Natural & cultural heritage

The region stands out not only with its imposing rocks and gorges, but also with the traditional orchard meadows (bongerten) and their hundreds of fruit varieties, large forests, unique fern and moss flora, natural forest reserves and a land area of 42 % Natura2000 areas. In addition, one finds here the remains of the “oldest Luxembourgers”. The oldest town in Luxembourg, the intangible world cultural heritage “the hopping procession of Echternach”, the castles and palaces of Beaufort and Larochette, Echternach Abbey with its illuminated books, and relics of early industries such as the iron and textile industry, can be found here. Last but not least, this historic tourism region can be explored on award-winning hiking trails, some of which date from the 19th century.
Here, you may discover selected examples of our natural and cultural heritage!

Thank you for respecting our beautiful landscapes. You can find more information ob the rules of conduct here.

Wollefsschlucht – a sandstone gorge

The steep rock cliffs of the up to 40-metre deep “Wolf’s Gorge” consist of Luxembourg sandstone (li2). While the sandstone forms the “Érelchen” plateau, the lower part of the slope down to the river Sauer is made up of clayey marls, clay stones and is covered by weathered hillside rock. The Wolf’s Gorge was formed […]

The steep rock cliffs of the up to 40-metre deep “Wolf’s Gorge” consist of Luxembourg sandstone (li2). While the sandstone forms the “Érelchen” plateau, the lower part of the slope…

The steep rock cliffs of the up to 40-metre deep “Wolf’s Gorge” consist of Luxembourg sandstone (li2). While the sandstone…

Thoull and the former meander of the river Sauer

South of Echternach, two small streams flow through a wide valley around the “Thoull” hill. The present Echternach lake was created here in the 1970s. The valley has however a long history:  It was formed because over the last 20 million years by the river Sauer and its tributary streams which have carved their way […]

South of Echternach, two small streams flow through a wide valley around the “Thoull” hill. The present Echternach lake was created here in the 1970s. The valley has however a…

South of Echternach, two small streams flow through a wide valley around the “Thoull” hill. The present Echternach lake was…

Rippeger Kopp – the cuesta of Luxembourg Sandstone

The Luxembourg Sandstone ends abruptly at this location and the topography drops steeply down. Such a terrace is called a cuesta. Below the ridge the lower-lying, gently-undulating landscape of colourful marls is observable and predominantly used for agriculture. With favourable meteoric conditions it is possible to see the “Widdebierg” mountain (the highest elevation) near Flaxweiler, […]

The Luxembourg Sandstone ends abruptly at this location and the topography drops steeply down. Such a terrace is called a cuesta. Below the ridge the lower-lying, gently-undulating landscape of colourful…

The Luxembourg Sandstone ends abruptly at this location and the topography drops steeply down. Such a terrace is called a…

Kuelscheier – a narrow rock crevice

The Kuelscheier is a narrow, pitch-dark rock crevice in the Luxembourg sandstone. It runs over a distance of about 100 metres parallel to the valley of the Härdbaach stream. The nearby Rittergang and the Déiwepëtz are also such crevices. They opened up because huge blocks of rock along fissures detached from the rock face and […]

The Kuelscheier is a narrow, pitch-dark rock crevice in the Luxembourg sandstone. It runs over a distance of about 100 metres parallel to the valley of the Härdbaach stream. The…

The Kuelscheier is a narrow, pitch-dark rock crevice in the Luxembourg sandstone. It runs over a distance of about 100…

Steekaul Burermillen – a former sandstone quarry

The oldest rocks in the region can be observed: red sandstones from the Lower Triassic (Buntsandstein) period. The red colour is due to oxidyzed iron concentrations in the rock. These older sandstones are outcropping at the surface in this area because the geological strata buckles here upwards and forms an arch-like structure, the “Born saddle”. […]

The oldest rocks in the region can be observed: red sandstones from the Lower Triassic (Buntsandstein) period. The red colour is due to oxidyzed iron concentrations in the rock. These…

The oldest rocks in the region can be observed: red sandstones from the Lower Triassic (Buntsandstein) period. The red colour…

Gipskaul – Mining of gypsum near Rosport

Mainly in the 1940s and 1950s gypsum was mined underground in a gallery on the slope of the “Giischterbësch” forest. The extracted gypsum was transported in wagons via a braking incline to a loading area. This transport was gravitationally controlled by the concept, that downhill moving loaded wagons are able to pull empty wagons uphill, […]

Mainly in the 1940s and 1950s gypsum was mined underground in a gallery on the slope of the “Giischterbësch” forest. The extracted gypsum was transported in wagons via a braking…

Mainly in the 1940s and 1950s gypsum was mined underground in a gallery on the slope of the “Giischterbësch” forest.…

Salt water spring – Historical salt mining near Born

Salt was extracted near Born between the 16th and 18th centuries by means of a brine concentrating system. This is proven by a concession certificate dating from 1585. Salt mining was possible here because salt rich springs waters occur at various places on the river Sauer. One of the springs supplied a sufficiently large amount of water with a high enough salt content. Today, […]

Salt was extracted near Born between the 16th and 18th centuries by means of a brine concentrating system. This is proven by a concession certificate dating from 1585. Salt mining…

Salt was extracted near Born between the 16th and 18th centuries by means of a brine concentrating system. This is…

Ferns and mosses

The many different forms of ferns and mosses, and the mostly bright green colour of these spore-bearing plants (cryptogams), are impressive. The unusual microclimatic conditions to be found on the cliff faces and in the gorges of this region – with only slight temperature variations and high air humidity – make it a Garden of […]

The many different forms of ferns and mosses, and the mostly bright green colour of these spore-bearing plants (cryptogams), are impressive. The unusual microclimatic conditions to be found on the…

The many different forms of ferns and mosses, and the mostly bright green colour of these spore-bearing plants (cryptogams), are…

Orchard meadows

Orchard meadows (Bongerten in Luxemburgish) are among the most valuable and species-rich habitats in the Nature Park. However, the number of fruit trees declined by about three quarters during the 20th century. But orchard meadows still dominate the Nature Park’s landscape, despite the sharp decline. Today there are still about 40,000 fruit trees in the […]

Orchard meadows (Bongerten in Luxemburgish) are among the most valuable and species-rich habitats in the Nature Park. However, the number of fruit trees declined by about three quarters during the…

Orchard meadows (Bongerten in Luxemburgish) are among the most valuable and species-rich habitats in the Nature Park. However, the number…

Former sandstone quarry at Beaufort

Various strata of Luxembourg sandstone are suitable for use as quarry- and building-stones. Sandstone was extracted in the Beaufort and Dillingen quarries until the 1970s. The stones were used in various buildings locally, nationally and beyond the national borders. The quarries had a high economic value and brought work for many people. The stone was […]

Various strata of Luxembourg sandstone are suitable for use as quarry- and building-stones. Sandstone was extracted in the Beaufort and Dillingen quarries until the 1970s. The stones were used in…

Various strata of Luxembourg sandstone are suitable for use as quarry- and building-stones. Sandstone was extracted in the Beaufort and…

Huellee – a former millstone quarry

The Huellee quarry is a characteristic feature. Etymologically, the name denotes a hollow rock. Over the centuries, rough stones were broken here from a particularly abrasion-resistant stratum of Luxembourg sandstone in dangerous manual labour and were worked into millstones. A number of mills in the region are likely to have been fitted with millstones from […]

The Huellee quarry is a characteristic feature. Etymologically, the name denotes a hollow rock. Over the centuries, rough stones were broken here from a particularly abrasion-resistant stratum of Luxembourg sandstone…

The Huellee quarry is a characteristic feature. Etymologically, the name denotes a hollow rock. Over the centuries, rough stones were…