Vianden ( or (locally) ) is a
commune with
town status in the
Éislek region, north-eastern
Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
, with a population of 2,203 as of 2023. It is part of the
canton of the same name. Vianden lies on the
Our river, near the border between Luxembourg and
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
. It is known for the
Vianden Castle.
History
The origins of Vianden date back to the
Gallo-Roman
Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization (cultural), Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire in Roman Gaul. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, Roman culture, language ...
age when there was a
castellum
A ''castellum'' in Latin is usually:
* a small Roman fortlet or tower,C. Julius Caesar, Gallic War; 2,30 a diminutive of (' military camp'), often used as a watchtower or signal station like on Hadrian's Wall. It is distinct from a , which ...
on the site of the
present castle. The original name of Vianden was Viennensis. The valley was covered in vineyards in
Roman times
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman civilisation from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingd ...
, the first historical reference to Vianden was in 698 when there is a record of a gift in the form of a vineyard ''in Monte Viennense'' made by
Saint Irmina to the
Abbey of Echternach
The Abbey of Echternach is a Benedictine monastery in the town of Echternach, in eastern Luxembourg. The abbey was founded in the 7th century by St Willibrord, the patron saint of Luxembourg. For three hundred years, it benefited from the pat ...
. Vianden possesses one of the oldest charters in Europe, granted in 1308 by Philip II, count of Vianden, from whom the family of
Nassau-Vianden sprang, and who was consequently the ancestor of
William of Orange.
In the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
, Vianden's craftsmen were recognised for their skills as tanners, drapers, weavers, barrelmakers, masons, locksmiths and goldsmiths. In 1490, they created
guilds
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...
for their various trades. Over the years pig-farming and leathermaking became the major industry with the establishment of two tanneries at the end of the 19th century which finally closed in the mid-1950s.

The castle was built between the 11th and 14th centuries and became the seat of the
counts of Vianden. It was further developed until the 18th century but with the departure of the
Counts of Luxembourg to the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
combined with the effects of fire and an earthquake, it slowly deteriorated. The final blow came in 1820 when
William I of the Netherlands
William I (Willem Frederik; 24 August 1772 – 12 December 1843) was King of the Netherlands and List of monarchs of Luxembourg, Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1815 until his abdication in 1840.
Born as the son of William V, Prince of Orange, ...
sold it to a local merchant who in turn sold off its contents and masonry piecemeal, reducing it to a ruin. There were several attempts at restoration but these were hampered by problems of ownership. Still, the chapel which forms part of it was restored in 1849 by
Prince Henry of the Netherlands,
and during one of his visits to the town Victor Hugo lived in the castle for three months in 1871. Not until 1977, when
Grand Duke Jean ceded the castle to the State, was it possible to undertake large-scale work, most of which has now been completed.
Vianden is also remembered as the site of multiple battles in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. In November 1944 it saw
fierce combat between the
Luxembourg Resistance and German forces. It was the last place in Luxembourg to be freed from the Germans in February 1945 when the Americans completed Luxembourg's liberation. A memorial to the west of the town, overlooking the castle, commemorates this final battle.
The first
Boeing 747-8F built, RC501, is named "City of Vianden" and is operated by
Cargolux Airlines.
Geography
Vianden is a drive from
Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (; ; ), also known as Luxembourg City ( or ; ; or ), is the capital city of Luxembourg and the Communes of Luxembourg, country's most populous commune. Standing at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers in southern Luxe ...
. It can also be reached by bus from
Diekirch
Diekirch (; ; or (locally) ; from ''Diet-Kirch'', i.e. "people's church") is a Communes of Luxembourg, commune with List of towns in Luxembourg, town status in north-eastern Luxembourg, in the Diekirch (canton), canton of Diekirch and, until its ...
,
Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck ( , ) is a Communes of Luxembourg, commune with list of towns in Luxembourg, town status in central Luxembourg, with a population of inhabitants.
History
Until 1850, both Erpeldange and Schieren were part of the Ettelbruck commune a ...
, or
Clervaux
Clervaux (; or locally ; ) is a commune and town in northern Luxembourg, situated in the canton of the same name.
The town's arms, granted in 1896, show three blackbirds on a gold ground in the chief of a red shield, as a variation of the a ...
which have rail connections to the city of Luxembourg. There are also buses to
Bitburg
Bitburg (; ; ) is a city in Germany, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate approximately 25 km (16 mi.) northwest of Trier and 50 km (31 mi.) northeast of Luxembourg (city), Luxembourg city. The American Spangdahlem Air Base i ...
in Germany.
Many visitors arrive by bicycle taking the signposted cycle tracks from the south along the Our valley.
Population
Climate
Like the city of Luxembourg, Vianden (altitude ca. 200 m) has a
temperate climate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ra ...
with warm summers (average day temperature around 24
°C, on occasion as high as 35 °C) and chilly winters (daytime average 5 °C but sometimes as low as −15 °C at night). Rainfall is moderate, but on average it rains less than 10 days per month. The prevailing wind is south-westerly.
The summer evenings are particularly pleasant, often with temperatures of around 25 °C until 11 pm. Very occasionally there are short periods of drought but the vegetation seldom loses its rich green for very long.
Daylight extends from about 5 am to 10.30 pm in June and from 8 am to 4.30 pm in December.
In the summer, temperatures can be quite warm and in the case that the preceding winter is particularly mild, there is a higher chance that insect populations will over-reproduce. During these summers, fruit fly and mosquito populations increase significantly becoming a nuisance for residents and tourists.
Economy
The scenery and local attractions have made Vianden a tourist destination in Luxembourg with many tens of thousands of visitors every year, especially from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. It has 14 hotels, four campsites and a youth hostel. In addition, Vianden attracts large numbers of
day-trippers who visit its restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops and sports facilities. The economy is however not without problems. While the hydro-electric pumping plant continues directly and indirectly to provide employment for the local population, the closure of the Electrolux plant a couple of years ago has resulted in a considerable loss of jobs. The commune is now planning to encourage the establishment of skilled craft industries in the area by making land available for development.
Attractions

Vianden is one of Luxembourg's main tourist centres with large numbers of holidaymakers and local visitors at all times of the year. In particular, the recently restored castle set spectacularly on the rocks above the town has become a museum which traces its history and its links with the royal families of Europe back to the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
. Then there are links with
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician.
His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...
who visited Luxembourg in 1862 and 1865 and spent a longer period in Vianden in 1871. His sketches and letters can be seen in the museum located in the house where he stayed next to the bridge over the Our. There is also a museum of arts and crafts (Musée d'Art rustique) and a doll and toy museum (Musée de la Poupée et du Jouet).
But many people just visit Vianden to wander through its hilly, historic streets or as a centre for walking, camping or cycling in the north of Luxembourg. There is a pleasant cycle route up the Sauer and Our valleys to Vianden and there are many signposted walks in the area.
During the summer months, a chairlift operates from the banks of the river in the lower part of the town taking you high above the castle with magnificent views over the landscape.
Vianden also has a number of annual events and celebrations. The most famous of these is the nut market in October when the local walnuts are on sale together with walnut cakes, walnut confectionery, walnut brandy and walnut liqueurs. In May, Vianden is set to welcome The Agitator.
Finally, there is an interesting attraction a few kilometers to the north of Vianden, the
Vianden Pumped Storage Plant, which provides
pumped-storage hydroelectricity
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), or pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), is a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing (electrical power), load balancing.
A PSH system stores energy i ...
storage and generation systems to benefit from the surplus electric power at night, and provide extra energy during peak hours.
Historic monuments
In addition to the castle, Vianden has a number of interesting historic monuments.
* The ''Hockelstur'' or belltower (1603) on a rock close to the castle was originally part of the fortifications.
* The ramparts which have been partly restored.
* The Church of the
Trinitarians
The Trinitarians, formally known as the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives (; abbreviated OSsT), is a mendicant order of the Catholic Church for men founded in Cerfroid, outside Paris, in the late 12th century. From the very o ...
(1248) built in the Gothic style with two parallel naves and the adjacent cloister. It was built by Count Henry I in thanks to the Trinitarians who arranged for the release of his father, Count Frederic II, who had been captured during a
crusade
The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and at times directed by the Papacy during the Middle Ages. The most prominent of these were the campaigns to the Holy Land aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and its surrounding t ...
.
* The Cross of Justice close to the Church of the Trinitarians recalling the chartering of Vianden by Philip II in 1308.
* The towered ''castle houses'' built for the nobility including the City Hall (1579) and the house where the pharmacy is now situated (1475).
* The Church of St Nicholas (13th century) partly destroyed by fire in 1723 and rebuilt the following year.
Coat of arms
The arms of Vianden (see top right-hand box) have not changed since 1288 when Godefroid I adopted the arms of Louvain-Perwez. The city was granted the right to use the same arms sometime during the 14th century. The arms were registered in the ''armorial général de France'' in 1696 by order of the King of France.
Notable people
Many royal families and heads of state have associations with Vianden or have at least visited it. However, several other figures are worthy of note:

*
Yolanda of Vianden, (1231–83), youngest daughter of Count Henry I, who joined the Convent of Marienthal against the wishes of her parents when she was very young and later became its devout prioress now a legend in Luxembourg's history.
*
Mary of Nassau-Siegen (1491–1547)
Countess Mary of Nassau-SiegenIn many sources she is called Mary of Nassau-Dillenburg. The County of Nassau-Siegen is erroneously called Nassau-Dillenburg in many sources. The county was not named after the small, unimportant city of Dillenburg, ...
, a countess from the House of
Nassau-Siegen
*
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician.
His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...
(1802–85), the French author, who stayed in Vianden on several occasions between 1862 and 1871, recording its beauty and setting in prose, poetry and sketches, including the series of poems ''
L'Année terrible''. Hugo did much to promote the attractions of Vianden to the outside world.
*
Edmond de la Fontaine (1823–91) otherwise known as ''Dicks,'' Luxembourg's national poet, who also wrote Vianden's first travel guide.
* René Engelmann (1880–1915), a linguist and novelist, who established the basic grammar of the
Luxembourgish
Luxembourgish ( ; also ''Luxemburgish'', ''Luxembourgian'', ''Letzebu(e)rgesch''; ) is a West Germanic language that is spoken mainly in Luxembourg. About 400,000 people speak Luxembourgish worldwide.
The language is standardized and officiall ...
dialect, later to become a national language.
*
Victor Abens (1912–1993), a Luxembourgish politician.
* One of the oldest families in the town founded the inn, which today is located i
Algerbue de L'Our next to the Our River, where delicacies from the area were offered to the pilgrims who visited the
Castle of Vianden.
Twin towns — sister cities
Vianden is
twinned with:
*
Compiègne
Compiègne (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department of northern France. It is located on the river Oise (river), Oise, and its inhabitants are called ''Compiégnois'' ().
Administration
Compiègne is t ...
, France
*
Huy, Belgium
Gallery
Vianden from the castle.JPG, Vianden, view from the castle
Vianden castle.JPG, Castle of Vianden, view from the city
Vianden Sankt Nikolaus.jpg, Church of St Nicholas
Vianden, die Neikiirch beschermd erfgoed foto6 2014-06-07 16.33.jpg, Church: l'église Saint-Roch
Vianden victor hugo.jpg, Bust of Victor Hugo
Vianden stadhous.jpg, Town hall
Vianden ecole primaire.jpg, École Primaire
Vianden bildstock(1).jpg, Wayside cross (1697)
References
External links
Vianden tourist informationVianden CastleVianden and surroundings from Google MapsOfficial Vianden Commune site
{{Authority control
1414 disestablishments
Cities in Luxembourg
Communes in Vianden (canton)
Towns in Luxembourg
States and territories established in the 4th century
Tourist attractions in Luxembourg