- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 11th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Diekirch, Luxembourg
- Style
- Romanesque architecture
- Coordinates
- 49.9350°, 6.2028°
History
The castle grew between the 11th and 14th centuries as the seat of the powerful Counts of Vianden, who rivalled the Counts of Luxembourg themselves. In the early 15th century it passed to the House of Nassau, the family from which the Dutch House of Orange descends. In the early 19th century its owner of the time, the King of the Netherlands, sold it to a merchant who stripped it and sold off the materials, leaving a picturesque ruin. In 1977 the castle was handed over to the Luxembourg state, which carried out a thorough reconstruction. Today it is one of the Grand Duchy's most popular sights.
What to see
Visitors see the restored knights' and banqueting halls, a two-level 12th-century chapel, and kitchens and chambers furnished with period pieces and armour. The best views of the castle are from the valley and from the chairlift above the town. In Vianden itself, the house where Victor Hugo lived in exile is worth a visit.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q1014402
Popularity: articles about this site in 21 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).