Luxembourg

L  U  X  E  M  B  O  U  R  G

Perjalanan ke Luxemburg saya lakukan pada awal desember 2015.

Lokasi foto di stasiun kereta  Luxembourg

[Part-1] 4Desember 2015 (19.25)-07 Desember 2015 (19.30)
Perjalanan saya dengan istri dan 1 orang teman merupakan perjalanan 3 Negara dalam 4 hari dari Wageningen, kota kecil di Belanda menuju Brussel(Belgia), Luxembourg dan Paris.  Perjalanan di awali dari Wageningen ke Amsterdam Sloterdijk (lokasi bus Flixbus) dengan menggunakan bus (Wageningen-St. Ede Wageningen) di lanjutkan dengan kereta (St. Ede Wagenigen-Ams. Stolerdijk) dengan waktu 2 jam.
Perjalanan selanjutnya yaitu Ams. Sloterdijk menuju ke Brussel. Kami ada kenalan seorang teman di Brussel, sehingga kita menginap di sana untuk menghemat pengeluaran :-). Perjalanan dari Ams. Sloterdijk ke Brussel dengan menggunakan Flixbuss, berangkat pukul 19.25 tiba di Brussel pukul 22.10, hampir 3 jam. Saya mengawali perjalanan ke Luxembourg dan Paris dari Brussel dan perjalanan saya dari Brussel-Luxembourg dan Brussel-Paris yaitu PP (pergi-pulang). Bagian ini saya akan membahas perjalan dari Brussel ke Luxembourg.

Luxembourg merupakan negara kecil di eropa yang terkenal dengan peradapan kunonya. Negara kecil tetapi memiliki tempat bersejarah yang cukup banyak. Perjalanan ke Luxembourg dari Brussel sekitar 3 jam dengan menggunakan moda transportasi bus dengan tarif 30 euro/orang pp. Transportasi yang saya gunakan yaitu Flixbuss (https://www.flixbus.com/) dan tiket dibeli secara online dengan metode pembayaran dengan kartu kredit (saya menggunakan cashpassport; bisa di gunakan layaknya kartu kredit). Saya mengunjungi Luxembourg sehari penuh. Saat itu sedang ada chrismas market (kebetulan pas bulan desember). Pengunjung Luxembourg sangat ramai. Kami bertiga mengelilingi beberapa tempat yang terkenal di Luxembourg, berbekal google map dan peta wisata yang disediakan di pusat informasi kota, kami berkeliling kota Luxembourg. Makanan di sini relatif murah, free wifi hampir tersedia di seluruh sudut kota. Sebagai informasi, saya ketika berkunjung ke Luxembourg juga menggunakan Data Roaming dari provider Vodafone. Saat itu, tarif tarif roaming perhari 2 euro dengan akses data hanya 35mb atau 5 euro untuk 100mb. Akan tetapi tahun 2017 ketentuan provider di ubah. Layanan data vodafone berlaku untuk seluruh EU, termasuk provider lain, seperti lebara. Fasilitas toilet di Luxembourg mayoritas gratis, akan tetapi masuk toilet di stasiun kereta Luxembourg harus bayar, dan tarifnya 1,2 euro.

Beberapa tempat yang sempat saya kunjungi di Luxemburg, antara lain:

1. Adolphe Bridge

Adolphe Bridge (Foto Pribadi)

Adolphe Bridge Also called New Bridge, it was erected between 1900 and 1903 during the rule of Grand Duke Adolphe. This event was followed with great interest from abroad, because the bridge had the biggest stone arch in the world up to then. The big double arch spans more than 85 metres across the Pétrusse valley at a height of 42 metres, and a total length of 153 metres.

Source: http://www.developpement-durable-infrastructures.public.lu






2. The Grand Ducal Palace

Grand Ducal Palace (Foto Pribadi)

The Grand Ducal Palace, the residence of the Grand Ducal family, is located in the center of the old town.

Formerly, the site of the present palace was home to the city's first town hall. After being destroyed by a powder explosion in 1554, the town hall was rebuilt twenty years later. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the building was largely enlarged by the ancient "Balance"; In 1890 the construction of the Chamber of Deputies took place. Since 1890, the main building serves as Grand Ducal Palace.  From 1992 to 1995, the Palace was the subject of important restoration work. (source: https://www.lcto.lu).

3. The Gele Fra

Gele Fra (Foto Pribadi)

The "Golden Lady" (Gëlle Fra) on Constitution Square was set up in 1923 to commemorate the Luxembourgers who perished in the First World War.The memorial represents a gold-plated female figure on a stone obelisk. On October, 20th, 1940 the Nazis pulled the monument down; only in 1984 did extensive restoration give it back its original appearance. Today it symbolizes freedom and resistance for the Luxembourg people.(source:http://www.visitluxembourg.com).




4. National Library

National Library (Foto Pribadi)

Located in the restored Jesuit College since 1970, it boasts a collection of 700,000 volumes of books and on top of that, a department of literary and artistic treasures. The portal to the courtyard, which dates from the 17th century, is absolutely remarkable. During the alterations of 1967 the wall around the courtyard was pulled down and the wooden wings of the gate were replaced by a Baroque iron-barred gate.  (source: https://www.lcto.lu)

5. Grand Duchess Charlotte-Bridge

Red Bridge (foto Pribadi)

The "Red Bridge” – in the vernacular – connects the city centre to the European quarter on the Kirchberg Plateau, crossing the Pfaffenthal 74 metres above the Alzette. It is 355 metres long, the clear span between the pillars is 234 metres, the width 25 metres and the total weight 4,900 tons. (source: https://www.lcto.lu).

6. Notre-Dame Cathedral

The cathedral "Notre-Dame" of Luxembourg was built between 1613 and 1621 by the Jesuits to serve as a church in the college (now national library). The north gate is caharacteristic for the mid-Renaissance, half-baroque style of the era.  Since 1794, it houses the statue of the comforter of the afflicted.  Cathedral Church in 1870, it was extended from 1935 to 1938. A richly carved alabaster gallery, columns decorated with arabesques, 19th and 20th century stained-glass windows, neo-gothic confenssionals, modern bas-relief sculptures.and auguste tremont, are largely worthy of this sanctuary.  The crypt serves as resting place for John the Blind, King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg, as well as for the deceased members of the Grand Ducal Family (source: http://visitluxembourg.com/)

Grand Duchess Charlotte (Foto Pribadi)

7. Grand Duchess Charlotte

Among the famous statues in Luxembourg, the statue of Grand Duchess Charlotte on Clairefontaine Square was designed by the Parisian sculptor Jean Cardot. On 29th April 1990, the 2.75-metre high bronze statue was officially inaugurated in the presence of the Grand Ducal family. Grand Duchess Charlotte (1896-1985), who was very popular with the Luxembourgers, ruled from 1919 to 1964. (source: https://www.lcto.lu)

8. Equestrian Statue of William II

Statue of William II (Foto Pribadi)

Among the famous statues in Luxembourg-City, this bronze statue was set up on William Square to pay tribute to the King and Grand Duke William II of Nassau-Orange.

He ruled from 1840 to 1849 and, one year before his death, granted the Grand Duchy its first parliamentary constitution, one of the most liberal in Europe at the time.  The riding figure of William II is the work of the French sculptor Antonin Mercié; the statue of the horse is by Victor Peter.  The pedestal of the monument reveals the coat of arms of the House of Orange-Nassau and of Luxembourg and the ones of the 12 cantons of Luxembourg.  An accurate copy of the statue can be found in The Hague. (source: https://www.lcto.lu)

9.  Place De La Constitution

Place De La Constitution (Foto Pribadi)

 The Constitution Square was put up on the ancient Beck bastion (1644, 1685).  The  "Gëlle Fra", a monument which is located on this square,  was set up in 1923 to commemorate the Luxembourgers who perished in the First World War, today it sympolises freedom and resistance for the Luxembourg people.

From here you have a superb view over the Pétrusse Valley and the Adolphe Bridge. (source: https://www.lcto.lu)