The tower worth fighting for
No stocks this time! Please note that I took all the pictures in this article all by myself this month (Angela Barbieri, 2026)
Deeper understanding, that is what I experienced today. It is August 8th, and I am once again off exploring. Everyone knows how much I love discovering new things. Perhaps my ancestors were true Romans themselves?
Today, I once again crawled out of my shell to embark on a new adventure, namely the Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean and Dräi Eechelen. In just a single day, I killed two birds with one stone. 😂
For several years now, I have developed a great passion for the Grand Duchy. A german dialect and an almost Mediterranean atmosphere define this little corner of culture. I speak about it quite deliberately, because I enjoy finding my way around here and discovering new things. I think that is also what has fascinated me so much about this country all along.
Despite the positive as well as negative experiences I have had in this country so far, I always find myself taking a moment to look around and appreciate my surroundings. Today, I finally explored a place I had wanted to see for almost a year, but had hardly found the time to visit.
I am talking about this unique structure: a hyper-modern glass pyramid perched atop a fiercely coveted fortress. When I was in the area for the first time, I kept wondering what it was all about, and today I finally found out.
It is a powerful piece of history, one that I will remember for a long time to come.
Perhaps we should start with the modern museum. Without a guided tour, I set off on my own and stormed into the museum. A vast hall stretched out before me. The first thing that immediately caught my attention was A Whole New World by Fujiwara.
I think the colour composition is very well chosen. Especially the warm colours caught my attention and made me interested in the artwork. I am not a big fan of modern art, but I find the absurdity of the artwork and the ideas behind it very convincing. I could definitely relate to some aspects of it, and overall, I think it is a very appealing and interesting artwork.
You should know that this museum, which is also known for its modern art, contains many of his works, as well as embroideries by a distant artist named Adam and many other small exhibits. That's why I took a closer look at everything and decided to include a small photo gallery here. I was especially impressed by the architecture of the building, which left me speechless in some places.
Anyone interested in the other exhibitions should perhaps make the journey there and see them for themselves. But of course, that was not all I experienced today. I also made my way to the far side of the courtyard and explored the grounds. That was where I found them: the old tower walls. They date back to the time before Luxembourg became an independent country. That is why the site has since become a military museum, which, in my opinion, has quite a few interesting things to offer.
I probably do not need to mention that the restoration work is breathtaking and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this excursion. For me, it was a journey through time, surrounded by familiar faces.
The construction of this fortress dates from around 1726 to 1732. These are, of course, not exact dates, but they give us a rough idea of which century we are talking about. The era of the Sun King, Louis of France, the upper nobility and vast armies of soldiers. Little by little, I am getting into a medieval mood.
From 1714 to 1814, numerous smaller military conflicts broke out in and around the region. It was a divided land, besieged by the Habsburgs, the Prussians, and last but not least, the French. In the years that followed, the fortress was repeatedly expanded, with the Prussians also carrying out various works both on and around it.
During the time of Napoleon, however, the area gradually lost its importance. It can therefore be said that the fortress underwent numerous alterations and expansions, while Luxembourg steadily grew in wealth over the centuries.
Given its historical significance, the final development of the site into a museum was accompanied by enriching renovations. These not only reflect the country's material prosperity, but also make the site visually appealing to tourists to this day.
To give you a little overview, here are a few more pictures.
My absolute favorite spot was the underground part. Hidden several meters beneath the stone walls, the casemates contained fascinating, illuminated passageways. Exploring them was so much fun, as you can see here.
