Ansembourg, a small village with two castles

It isn’t every small village that has two castles, but Ansembourg does. visitluxembourg sums it up in a single line, one castle from the 12th century and another from the 17th, the latter with a Baroque gateway and terraced gardens. For me it’s the centrepiece of the Eisch valley, the stop I wouldn’t skip even with only an hour.

A village built by ironmasters

The interesting thing about Ansembourg is who built its main castle. Not a line of knights but Thomas Bidart, a pioneer of the iron industry, who put it up between 1639 and 1647. visitluxembourg’s children’s version puts it nicely, no prince or princess ever lived here, only the ironmasters of the Eisch valley. In the 18th century his heirs became barons in 1728 and later counts, and the gardens were laid out in 1750.

The lordship itself is older. Kehlen commune’s website records that Keispelt and Meispelt were part of this lordship in the Middle Ages, Keispelt being its main settlement.

What you can and can’t see

Best to be clear about this. The new castle has belonged to a Japanese religious community since 1987 and its buildings aren’t generally open, although visitluxembourg mentions guided visits by prior arrangement. The old castle, from the 12th century, still belongs to the Count of Ansembourg, and Visit Guttland says the only way in is by booking accommodation there.

What you can visit are the new castle’s gardens, 10am to 6pm, with terraces, fountains, fruit trees, a rose garden and an avenue of ten mythological statues. The castle’s website reminds visitors that it’s private property, that hours are cut back for events and that wedding or professional photography needs prior permission. The details are under Ansembourg Castle.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Luxembourg for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

With children

visitluxembourg’s Enigma in Ansembourg story has two siblings searching for a golden eagle that has vanished from a fountain, with six clues hidden in the courtyard, the maze, under a great plane tree and around the fountains. It turns a formal garden into a treasure hunt.

Hollenfels next door

Ansembourg and Hollenfels are 1.5 km apart on Visit Guttland’s route, the shortest leg of the whole drive. The Hollenfels keep, about 39 m tall, is closed inside, but there’s a playground beside it with a view, and a footpath leads to the Reiterlee, the knight’s rock, looking over the valley and the Marienthal.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Luxembourg for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

Getting there

The castle’s website places Ansembourg between Bour and Mersch, with motorway exits at Mamer-Capellen on the A6 and Mersch on the A7. It encourages visitors to use the free buses, since the Kapell stop is only five minutes on foot, and asks coach groups to let it know in advance. By car, follow the signs to the car park from the main entrance. If you’re doing the whole route, it’s all in valley of the seven castles.

Ansembourg belongs to Helperknapp, which had two hotels in 2025 according to STATEC. I’d stay in the capital.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Luxembourg on GetYourGuide.

If you would rather go at your own pace, see the car hire deals in Luxembourg: the earlier you book, the more cars are left to choose from.

Before you fix your dates, compare tickets to Luxembourg: the same journey can cost very different amounts from one day to the next.