Vianden

Vianden ( Luxembourgish Veianen, Veinen ) is a municipality in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Vianden is the administrative seat of the eponymous canton of Vianden and one of the most important tourist destinations in Luxembourg.

Geographical location

Vianden is located in the north-east of Luxembourg at the border to the German state of Rhineland -Palatinate, on both sides of the border river Our. The east of the Our preferred part of Vianden is the only area of Luxembourg to the east of the otherwise German -Luxembourg border forming rivers Our, Sauer and Moselle (Community German -Luxembourgian territory ) and thus forms for a few miles the only border line between the two states over the country.

Attractions

Above the town towers the castle of Vianden. In large part it was restored in recent decades. The castle is the former seat of the county of Vianden. Yolanda of Vianden was born at the castle.

In November 1944, the castle battleground between 37 resistance fighters of the Luxembourg militia under the leadership of Vic Aben and a unit of some 250 SS - men was. The militia held off taking the town and the strategically well-situated castle by the SS, who had to withdraw after heavy losses (38 Fallen ) over the border river.

Because of the connection between the earls deteriorate Nassau and Vianden, the takeover of the county of Vianden by the House of Nassau, the dispute in the house Vianden and its consequences, the castle especially for Dutch Visitors with an interest in the history of the dynasty of Orange -Nassau is worth seeing.

The Victor - Hugo House

Between 1862 and 1871, the famous French writer Victor Hugo visited five times the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and spent some time as a political refugee in Vianden. The house where Victor Hugo lived has been a museum since 1935.

Trinitarian

The Trinitarian Vianden is an early Gothic hall church with two and was built in the 13th century.

Sodalitätskapelle

In the immediate vicinity of the Trinitarian Church Built in 1761, we find the Sodalitätskapelle. It is one of the Marian Sodality. It was founded in 1738 Vianden and dates from the 16th century. Your belonging boys and men dedicate their whole life Mary. Next to the entrance of the chapel is a Madonna statue. The Baroque altar of the chapel probably comes from Michael Weiler. Its center is the statue of the Immaculate Conception: Mary stands with his left foot on a crescent moon while her steps into the neck of a snake right, wearing an apple.

Events

• In the first three weeks of August there will be a medieval festival in Vianden.
• The Veiner Nëssmoort ( Vianden Nut market ) is a large folk festival which takes place annually on the second Sunday in October and is known beyond the country's borders.

(Except for cantonal elections, then as early as 1 week )

World Heritage

In October 1993, based at the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture Commission for UNESCO castle and town in the reported positions, at the UNESCO Tentative List called out as a potential World Heritage Site. A dortiger entry is the requirement that at a later date an application may be in this case the World Heritage set to award a corresponding predicate. Having had done in the subsequent period and over several years, little, founded in 2010, a committee to compile the necessary documents and thus promote the application of Vianden. In February 2012, this was then submitted to UNESCO. At the regular meeting of the Welterbekommitees in June 2013 in Phnom Penh should be decided on the Luxembourg desire. But as it became clear in advance that the advisory body ICOMOS, whose recommendation plays a central role in the award decision would make a rather negative vote, the motion was withdrawn at short notice. They criticized in particular the extensive vacancies in the old town, the poor condition of the buildings and the lack of citizen participation. The application should be revised and then resubmitted. When this will happen is unknown. Nevertheless, the status as a World Heritage Site in connection with Vianden is already used ad- technically, as well as by the official tourist board of the Grand Duchy.

Miscellaneous

In Vianden operates one of Europe's largest pumped storage power plants, the Vianden pumped storage plant. Within the system water is pumped from the Our ​​River into a basin on a mountain in times of low electricity consumption. At peak times of power consumption the water from the supply container is returned to the river. With the help of hydro power generators are operated to generate electricity. The caverns ( mining tunnel with generators ) and the owning pool can be visited.

Personalities

• Vic Aben (1912-1993), resistance fighter and politician

Pictures

Bridge in the city

With the cable car over the river

St. Nicholas Chapel

Victor Hugo House

Trinitarian

Old police station with court cross, now the seat of Milites viennenses

View of the dam in Vianden