Lucilinburhuc EN

Verdun

2010-10-20T01:08:00.001+02:00

Verdun area has seen fierce fighting during the Great War (not so great for the soldiers). There are many American monuments there related to that war. Verdun is not far away from Luxembourg and features many scenic roads and viewpoints, as well as numerous unpaved roads :)

Going east from Longuyon:

Now a mountain is visible that I will reach soon:

On the way I went through Louppy-sur-Loison. The river going thru the town has bridges but also old fordings next to them.

In the town of 122 people there is a castle, one of the most amazing examples of the Renaissance style in the region. It was built in the first half of the seventeenth century. Louis XIV lived there during the siege of Montmedy in the summer of 1657. During the first World War it was pillaged by the German army. During World War II, it was occupied and served as a prison camp. The castle has an English garden that grows along a meander of Loison and consists of rare species. But I missed that part. [1]

Surely there is a church:

Finally I have arrived near the mountain seen from the distance. I have tried some dirt roads, but they ended at a Foret Domainale - so no-go. But when going thru Lion-devant-Dun I have found an open trial (car accessible) going up the mountain.

Le Mont Saint-Germain - formerly ARIMONT is completely isolated from the massive Côtes de Meuse. The summit of the northern tip is a wonderful viewpoint where you see the whole forest of Woëvre (foret domainale), Stenay, Montmedy, St. Walfroy, and the cemetery in Marville.

The elevated position of Mont Saint-Germain, near a river, overlooking a vast plain and with steep slopes makes it very difficult to access the plateau that crowns the hill. Romans choose this mountain to establish a permanent camp, and some ground modifications remain to be seen today. On this site various antiques, medals, weapons, tombs, bones and remains of buildings were discovered. There are archeoligical findings related to Romans, dating as far as AD 588. For many years hill sides were used for wine growing but that ended with a wine disease destroying the wineyards in 1860. The coral rock, which is forming the top of the Saint-Germain, contains an abundance of polyps, and even a rare fossilized snake was found there once. [1]

The hill has at least two spots with paragliding runways oriented in opposite directions:

There is also a monument but the description is hardly readable:

Continuing on dirt roads I reached a secluded village of 41 people called Fontaines-Saint-Clair. From there I tried a very promising dirt road but after a couple of km it became a muddy road. Too muddy, and on the map it was not too promising. So back to the village and another road became a very nice dirt road leading all the way to the river Meuse, near Vilosnes-Haraumont.

From there I went on scenic roads going up, cut across dirt and gravel roads and finally arrived at a monument:

There are "villages that died for France" - never rebuild since they were destroyed during the battle of Verdun in 1916.

This monument, erected at the initiative of Captain GLOCK of Pittsburg in memory of officers and soldiers of the American regiment of 316 ° 79 ° who died in the area of Verdun. One side of the monument tells the story of the regiment since its’ organization at Camp Meade, Maryland, United States, August 29, 1917, until the discharge, June 9, 1919. The 316 ° has lost 78 officers and 3128 soldiers.

Montfacon has seen battles with Vikings raiding the area in the 9th century. But the monument there commemorates the American victory during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during the period September 26, 1918 to November 11, 1918, when the American First Army forced the enemy to conduct a general retreat on this front.

Further I have rode past Butte de Vauqois, where the French and the Germans were mining under each other and blowing up each other.

Then I headed home...

[1] Source: Wikipedia

France and Belgium - near Lamorteau

2010-08-30T01:11:00.000+02:00

August 2010

On the border of Belgium and France there is a forest. There is an old road leading to Pont Camus. First it's a hard gravel road with ruts made by water. Then it changes to a dirt road partially overgrown with grass. It was rainy for the last week so I had to negotiate muddy road where sun has no access. I have reached dry dirt road and arrived on tarmac by a cross put up in memory of the people killed during French Revolution.

Arriving at Lamorteau:

Then turned sharp left and went on the other side of the valley with a view towards Virton:

This way I have came from:

The cross was made in the 16th century and has been even sold at some point!

From there once again I took a road that was closed after some 500m. So I took another one and ended up in a field. The map was showing a road. Confused I went on a muddy road leading into the woods. It was real muddy. Checking the GPS I have realized that it will lead me nowhere. So I turned to reach the field I have seen before. Once there I just followed tracks on the harvested field and finally reached bumpy dirt road.

Luxembourg old town and Grund

2010-08-30T01:04:00.000+02:00

August 2010

Through the streets of the old town, down in the Grund and around.

Featured:
Luxembourg castle ruins - Lucilinburhuc ("small castle"), on the Bock Fiels ("rock").
Mousel brewery.
Old brewery, partially abandoned.
Alzette river.
Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge (Red Bridge).
Remains of the city fortifications.
Neumünster Abbey.
Nightlife area.

Aumetz, France

2010-08-25T01:02:00.000+02:00

August 2010

Disused iron ore mines and many bunkers mark the countryside around Aumetz and Errouville in France.

The bunkers are too often used as dumps

Some are partially destroyed

In the forest you can come by old military buildings like this abandoned barracks:

Left from the times of iron ore mining are now overgrown train lines:

Logging in the forests:

Evening sun

Deer going in the right direction:

August is the time of harvest.

There is plenty of beautiful dirt roads

And not only dirt ;)

Time to hit the tarmac...

It was a great ride

Mullerthal

2010-08-15T01:01:00.000+02:00

Mullerthal is the heart of the Luxembourgish Switzerland. Rocky cliffs, winding roads, waterfalls - it's a great destination. I will go there again, in the meantime my older photos from that place.

Villers-la-Montagne, France

2010-07-20T00:59:00.000+02:00

July 2010

Again I went to France, to Villers-la-Montagne and on dirt from there to les Cites. Then again gravel/dirt road.

And by old military road (now used by hikers, joggers, pushbikes and motos) to a bunker entrance and abandoned barracks.

No entry - military area.

There is plenty of light and a medium dirt/gravel/mud riding in that area.

In the end, still somewhere in France:

Muddy France

2010-07-15T00:57:00.000+02:00

July 2010

When scouting French countryside after rain I have managed to basically slide down red dirt road. There must be some clay in this red earth.

Not much later, when heading back home I have noticed a sign 'route barre 900m'. Not put off I went on to see how the road was blocked.

This is looking back where I have came from:

And looking forward:

The road was converted back to nature. I need a map update...

TMC

2010-06-06T22:45:00.002+02:00

Poland has recently joined the countries where TMC system operates, and it seems that Luxembourg would join soon as well.

Tour de Luxembourg

2010-06-05T21:50:00.003+02:00

Where not to go (or where to go and watch the cyclists):

Tomorrow, Sunday, Mersch-Luxembourg.

Hackenberg, France

2010-04-10T00:55:00.000+02:00

April 2010

The mountain houses many kilometres of bunker tunnels. This is Maginot line, which did not take a hint from 1st WW: they come from Belgium! ;)

Observation point on top of Hackenberg, right next to the cemetery.

Bure d'Orval, France

2010-04-05T00:53:00.000+02:00

April 2010

Blair Witch mood

Handsome valley

February 2010

2010-02-20T00:51:00.000+01:00

Not spring just yet, still less than 10 C. But a Saturday good enough to ride a bit.

Coming from Luxembourg city:

To the Remich area, Mosel valley:

Source of grapes for making Luxembourgish Mosel wine (simple Rivaner is my personal fav). Germany on the other side:

Schengen village is just round the corner, here you can see Remerschen ponds in the valley. Great spot for waterbirds photosafari ;)

Still some leftover ice getting thinner:

For now we have warmer but rainy weather. Spring must be close as many cranes and other migrating birds are spotted flying north these days.

France - Zoufftgen, Rodemack...

2010-02-15T00:48:00.000+01:00

Zoufftgen:

Rodemack:

Malling:

Grim view of the menacing clouds and a powerplant

Nice contrast

February 2010

Hussigny-Godbrange and Cons-la-Grandville, France

2009-10-20T00:43:00.000+02:00

Hussigny-Godbrange is a small town in France, right on the border with Luxembourg, where iron ore was mined until second half of the XX century. Many Italians came to work and settle. Now the mine is closed but guided visits are possible.

Fence is being built just now. Still, it was not yet closed.

Drilling equipment and a rail engine behind it. Small, I know.

There is my moto in this photo.

A bit of offroad, nothing serious.

Industrial meets natural.

Looking over the border.

Cons-la-Grandville - nice castle - a place worth coming again:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&....panoramio.all

October 2009

Baloon Trophy Echternach

2009-08-04T11:39:00.009+02:00

Saturday evening in Echternach - the baloon trophy was at conclusion, with some light and sound display at the lake.

Journeyman

2009-04-02T17:19:00.002+02:00

Photo: Wikipedia

While taking with us the unusually (but pretty neatly) dressed hitch-hiker from Belgium to Luxembourg, I was not aware that he is one of the not so many travellers called wandergesellen. There were times that they were just an usual part of everyday life in large parts of Europe (at least in Germany, France, UK, Austria and Switzerland). In English there is an appropriate word 'journeyman', used for a specialist craftsman after completing of his apprenticeship, before reaching the status of a master. But it is not really remembered that such 'journeyman' was really travelling in the past.

The one which was with us, for a short distance from around Arlon to Mamer, came originally from Zurich, Switzerland. He explained a bit, that according to tradition, after his apprenticeship was completed he went for a three year trip around the world, working and changing the place of stay at least once every three months. In his travels he reached even Mexico and now he was headed for France and maybe still further to reach Zurich in a year while maintaining at least 50km distance from it during his travels.

Photo: Wikipedia

Borderland

2009-04-02T17:16:00.004+02:00

Landscape shots from the border of Luxembourg and Luxembourg (the country and the Belgian province)

No traffic sign means only that if you do not have a reason (to access your house for example) then do not enter. Five years ago the country sign was still blue and the other sign was only a speed limit of 40 kph.

Tram - The return

2009-03-13T16:30:00.003+01:00

There was once a tram in Luxembourg but now there is only a tram museum. But in a couple of years there will be a return of this people moving solution. After debating, tenders, choosing between the offers and even some protests it will be after all a tram and not a metro for example.

Supposedly during rush hour the buses are crowded and often stuck in jams (despite bus lanes). Trams are supposed to help solve this problem by having more capacity and a more separated lane.

I have big doubts about trams having a really significant posotive impact on the traffic and commuting in the city. OK, the passengers will have more personal space in trams than in busus which is great, but the the people in cars will face even more congested traffic, as there will be less space for those cars. I do not see that many people switching from cars to trams even in the worsened (on purpose?) conditions. The effect will be that the jams will be longer and slower meaning more smog from stationary traffic (how many people turn off engines when standing in traffic?).

The metro lost probably due to higher costs and insufficient foreseen utilisation. So we will have to see how the city transport will be when the tramway comes out from the museum.

Family car vs. sports car

2009-03-13T16:13:00.003+01:00

Which car is bigger - a family Citroen Picasso or Ferrari Fiorano sports car? If you say it's a silly question as it's obvious, then look:

Or did you know that already? Anyway - Picasso is more roomy but looks like a small bug next to the muscular Ferrari ;)

Picasso: 4470 x 1830 mm
Ferrari: 4665 x 1962 mm

Shipping

2009-02-02T15:34:00.002+01:00

Internet shopping from Luxembourg (electronics, photo, computers etc.) is possible despite very limited local offer. OK, some of the street retailers here sell via Internet: HIFI.lu, Exell.lu (branch of Belgian company), Auchan.lu (French by origin) but thier offer is not really up to expectations. [Edit: check Darty.lu...]

To have more choice you have to count on shops shipping goods from other EU countries (or else), but you need to verify if they actually send stuff to Luxembourg. From my observation I have composed a small list (updated slightly):

Amazon.co.uk - DVD, books OK. Electronics too! I guess most of other stuff as well (including affiliated sellers). No DVD rental by mail.
Amazon.de - worth a try :) I will have to check French Amazon as well.
Pixmania.lu - OK (ordering a gift to other country was possible but not really straightforward). There were website problems (early 2009), but maybe I was unlucky.
Beamer24.de - OK but payment only by bank transfer.
LDLC.com - OK - also only bank transfer. Shipping significantly more expensive than e.g. Pixmania.
Dell - possible. Currently I do not know the details but you can start with Dell.lu, Dell.be or .nl and as soon as you have ordered a PC it's worth calling them to work out the details that were not possible on the website (change parts, extras and price).

On the other hand, you won't get anything shipped to Lux from: LDLC.be, Grossbill.fr, Materiel.fr, FCC-informatique.com, and many others ;) Which actually could. So far the free movement of goods and services in EU is not the same as free trade within US - from the Internet shopping point of view.

Iechternach

2009-01-21T21:35:00.001+01:00

Echternach - a city by the sour river. Oldest city in the country. Good for walks as opposed to Ettelbruck. Although you can go there once too.

Travelling - Wetzlar

2009-01-21T21:28:00.001+01:00

Driving through Germany you can see more than just Autobahn. This time it's Wetzlar - an old city of optics.

Travel - Tychy

2009-01-21T21:16:00.002+01:00

Christmas, holidays, visits. So I did some photos in Tychy, street kind of photos. Some properly maintained architecture, some not.

Unused blocks of land in the middle of the city. Local kind of Central Park ;) :

18-storey apartment building and a health center:

I have never seen before this kind of sign. It seems they don't like to have driving schools using their streets for practice:

A nip of salt

2009-01-07T12:48:00.001+01:00

Cold. Not like in Germany or Poland (-25 C), but -10 is no summer ;) Barely any snow whatsoever but the roads are white. Nothing new - the streets are salted and resalted generously. It's visible even on the motorways motorways:

source: RTL.lu

Belval

2008-12-10T00:58:00.002+01:00

Heavy industry was once blooming in the south of Luxembourg. The biggest city there - Esch-sur-Alzette is still a center of steel production in the country and one of the biggest employers is the steel giant - Arcelor. But the production now is reduced and part of the infrastructure stands unused.

Currently the place is being transformed into a commercial and entertainment center Belval, also there is a university campus planned. You can still see the old, unused steelworks furnaces located next to the modern buildings. It such a picturesque location but it is not possible to get really close or enter inside those castles of steel and iron.

Content of one of the above photos was slightly edited (apart from the usual touch up). Which one? ;)

Mullerthal

2008-12-08T21:47:00.001+01:00

Short but satisfying Sunday walk between Mullerthal and Consdorf in Luxembourg's Little Switzerland . There are many interesting trails in that area amidst rocky walls, gorges, with bridges, waterfalls...

Once before I was on a similar walk, alittle longer, on a trail from Beaufort. Recommended.

Ferrari and Lamborghini

2008-11-20T22:12:00.000+01:00

Under the office windows there were standing, for a short time unfortunately, two nice cars. Red Ferrari 430 Scuderia and a yellow Lamborghini Murcielago. In the office interest was next to none. I would have made a photo, but in this situation the battery in my cell died.