A most intriguing attraction of Luxembourg City are the Bock Casemates.
A 23 km long network of underground tunnels and passages. The original purpose of the Casemates was to serve as a defensive passageway. These could give shelter to thousands of soldiers along with their horses, artillery workshops, kitchens, bakeries, slaughter houses... The fortifications were built over a time span if nine centuries!
After the French Revolutionary Wars, during which Luxembourg managed to hold off French sieges for seven months, the Bock Casemates earned its reputation as "Gibraltar of the North".
Its defenses were holstered by three fortified rings with 24 forts, 16 other strong defensive works and a unique long network of casemates.
The Casemates tourist attraction is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
In 1933, the Bock casemates were opened to the public. Renovation work and repairs were undertaken from 2008 to 2009 including the opening up of mine galleries which contained explosives able to blow up part of the Bock in case of need.
The Bock casemates can be visited from March to October from the entrance in the Rue Sigefroid. The stairs down lead to a huge archaeological crypt where wall plates give an overview of the history of the fortifications.
During the Second World War, they were used as a bomb shelter able to accommodate up to 35,000 people.
Bock Casemates | Montée de Clausen | 1.3 - 31.10 | 10am - 5pm
