Haff Réimech, birdwatching on the Luxembourg Moselle

Ask most people about nature in Luxembourg and they’ll mention the Mullerthal rocks or the woods of the north. Hardly anyone thinks of the south, yet the liveliest spot in the country, if you count birds, sits on the flat ground of the Moselle next to the swimming lakes at Remerschen. It’s called Haff Réimech, a cluster of ponds between the vines and the river that grew out of the old gravel pits of Remerschen and Wintrange, and the government portal calls it unmissable for birdwatchers.

Why it matters

The numbers in the official leaflet stick in the mind. On roughly 0.1% of the country’s surface, up to 76% of all the bird species ever recorded in Luxembourg have been spotted, which makes it the most species-rich wetland in the Grand Duchy. It’s protected as a nature reserve, as a Ramsar site under the international wetlands convention and within Europe’s Natura 2000 network. visitluxembourg rates it a wetland of European importance and lists the little bittern, corncrake, heron and gadwall among its species. For many protected migrants it’s a rest stop halfway through the journey, so spring and autumn are the times to come.

Start at the Biodiversum

The Biodiversum Camille Gira nature centre stands on the edge of the reserve, on an artificial island at the foot of the vineyards. It’s a timber building shaped like an upturned boat hull, modelled on the longhouses of the Celts who settled here, and the architecture alone justifies the stop.

Inside is an interactive exhibition across two floors. Downstairs covers the history of the reserve and the underwater world. Upstairs deals with birds and plants, other reserves around the country and environmental protection. There are temporary shows on the region and sustainability, plus a small shop selling books. Admission is free. From April to October the doors are open 10:00-18:00, Tuesday to Sunday, and from November to early April closing time moves forward to 17:00. It’s shut on Mondays.

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

The trail and its hides

The discovery trail round the ponds starts at the Biodiversum. The official leaflet marks two loops, a short one of 2 km that it reckons at an hour and a half and a longer one of 3.9 km at about three hours, stops included. Along the way are several hides and a tower, each linked to a bird. In the reeds, the little bittern. On open water, the great crested grebe. On the gravel, the little ringed plover. On the mud, the common snipe. And from the tower, the cuckoo.

Bring binoculars and patience. Hides like these work best in silence, early or late in the day when fewer people are about.

Children and groups

The centre runs activities and guided walks with its own staff, school programmes and packages for groups. Going on your own with children, the free Actionbound app has a rally through the reserve with challenges and questions, and all you do is download it and scan the code. More ideas like this are in Luxembourg with kids.

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

Getting there

The reserve is at 5 Bréicherwee, the same lane as the swimming lakes, on the edge of Remerschen. Without a car, the bus to the Remerschen, Al Schoul stop costs nothing inside Luxembourg (mobiliteit.lu has the timetable). For a bike, the tourist office in the Schengen museum entrance hires them out from March to October. As the lakes next door cap entry at 3,000, in July and August I’d come early or late in the afternoon.

Making a day of it

Haff Réimech fits nicely into a day in the southern Moselle. In the morning, the museum and boat in Schengen village. At midday, a swim in the Remerschen lakes in summer or a tasting at the Caves du Sud if not. In the afternoon, the reserve trail in the low light. Nearby are two more reserves with trails, the Kuebendällchen at Wintrange and the Grouf, with a 7.2 km route, and the Strombierg forest trail of 3.5 km. If it rains, the other indoor stop in the village is the Valentiny Foundation at 34 route du Vin in Remerschen, which visitluxembourg lists as open in the afternoons, 14:00 to 18:00, Wednesday to Sunday. The rest of the region is covered in the Luxembourg Moselle Valley guide.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Haff Réimech 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.