Junglinster, where the Grünewald gives way to the Mullerthal

Junglinster sits between the Grünewald, the big forest just outside the capital, and the sandstone country of the Mullerthal. It’s home to 9,139 people in twelve villages, and although it belongs to the Mullerthal tourist region run from Echternach, the UNESCO geopark leaves it out. You can see why on the ground, where it’s plateau, woodland and meadow more than gorges, though the rocks appear once you’re on the trails.

Start in Bourglinster

Of the twelve villages, Bourglinster is the one worth the trip, with cobbled lanes and a 12th-century castle above them. The state bought it in 1968 and restored it by 1988, and today it holds a restaurant, function rooms and craft workshops in the old farm buildings. You can only see inside on a booked guided tour, and how to arrange one is on my Bourglinster Castle page.

A council that takes its footpaths seriously

The council claims, fairly, one of the largest trail networks in the area, 27 walks and more than 250 km, with over a hundred QR-code panels telling the story of each spot in three languages. Thirteen are fine with a pushchair.

The Junglinster loop, 9.17 km, leaves the town hall, climbs the Zwéckekopp and follows the Eechhëlz woods to Godbrange. A shorter loop from the castle walls in Bourglinster runs through the Buchhëlz and Bambësch woods. For a proper day out, ExtraTour D of the Mullerthal Trail links the region with the Grünewald over 31.5 km. Setting off near the castle, it goes via Altlinster and the Häerdcheslay, rocks where people worshipped in prehistoric times, links up with Route 3 at Blumenthal and offers a shortcut back to Bourglinster after 12.5 km. Beyond Junglinster it heads into the Gatter, 500 hectares of private grand ducal forest open to walkers since 2009.

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A priest’s Baroque legacy

Junglinster’s parish church of St Martin went up between 1772 and 1774 at the urging of the priest Johann Otto Borrigs, and it has been a listed monument since 1961. Next to it, the presbytery he had built around 1762, with a garden laid out in 1750, forms an ensemble the council has bought and describes as unusually complete.

Protected countryside

Between the Grünewald and the Mullerthal, around Junglinster, Altlinster, Bourglinster and Godbrange, visitluxembourg places almost 4,300 hectares of bird and habitat protection areas, with dry limestone grassland, juniper and orchard meadows. The wooded valleys of the White and Black Ernz are breeding grounds for birds such as the red kite.

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

Golf, and getting there

On the Belenhaff estate is the Golf de Luxembourg, an 18-hole course 17 km from the capital with green fees from €24 to €95. To reach the municipality, the Junglinster, Gemeng bus stop is at the start of the loop walk, and buses are free inside Luxembourg. For everything else in the area, see my guide to the Mullerthal region, and Bourglinster also makes a stop on my Luxembourg 4 day itinerary.

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