Known mainly as the seat of Rockhal, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg’s second city, which lies only 2km from France, has quite a bit more to discover…
1. EXPLORe the city BY FOOT
Start with breakfast at Patisserie Kill, where you can enjoy the best pain au chocolat you ever tasted, then take some time to walk around the city centre and Luxembourg’s longest shopping street. As well as the regular high street stores, it has quite a few independent boutiques that differentiate it from other shopping districts. The streets themselves are pretty: houses with their pastel-coloured icing, reminiscent of the buildings in Lisbon, are testament to the city’s large Portguese population. Also, right in the middle of the main shopping precinct, Esch has dipped its toes in urban agriculture, growing everything from strawberries, to quinoa, to absinthe.
Take repose in one of the cities beautiful parks, Gaalgebierg. It is tiered like a giant cake, each layer has something to see, whether it be flower beds, a rose garden, a play park, a petanque court, or, at the very top, a deer park. It’s worth a trip back at night time to see the orange sun set over the city.
Esch is also distinguishable by its Street Art; those which are a kaleidoscope of colours are by the world-renowned street artist Okuda San Miguel.
2. Kamellebuttek
Kamellebuttek, once a 1950s-style house, is now an art gallery.
The name “Kamellebuttek” is Luxembourgish for candy shop. Their rationale for choosing this name…?
One of the founding artists was at the post office sending some work to Paris and the cashier opened her drawer with the insurance stamps, but had none left. So, she turned towards her colleague and asked if there were any left in his drawer. He took a stamp, laughed and said: Naturally, there are. We are not a “Kamellebuttek”.
In Luxembourgish there is this saying: “we are not a candy shop” and it means to say: We are a serious, well organised business and not a “Kamellebuttek”.
“Kamellebuttek” captures the creative chaos of the place, which is evident from streets away, with the building’s entire facade doused in navy and gold paint.
3. LITTLE UTAH
About a 35 minute walk from the Esch-sur-Alzette train station in a place called Kayl, there is a beautiful nature trail and skills park for bikers called “Little Utah”.
In Luxembourg It's Three 