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oto Luxemburg. LUXEMBURG. Route 44. 405
, s're on the Bock, a rocky peninsula formed by, the Alzette; this
zis a heap of ruins when Charles Martel gave it with the sur-
hajanding territory to the Abhey of S. Maximin at Tréves; these
nds the monks ceded in exchange for others to Sigefrid, Lord of
‘rgyerich and son of a Count of Ardenne; he duilt a castle here,
sineath the protection of which houses gradually sprang up and
gmre shortly after surrounded with walls: the town was several
zaioes enlarged until in the XIV cent. it attained its present di-
iauensions. It is now the capital of a Duchy (belonging to Holland,
» it governed by laws of its own), and at the same time a fortress
(ji the German Confederation occupied by a garrison of 6,000 Prus-
zis. Its situation is very singular, and the extent and peculiar
jaracter of its fortifications combine to make it highly pictu-
yypsque. The traveller from Arlon, traversing the table-land by
jiuhich the upper town is joined to the neighbouring country on
7 «@ W., is little prepared for the extraordinary scenery that awaits
@m. On the N., E.and S. the rock descends in a precipice, 200
sob) deep; opposite to it rise other lofty rocks equally precipitous,
smfonected with it by drawbridges, while between them the lower
wvwn, divided into 2 quarters by the Bock, nestles in a deep valley
<giatered by the Petershurn and Alzette ; it communicates with the
(pper town by: flights of steps and by streets ascending in zig-
2igs in such a manner as to be passable for carriages. The for-
dications, partly excavated in the solid rock, have been increased
fid improved at different epochs, by the French in 1684, the Spa-
«#ards in 1697, Austrians in 1713, and German Confederation,
126-9 and 1838-8; the works on the 2 last occasions included
9 #e entire restoration of the fortifications and the construction of
iveral new ontworks; they absorbed upwards of 2 million flo-
fos: it is now the strongest place in Europe after Gibraltar;
jo defend it properly, itis said, that it would be necessary to have a
secefarrison of 15,000 men, or-one fifth more than the entire popu-
| ottion of the town! The most remarkable part of the fortifications
4) the Bock, united to the upper towa by a stone bridge of 5 arches
‘sq perposed on a massive arch which spans the valley, commanded
s ) and down by this rock which is covered from top to bottom
| ith loopholes and embrasures; its casemates, capable of con-
scitfiming 4,000 men, are like those of Gibraltar entirely excavated
ij the solid rock. Admission may be obtained on application to
“op 41e commandant. The view obtained of the town from the valley
oii the German side outside the Porte de Tréves is very curious
fod should by no means be neglected.
gii@ The Carneprat or Norre Dame was built in the XVI cent. by
zy 91e Jesuits, whose college adjoining is now the Athenée; here are
ghe Public Library, 30,000 vols., aud the Museum, which
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