Page 255 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

GR AND DUCH Y OF L UXEMBOURG  253

The market town of Larochette, huddled in a verdant glen formed by the River Ernz Blanche
Vin (Wine Road) along the river 6 Larochette the top of the crag. Located
offer wine tastings and tours, for 20 km (12 miles) N of Luxembourg here is Palais des Hombourg,
instance at Remich, Wormeldange, City. RoadMap F4. * 2,130. @ the medieval palace of two noble
Grevenmacher and the wine n Chemin J.A. Zinnen 33; 83703042. sisters who married brothers
cooperatives of Wellenstein. Just ∑ larochette.eu. from the House of Homburg
north of Wellenstein, among the in 1338–45. Restoration of the
wineries of Bech-Kleinmacher, is A pleasant market town in the castle has begun with the now
a charming wine and folklore valley of River Ernz Blanche, complete Maison de Créhange,
museum, the Musée A Possen. Larochette has more than 800 an impressive evocation of a
This has furnished rooms in a years of history, centring upon its 14th-century fortified residence
set of 400-year-old wine-making castle set on a rocky sandstone named after a family that
buildings and includes wine crag that dominates the town. inhabited this part of the castle.
tasting among its draws. The This location gave the town its Looping out from the town are
town of Ehnen, in the commune name: Larochette is French for some 30 km (18 miles) of
of Wormeldange, is the site of The Small Rock. In German, the walking paths.
the Musée National du Vin, town is Fels (Rock). Extensive
which explains wine-making ruins of the 11th–16th-century P Château de Larochette
pro cesses, again with tastings. Château de Larochette, Tel 837497. Open Easter–Oct:
The wine-growing village of destroyed by fire in 1565, cover 10am–6pm daily. &
Schengen is where the Schengen
Agreement was signed in 1985
by European ministers, loosening The Wines of Luxembourg
the border controls between Appreciated by wine enthusiasts for their dry, fresh flavours,
participating countries. Luxembourg wines have little of the cloying fruitiness some times
Cruises offer an agreeable associated with northern white wines. The Romans are said to
way to see the extensive have brought wine grapes to the Moselle valley, and the local
Moselle Luxembourgeoise. grape variety Elbling may date right back to that era. The vines
The cruise-boat Princesse grow in a string of 28 towns and villages lining the left bank of
Marie-Astrid runs a daily the river between Schengen and Wasserbillig. Slopes here are
schedule between varying sunny and the climate is cool, favouring white wine grapes. The
destinations – with return trips main varieties are Rivaner, Auxerrois Blanc, Elbling, Riesling, Pinot
by coach – from late March Blanc and Pinot Gris. Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer also make
to late September. Details an appearance. Pinot Noir is grown
to make rosé and a small amount
are avail able from the of red wine. A sizeable proportion
Grevenmacher tourist office. of the harvest is used to make the
sparkling wine Crémant
E Musée A Possen Luxembourgeois, and there are
Keeseschgaessel 2, Bech- three types of sweet wines: vin de
Kleinmacher. Tel 23697353. glace, vin de paille and vendanges
Open Easter–Oct: 11am–6pm tardives. Some 80 per cent of the
Tue–Sun. & 7 = total white wine production is
∑ musee-possen.lu
consumed in Belgium, and much
E Musée National du Vin of the rest is sent to Germany to Barrels stacked in a wine cellar of the
Route du Vin 115, Ehnen. Tel 760026. be made into sekt (sparkling wine). Moselle valley
Open Apr–Oct: Tue–Sun.

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