Loschbour near Reuland).

Mullerthal - Luxembourg's Little Switzerland

ECHTERNACH - PREHISTORY MUSEUM

Established in a building dating from the Middle Ages, this museum describes the evolutioun of Man from the Paleolithic to the first farmers.

Opened daily, except on Monday. From 1 April to 15 November, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m.. From 1 July to 31 August, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4A rue du Pont
L-6471 Echternach
Tel. +352 72 02 96
Website: www.prehistoire.lu

Natural History

Being crossed by three major communications routes, two of which are from Lyon and Reims, towards Trier, and the third touching the northern tip of the country as it is today on its way to Cologne, and penetrated by secondary routes, the present-day Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was open to agriculture, livestock farming and the crafts practised by the Celts and their Gallo-Roman successors. There are no Roman towns or military camps, as the administrative and commercial centres of Metz and Trier were too close: the inhabitants of these centres obtained supplies from the Luxembourg regions, but also distributed the products of a more distant trade, and built villas and funeral monuments along the banks of the Moselle, the Sûre and the Alzette.

Ardennes

Besides the estates and farms, some craft settlements or postal stopping points have varied homes, inns, workships shops and temples. During the four centuries inaugurated in 58 BC by the conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar and Labienus, the pax romana introduced the Christian faith and started the growing of vines and fruit trees, and spread the taste for Roman architecture, which gradually replaced the huts of the Treveri living in the region before the conquest by Caesar. When in 395, the praetorium prefecture of the Gauls was withdrawn from Trier to Arles, it was also the withdrawal of the Roman Empire from the lands that are now Luxembourg.

The Highlights

"Roman Route" from Dalheim to Echternach - www.strasse-der-roemer.eu

Antiquity lives again in the Moselle region of Luxembourg.

The Roman era is surely the one that marked the Moselle Valley in the most lasting way! The process of Romanising the daily lives of the ancient Celtic populations, through trade and the economy, made possible by the Romans with their new roads, enabled the region to expand rapidly. Evidence of this distant past is plentiful in the Moselle region. A Roman theatre in Dalheim is considered to be the best preserved one in the region north of the Alps. In Flaxweiler, the "Tonn", the most important Roman burial mound in the country, and the tombs spread along the Roman roads and the Moselle from Schengen to Wasserbillig, form a genuine funeral route. With its wine, whose history in the region is 2000 years old, the Moselle is a particularly lively witness of the Roman era.

The aim of "Voyager comme les Romains" (Travel like the Romans) is to enable real participation in the "Roman Route" project. "Römertrails" (thematic walks or cycling trips) are regularly organised. On these trips, participants can discover the thousand and one aspects of Roman life from very close at hand, with horses, chariots, donkeys, testimony of past agricultural richness, travelling merchants, legionnaires travelling on foot and reviving snacks demonstrate the culinary specialities of the Roman era.

Mosel

In Wasserbillig, a walking itinerary dubbed "From Milestone to Milestone" enables the superb region to be discovered, from the rock of Manternach to the tombs of Weiler forest, and including the funeral enclosure of Lellig.

The cycling tourism itinerary "Velo Romanum" extends over more than 35 km, from Bech-Kleinmacher to Dalheim, passing through Remerschen and Mondorfles-Bains, to then come back to its starting point.

On the specific request of the customer, and under the theme of "Savour Antiquity", producers, restaurateurs, wine growers, caterers, craft workers and artists can bring back the era of antiquity to life, and in particular Roman gastronomy, (buffet, wine, bread, ...). Thematic walks with professional guides are organised on request.

The "Roman Route, from Dalheim to Echternach" brochure (in the German language) presents a detailed description of the Roman heritage of the Moselle region and abounds in rich presentations and touristic advice intended for families, walkers, cyclists and culture enthusiasts. Each stage is described separately in the 48 pages of the brochure. It is completed by a map illustrating the "Roman Route" as an itinerary of discovery and concisely shows the main information relating to each stage.

Travel with your family in the traces of the Romans and visit (guided visits up to 25 persons) with "Miseler Tours & More": "In vino veritas" (with wine tasting) and "Götter, Keller und ein Zeigefinger (Gods, cellars and an index finger)" (in and round Dalheim).

Detailed information is available from the Entente Touristique of the Moselle region in Luxembourg.

115 route du Vin
L-5416 Ehnen
Tel. +352 75 84 12
Internet: www.visitmoselle.lu

Large Roman villa (3rd century), situated near the artificial lake, divided into pars rustica and pars domestica, measuring 320 x 220 m.

Objects found on the villa site and the mosaics are exhibited at the Museum of Echternach Abbey and the National Museum of History and Art in Luxembourg.

All year round. Admission free. Casemate from the Later Roman Empire and from the Merovingian Period on the hillock of the church of Saints Peter and Paul, Echternach town centre.

Daily, except on mondays, from 30th March to 3rd October from 10 AM to 12 AM and from 1 PM to 5 PM. Workshops for children, from March to September on tuesdays afternoons from 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM on request.

Tel. +352 47 93 30-214, E-mail: service.educatif@mnha.etat.lu, Website: www.villa-echternach.lu.

LUXEMBOURG - NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ART

National Museum of History and Art, archeological section. The museum has a large archaeological collection, particularly of objects discovered during the various excavations: sarcophaguses, tools, coins, jewels, grave markers, etc. the most outstanding objects being found in the excavations at Dalheim (Ricciacus) and Titelberg.

Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Every Thursday until 8 PM.

Marché-aux-Poissons
L-2345 Luxembourg
Tel. + 352 47 93 30-1
Fax +352 47 93 30-271 or +352 22 37 60
E-mail: musee@mnha.etat.lu
Website: www.mnha.lu

OUREN-SCHENGEN - THE WAY OF ST JAMES THROUGH LUXEMBOURG

The Way of St James leading Santiago de Compostela crosses from one side of Luxembourg to the other, running alongside Roman roads and water courses to the sites where homage was paid to St James of Compostela (renowned places of pilgrimage such as the basilica housing the tomb of Saint Willibrord in Echternach, Luxembourg Cathedral and the fortress in Dudelange which belonged to the evangelical order of St John).


Starting from the Carrefour des Trois Frontières or three-borders crossroads in Ouren/Lieler, the Way follows the course of the Our as far as Vianden, continues to Echternach via Grevenmacher, crosses the city of Luxembourg and goes on to Schengen, passing through Dudelange.

A very detailed 24-page brochure describes the route of this 160-km path in six stages. Available from "Frënn vum Camino de Santiago de Compostela". Internet: www.caminosantiago.lu.

An extraordinarily well-preserved mosaic was found in Vichten at the end of the 1990s and moved to the Luxembourg National Museum of History and Art. A copy has also been installed in Vichten under cover, situated between the church and the town hall.