Mayor of Luxembourg City, Lydie Polfer, was in the vineyard gardens of the former Neumünster Abbey, 'Klouschtergaart', this morning to participate in the grape harvest.
In 2004, as part of its partnership with the 'Landesgartenschau' of Trier City, the Ville de Luxembourg embarked on rehabilitating these terraced gardens at the foot of the Bock rock and with the help of Nicolas Ris, also present, the vineyards were once again cultivated and medicinal plants grown alongside the vegetables which had already been there.
The harvest, covering the four acres of vineyard available, will gather grapes to produce traditional Luxembourgish wines such as Rivaner and Auxerrois, with other wine forms such as Riesling to be produced from grapes which will be cultivated in one month's time.
This garden is dedicated to agro-biodiversity and the conservation of traditional Luxembourg plant forms. The continuations of these native plants is ensured through the harvesting of seeds, which have become resistant due to several years' work and the microclimate found at the foot of the Bock rock.
Photos by Sarah Graham
