Arlon: Heritage, Nature and Tradition

Arlon, as the capital of the province of Luxembourg, is also a perfect representation of the region. With its architectural heritage, history, nature, museums and folk traditions, the city has a whole host of activities for you to enjoy, and that’s before you even start exploring the hidden gems all around it. 

A walk through the city will take you past impressive buildings, including the listed Palais Provincial and the old law courts displaying the province’s coat of arms, the work of the architect Jamot. Or perhaps the railway station, built in Lorraine limestone and blue stone, and the surrounding area, where you can find architecture in the Art Nouveau style. Looking further back in time, you can see the Roman towers of Jupiter and Neptune, both listed historical monuments, and the remains of the Roman baths, which show the importance of the Semois in the region. As for romantics, they can walk up the Montée Royale steps or to the Charmilles de Cornouillers, a bower of dogwood trees which once formed the natural cloister of the convent of the Pères Capucins and which is said to be over 350 years old!

Never Far From Nature

Nature makes itself known in Arlon, whether it’s through the bronze statue ‘L'Appel de la forêt‘ (Call of the Forest), depicting a belling stag, or through the sandstone pools marking the source of the Semois. You can walk along the river on the Coulée Verte path or see sculptures of animals at the Gaspar Museum. But the city also has a military museum, the international scouting museum, a cycling museum and the province’s archaeological museum! And to top it all off, you should know that Arlon has no shortage of folk traditions. You can come to celebrate the Faaschtebounen, the traditional Fêtes du Maitrank or the Fête du Cerf Bramant, take part in the city’s torchlight procession or take a trip back in time with the Gallo-Roman themed weekend ‘Veni vidi Orolaunum’... Yes, that‘s right - it really does have all of that!

Copyright pictures: Ardennes-étape / Visit Wallonia