Annual Tourism & Culture Hike Showcases Mullerthal’s Attractions

On Wednesday 5 August 2026, Chronicle.lu participated in the annual Randonnée touristique et culturelle (Tourism and culture hike), which this year visited the restored Rococo Pavilion in Echternach, the Martbusch campsite in Berdorf and Beaufort Castle.

The tour, led by Luxembourg’s Minister Delegate for Tourism and Minister for Culture, Eric Thill, focused on sites on the Mullerthal region in an effort to highlight initiatives promoting heritage conservation, active tourism and cultural tourism.

The first stop on the tour was in Echternach Park, which was recently restored following severe damage caused by flooding in 2021. The park management explained that the restoration work is being carried out in phases to preserve the site's heritage value while ensuring sustainability, biodiversity and public accessibility are incorporated into the work. The park’s impressive flower beds are augmented with a fully restored fountain feature, seating areas and a variety of statues dedicated to notable figures from Echternach, such as composer Max Menager and philologist and professor Dr Rudolf Palgen.

At the head of the park is the recently restored Rococo Pavillon. Locally called the “Losthaus”, it was built in 1765 and, following years of degradation has been restored to its former glory. The pavilion features a sala terrena on its ground floor, featuring ornate arches and stonework as well as offering views and access to the gardens of the park. The first floor of the pavillon, accessible via a set of grand, stone steps features a fully equipped function room, offering panoramic views of both the park and the river Sauer (to the rear).

Previously used in historic times as a place of entertainment by the officers of the “hunter battalion”, who were lodged in the eastern part of the former Echternach Abbey, today, thanks to the restoration work, it will serve as a function room for events including weddings and receptions. 

During a speech in the function room, Mayor of Echternach Carole Hartman noted the historical significance of the pavilion and its place as part of Echternach’s future. She remarked on the complexities of the work undertaken to ensure the harmony of both the surroundings and the building’s historical integrity.

Minister Thill noted the importance of the park and pavilion as part of Luxembourg’s touristic heritage and thanked all of those involved in the management of the park, restoration works and the upgrades to the park's accessibility, ensuring all visitors can take advantage of what the area has to offer.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu, Mayor Hartman expressed her delight at the now renovated pavilion and how it will benefit the community in its use as a function venue and said “we are very fortunate” to have the pavilion restored and available to both visitors and the community.

The next stop on the tour saw the group visit the Martbusch campsite in Berdorf. Here, Minister Thill was joined by Joe Nilles, Mayor of Berdorf, Diana Van Bosveld of Camping Martbusch, Stéphanie Hein, President of the Berdorf Tourist Information and Tourism Association, Florence Kirtz-Bertemes, President of the Camprilux Association, and Marianne Origer of the Regional Tourist Office of Mullerthal, for a tour of the camping site’s facilities and the surrounding areas, including spectacular views of the Sûre Valley from the viewing platform located in the forest neighbouring the camping site.

During a presentation at the campsite, Minister Thill unveiled a series of promotional videos for the "Hannert de Kulissen" ("Behind the Scenes") campaign, which highlights the work of those involved in Luxembourg’s tourism industry. The minister also remarked on the "Vëlosummer" and "Guide for One Day" initiatives, which form part of the "Lëtzebuerg, dat ass Vakanz!" (“Luxembourg, it's a holiday!”) tourism campaign, as well as the ministry’s involvement in the ongoing project concentrating on upgrading the signage of Luxembourg’s regional cycling network.

The minister also spoke of the importance of campsites such as Martbusch in attracting tourists to the area and beyond and highlighted the “regional economic benefits directly from tourism” for local service providers and producers. Citing the work of the ministry, he added: “As a policy, our task is to improve the quality of our tourist offers, which we will continue to develop over the next few years…Active tourism is a very important engine for the sustainable development of all the regions and also for the whole of Luxembourg.”

In her speech, Florence Kirtz-Bertemes noted that although 2025 saw record visitor levels to Luxembourg’s camp sites, she expects those numbers to be superseded this month.

Following a standing lunch provided by the hosts, the touring party then moved on to the final destination of the tour, Beaufort Castle, where Minister Thill was joined by Jean-Luc Nosbusch, Mayor of Beaufort, Lynn Mossong and Bruno Grilo, aldermen of Beaufort, Elena Bruni, Center des Monuments Luxembourg, Patrick Sanavia, INPA director, and Patrick Diederich, architect-curator at INPA.

In his presentation, Minister Thill presented details of several culture and tourism initiatives. Included was the official announcement of the “Stones in Vibration” festival, which will take place on Saturday 22 August at Beaufort Castle. The free event is part of a pilot project involving the utilisation of Luxembourg heritage sites as event venues, transforming them into spaces for “creativity, encounters and cultural discovery”.

The first such event will feature performances from Luxembourg-based musicians, including Francis of Delirium, Eva Marija, NOSI, Samwell, Irem, Don Piano, as well as a family show by Nikki Ninja & d'Wibbeldidubs.

The family-friendly festival will also feature a Creators Market and Food Village, showcasing local artisans, creators and producers, and will host a wide variety of activities for those in attendance.

Minister Thill said: “We consciously decided to create an event that brings different worlds together. We thought about a rich music programme and a place where people can present [their works] at the Creators Market, along with local clubs and local producers from the Mullerthal at the Food Village.”

He added: “It will be a day that the whole family can enjoy. A day where music, art, gastronomy, patrimony and nature come together to create a unique experience…For us, it is an opportunity to offer an exceptional experience within this setting and to attract new audiences from all over the country. We want to create an event for tourists, for visitors from the Grand Region and also from abroad.”

The visit then continued with a guided visit to Beaufort Castle, led by representatives of the National Institute for Architectural Heritage (INPA), which offered an opportunity to view the ongoing restoration work currently taking place and to investigate the conservation projects planned for the coming years.

The tour concluded with a small reception, where those in attendance could sample locally produced alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Further information about the “Stones in Vibration” festival can be found at: Stonesinvibration.lu