Échappées belles – Week-end au Luxembourg

Et pour ne rater aucune de vos Échappées belles, abonnez-vous ici : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-HX7z7qJlbuYvhTa3VhGKQ/featured?sub_confirmation=1

Échappées belles – Week-end au Luxembourg 14 juin 2025

Sophie Jovillard explore le duché de Luxembourg, un pays méconnu, authentique et inspirant. Au coeur de cette redécouverte : des paysages insoupçonnés – forêts majestueuses, vallées secrètes, villages pittoresques – et une vitalité culturelle portée par une population engagée, innovante et fière de ses racines. Au cours de son voyage, Sophie va découvrir le rôle discret mais central de la famille grand-ducale. Proche de la population, elle incarne un lien vivant entre traditions et modernité. Par son engagement en faveur de l’environnement, de la culture et de la solidarité, elle reflète les valeurs humaines et ouvertes du Luxembourg d’aujourd’hui.

… -“Moien”, hello everyone. Very happy to be back with you for new beautiful escapes. We’re going to spend a weekend in Luxembourg. I admit that I don’t know this destination very well yet and that I really want to be surprised. To illustrate the element of surprise, an American in Luxembourg will be welcoming me. A perfect illustration of Luxembourg’s multiculturalism and multilingualism. Hey! “Moien”, Mike! -Sophie, moien! -How are you? -Welcome to Luxembourg. -Thank you very much. -The city and the countryside. -It’s really the country on the 3 borders between France, Germany and Belgium. -Right in the middle. There’s a little bit of everything. We have a lot of history, castles, free public transport. In any direction you want to go, by train, bus or tram, everything is free. -Shall we go by tram? -Here we go, let’s go. Wherever you go, it’s free. … -I have lots of things to discover, thanks to you, about Luxembourg. We mostly think of the financial center and we don’t think that it can be a tourist spot to wander around. -There’s much more than that. So many people come from so many different places and live here. They bring their own things, their own music and their own food. It’s very multicultural. -With its 2,586 km2, Luxembourg is no bigger than a French department like the Rhône. Let yourself be surprised by this Luxembourg weekend. Welcome to the small country with 3 borders in the heart of Europe. Welcome to Luxembourg. -Moien, welcome to Luxembourg! … -Sophie Jovillard takes a fresh look at Luxembourg. -It’s truly a compendium of European landscapes, as if Luxembourg had taken a little bit from each country, from France, Belgium, Germany. -I photograph one of the most emblematic buildings of Luxembourg. -For a weekend… -Isn’t that beautiful? -It’s very beautiful. I’m quite surprised, I didn’t expect this kind of landscape at all. -We often have the impression that Luxembourg is very small , but it’s quite a vast area with a lot of nature. Damn. … -That could take your breath away. -Here we have the highest elevation gain in Luxembourg, more than 200 m. For mountaineers, that means nothing , but for us, it’s our mountain. -Ready to go? -It’s Annick the biker. -Yes! -And ready for an intense escape? -Here, I feel life at 150%. -Are you sure I’ll make it, Annick? I was expecting a weekend full of surprises in Luxembourg , but here I am, Annick, tied to a leash by Joseph, who suggests we set off in a paper boat that looks like a sarcophagus, on a lake, and the wind picks up! Laughter. -Go! -WELCOME TO LUXEMBOURG! -It’s a lovely sight. -Mike, if we’re starting our stroll in Luxembourg City on the Place de la Constitution, it’s because it means something special to you. -If I have to start a tour of Luxembourg City, this is the place to do it. This is the Péitrussdall. It’s probably my favorite place here. It’s an extraordinary jungle that runs through the heart of the city. A magnificent bridge. You have this thing there that looks like a castle. What is it? Another nice bridge, Notre-Dame , and then the Gëlle Fra, a vital symbol for the Luxembourg people. It’s just that everything is here. -You fell in love with the city and the country. You tell all about it on your social media. That’s how I met you, in fact. -When I started the Facebook page An American in Luxembourg, an American in Paris, it’s nice , so I thought of this title. I thought it would only interest people from the United States, my friends from the Bellingham-Seattle area, but very quickly, Luxembourgers said to themselves: “This American is traveling all over the country, he goes to places I’ve never been before. Have you seen that?” And very quickly, it became popular among Luxembourgers who started reaching out to us, welcoming us and saying: “We’ll take you here, there.” It became really nice to show Luxembourgers what they have in their own backyard. City bustle. … Here, it’s the Oktav Maërtchen. It’s not always like this. It’s a special fair that takes place for about 2 weeks in the spring. -We speak all languages, but we can eat all cuisines on this occasion because I see Greek, steaks. If I really want to taste a typical Luxembourgish specialty, what should I eat? -I have what you need. It’s a little difficult to pronounce. You’re going to look at the name, there are about a hundred letters. She tries to pronounce it. You’re almost there. Before I was a citizen, I used to… He stammers. But as soon as I got citizenship, I was able to pronounce it. -Very well. What is it, exactly? -Please. -2, please. In fact, are they potato pancakes, to put it simply? -You have to put this. It’s what I would call applesauce that you can put on top. -Hello, madam, I’m trying to understand the principle. Do you have to eat the potato pancakes with the applesauce? -Exactly. In Luxembourg, we eat it with applesauce. You have sweet and savory together. -Is it really the typical dish of Luxembourg? -There. -What’s the recipe for galettes? -It’s a secret. Laughter. It’s potato with onions, herbs , and a lot of love. -You can see it, and a nice smile. We thought it was a rather special event. -It’s Oktav. In the past, it was rather religious. Now, it’s a big celebration in Luxembourg for two weeks. -A popular celebration where people get together. -Exactly. -Thank you! Small potato pancakes, a little greasy, let’s not lie. We’ll sweeten them with a small spoonful of applesauce. Why not? Bon appétit! -Guten Appetit! Sophie, this is the Corniche, which many people consider to be the most beautiful balcony in Europe. It’s a kind of mix between old Luxembourg and new Luxembourg there. All of this is the old 17th-century fortifications that were built by so many people: Prussians, Austrians… It’s passed from hand to hand so many times. -I’d like us to take advantage of being on the most beautiful balcony in Europe to take a souvenir photo of the two of us . Shutter. OK, shall we go down? Shall we walk? -We’ll take the elevator. -There’s an elevator, great. Upper Town and Grund. … In one minute, we go from the Upper Town to the Lower Town thanks to the elevator and we arrive here, in the Grund district. -Grund, yes. -It’s like a small village. -Completely. This is the Alzette River. Everything in front of you is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Very beautiful! I can even try one from here with the zoom. -Are you an official photographer too? -The blue she’s wearing is very beautiful. Another one! Legend has it that a mermaid named Mélusine lives there. She was married to Count Siegfried, who built the original castle, in 963, I think. She agreed to marry him on the condition that she have every Saturday to herself. He agreed, but one day he got curious. He looked in the bathroom where she was taking a bath and realized that her lower body was a fish, so she was a mermaid. As soon as she realized he was watching her, she jumped into the river, never to be seen again. -And she disappeared! We had discovered her secret, poor thing. There’s Mélusine, the mermaid whose secret we didn’t respect. -Yes, they say she sometimes sings in the valley, but I’ve never heard her. -Ready… Go! -I think I’m the only Luxembourger on the team so far. I’ve been at the club for 7-8 years now. -I’m of Belgian origin. I’ve lived in Luxembourg for 10 years now. -I’m from Cyprus but I was born in the United States. -10 rowers, 7 nationalities. A team that reflects Luxembourg. A country where almost half the population was born abroad. A true cultural crossroads that this club proudly displays. -We’re going to head towards Schengen, which is about 4.5 km away, to reach the 3-border zone where the Schengen Treaty was signed and we’ll come back here, so about 9 km in total. -In Schengen, known for the agreement on the free movement of people in Europe signed 40 years ago, the Moselle connects France, Germany and Luxembourg. The country’s 3 official languages. A strong symbol for these rowers from the 4 corners of Europe, most of whom work in European institutions. -Rowing here, for many people in the club, obviously represents a passion, because it’s one of the most beautiful sports there is. It was one of the first sports at the Olympics. There’s a lot of nobility in this sport. It’s an opportunity to see many people of different nationalities and to simply share. -To understand Luxembourg, you have to immerse yourself in this joyful mix. Among the largest communities are Belgians, French, Italians, and especially Portuguese. There are nearly 100,000 of them for 700,000 inhabitants. -Obrigado. They speak Portuguese. -In Differdange, a predominantly Portuguese commune, volunteers like Edgar regularly participate in the language café. -It’s a little gift. -Ah! Comments in English. -Friendly chat rooms organized by the town hall to learn to speak the country’s languages. -Nathalie. -Jean. -Isabelle. We’re here to exchange ideas, to have a good time together. It’s 1h30, it goes by really quickly. I think it’s really nice. It’s a lovely cultural melting pot. It brings a lot, you know. -Multilingual by choice, Luxembourg fully embraces its European DNA. It is even the only country in the Union to have made May 9, Europe Day, a real public holiday and to celebrate it. … A clear way of saying that here, Europe is concrete. -It is important to celebrate Europe to remind us that Europe was created to avoid war between us in the first place. We are a union of peace. -Today is a very important day for Europe. It is an honor to participate with my husband and our son. -For me, being European means being proud of who we are and being kind to the whole world. -Among the many visitors, one personality attracts all eyes: the Grand Duke of Luxembourg himself. As Head of State, he never misses this event which demonstrates his country’s European commitment. -I think we see Luxembourg as a center, so it was only natural that we should be deeply European and proclaim this love for Europe. The choir sings “Imagine” by John Lennon. … -75 years ago today, Robert Schuman, another Luxembourger, laid the foundations of a united Europe. Today, his country continues to embody its spirit, multilingual, multicultural, and resolutely forward-looking. Fanfare. … -Mike, this is a wonderful gift you’re giving me. We’re all alone in the Grand Ducal Palace, which are we going to be able to visit? -Pretty nice place, isn’t it? -It’s exceptional. -It’s a real privilege. It’s only open to the public for two months in the summer. They have about 11,000 tickets, and they’re selling like that. But I pulled a few strings just for you and got a private tour of the Grand Ducal Palace of Luxembourg. -Is the Grand Ducal Palace the Grand Duke’s residence or where he works? -This is his workplace. The Grand Duke’s residence is in Colmar-Berg, north of the city. -This is a constitutional monarchy. What is the Grand Duke’s place in society and government? -The function of the monarchy is to ensure stability. The Grand Duke has been in power for 25 years. His father was 35 and his mother was 45. Throughout history, there is the stability that the monarchy brings, and every time there is a state visit, the Grand Duke, as head of state, welcomes them to Luxembourg. He is, in a way, the face of Luxembourg. -A new page in the history of the Grand Duchy will be written. -Absolutely. In October, there will be a new Grand Duke, William. -Here, we have the portraits of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess. What will happen when William, the future Grand Duke, takes office? Will the official portraits of his father and mother be removed? Surely not? -Yes, when he becomes Grand Duke, all the portraits will go into this room. And all those who are already here will go into this room. It’s a kind of generational leap forward. -They will shift all the portraits, a way of redrawing the family tree. … Perhaps if we push open a door, we will come across the Grand Duke, Maria Teresa, or the Hereditary Grand Duke? -If there is an official visit of a few days and the head of state needs a place to spend the night, this is where he stays. -If I had known, I could have asked for a room, it would have been nice to stay here for my weekend in Luxembourg. -I don’t know if it’ll work, Sophie. -It’s a shame because I would have loved to sleep in this room. It’s charming, I like it a lot. If I leave a little note on the desk, do you think one of the members of the Grand Ducal family will read it? -It’s worth a try. -I’ll make “royal highnesses” plural, that way, no matter who reads it, they’ll think that the little French girl is polite, she says thank you. They’ll really wonder who Sophie and Mike are. You’re a real cycling enthusiast. -I like to ride them, I like to watch and follow the races. I’ve even participated in some. -Here we have your favorite means of transport: the bicycle. Shall we put them here, Mike? -It’s perfect, just for us. Announcement jingle. … Do you need help with your bike? -Hello! An American in Luxembourg? -Yeah! -Nice to meet you. Christiane, I’m from Luxembourg. -Are you Luxembourgish? -Yes! I follow you on social media. -Thank you! -Do you want me to take a picture with Mike? -Yes! -You’re famous! Have a nice day! -Ciao! I love it, they’re all very nice. We share this interest in travel, and people tell me where they’re going. I thought, “Wow, I would never have thought of this route, it’s really cool.” There are so many places to go, things to see, castles! -Are we going to go on the castle route? -Yes, we’re going to see the great Vianden. -It’s pretty, this cycle path that runs along the river. What’s it called? -I think it’s the Three Rivers cycle path. So there’s the Sûre and the Our that end up in Wasserbillig, which gives you the Moselle. -OK! -Wow, isn’t that beautiful? -It’s very beautiful. It’s really the bicycle that allowed you to discover all this landscape. Did you think this was really the ideal means of transport? -For me, we’re going at exactly the right speed. We’re outside, with nature and baby ducks. -Hee hee, baby! I’m quite surprised, I didn’t expect this kind of scenery at all. -We often have the impression that Luxembourg is very small , but it’s quite a vast area with lots of nature. Water flowing. That’s it, we’ve arrived at Vianden Castle. -It’s magnificent! … Wasn’t Victor Hugo the one who wrote about this castle? -Hugo will spend a lot of time here because he was in exile because of Napoleon III. He wrote that one day, people from all over Europe would come to visit Vianden because of the castle and the beautiful surroundings. And from America! -In any case, it was a very visionary thought. I understand that even though he was in exile, he was very inspired by this castle. Hey, it’s starting to climb! -I feel like I’m in the Tour de France right now. Come on, come on, come on! There she is. -Very nice view. Perfect. -Great. I went to the trouble of planting all these yellow plants for you. -That’s so nice of you. -I think about that kind of thing, you know. -Very nice, unobstructed view, with Germany right behind it, right? -Yes, probably, behind that hill where the wind turbines are. It’s right there. -This castle is really very famous in Luxembourg. -Yes, it’s surely the flagship castle of Luxembourg. CNN said it was in the top 20 in the world. I think they’re right. -Both of us, from the beginning, have said a lot that it’s a small country, but paradoxically, it can also be a big country because it’s a place of crossroads, of encounters. -It’s a country full of common sense. They realized that half the country comes from elsewhere, but they make sure to welcome them, you know? It speaks to me. “We have money, so let’s make all public transportation free.” They use their resources for everyone. For me, it’s a very inspiring place. Come on, I’ll make a quick little video. -For your social media? -Yes. An American in Luxembourg on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, whatever, Facebook… -What should I say? -I’m with Sophie. Teach me something to say in French. This is Vianden Castle. I often end my videos like this. Laughs. -Thank you very much, Mike. … -On the hillside, the fortifications of Luxembourg’s capital bear witness to centuries of domination. Burgundians, Spanish, French, each invader has left their mark on the old town. -Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. -HELLO. -Welcome to Luxembourg. When you look at the panorama from this viewpoint, you can see this side of the valley Remains of the fortress, one of the gateways to the fortress city. When you look across, at the Kirchberg plateau, you still have remains of the wall and fort, which, among other things, were built by the French military architect Vauban. -Much more than just walls, these remains are an open-air history book that can also be discovered in its bowels. -From here, we will access the casemates, the underground world of the fortress city of Luxembourg. Follow me. We will head towards the main gallery of the casemates. They were dug by hand. Gunpowder was also used. The Bock casemates we are currently in were dug in the 18th century by the Austrians when Luxembourg was part of what was called the Austrian Netherlands. They were an integral part of the defense system of the Luxembourg fortress. Up to 1,200 soldiers could live here, there were even horses. -At the time, the casemates stretched over 23 km under the city. It was the largest underground network of its kind in the world. An ingenious system for moving around without being vulnerable in the event of a siege. -This is the main gallery. What is very interesting and a tourist attraction for Luxembourg is the view of both sides of the Bock rock. -Large openings dug during the dismantling of the fortress now offer spectacular views of the city and its unusual history. -Opposite, there are 4 buildings that were also built by Vauban as military barracks. You had one bed for 3 soldiers. One soldier was resting, the other was on guard, the third was away. This means that the sheets never had time to cool down. Also imagine the hygiene conditions at that time, at the end of the 17th century. -Even we, as Luxembourgers, don’t often get the chance to visit because we think, “They’re casemates, yes…” but when we’re here, it’s truly magnificent, impressive. -Barely 10% of the casemates are open to the public. Thanks to the commitment of enthusiasts like Patrick, new galleries are restored and opened to the public every year. A painstaking work to preserve this buried memory. About thirty kilometers south of the capital, the mining basin is home to another of Luxembourg’s underground heritage sites. Volunteers from the Minieresbunn association are working to keep the railway network that crosses the mines intact so that as many people as possible can discover it. Train whistle. This morning, everything is almost ready to immerse visitors in the daily life of a mine. But before welcoming the public, there are still 1 or 2 small details to be sorted out. For these descendants of miners, retracing the steps of their ancestors is always an emotional moment. -Every time I enter the mine, it reminds me of the miners who worked every day underground to earn their living. It’s inexplicable… -The day’s work: securing the place with an anti-collapse grid. -It’s a place where it’s more crumbled and where there are more falling stones. This is mainly because our emergency exit is just below. -Once the retaining grid is installed… The whistle blows. The path is clear for visitors. The train hums. For the most part, these are Luxembourg families discovering the world of mining for the first time. -Here we are, here in an old iron mine In operation until 1978. At first, all work was done by hand, and from the late 1920s onward, more and more compressed air tools were introduced. Hubbub. To check safety, the miner takes his crowbar. With the rounded head, he’ll… Its hollow. He’ll probe, that is, see if it sounds good. If it sounds hollow, you have to turn the crowbar over to lower anything that could fall and cause an accident. -It’s extremely important to show the children and yourself, to take the time to visit Luxembourg’s heritage. -We, in the family, think that they spend a very long time on the telephones. These are things we want to show them about our society in Luxembourg. We found this day really enjoyable. -Here, every gesture is inherited, every tool tells of an era. A heritage to be discovered, between transmission and duty of remembrance. -Hello! Thank you. -Is everything going well? -Everything’s fine. I was checking the weather forecast for my weekend. I see sunshine, sunshine! Thank you, have a good day. Radio in Luxembourgish. … -Hello! Hello, sir. -How are you? -Nice to meet you in the RTL studios, Annick. In our country, it’s 3. Thank you, Annick, for welcoming me here just after your show on RTL. RTL is the media that all Luxembourgers listen to. -It’s Radio Télé Luxembourg. Many people don’t know this , but it started here. Today, RTL, in our country, is a little different from yours. In our country, it’s both private and public. We obviously cover Luxembourg news first, since that’s kind of our raison d’être, to inform Luxembourgers about what’s happening in this country. But the country is so small, we want to look elsewhere too because everything that happens in France, Belgium, or Germany concerns us directly. We watch European and international news too. I work mostly in political news, but as soon as I’m in reporter mode, I go abroad, I cover European summits; I was in Ukraine last week. It’s a big change, the life of a journalist at RTL. -Journalist and senior reporter, but there’s more to life than work, my dear Annick. -I’m not here just to work. Life is for living. Let’s go out! -That’s a good resolution. -Have a good day, Pierre. I’ll take you away, Annick. There’s Annick the biker. -Well, yes. The engine starts. … We’re really lucky with the weather. -It dispels the preconceived notions that sometimes it rains in Luxembourg. -From time to time, eh! I leave the city, I’m immediately in the middle of nature. “The motorcycle allows me enormous freedom and flexibility. -These pretty little country roads are very pleasant to discover by motorcycle. It’s really a distillation of European landscapes, as if Luxembourg had taken a little bit of each country. A little bit of France, Belgium, Germany. -It’s true. People who come to Luxembourg are always really surprised because they say to themselves: “How is it that in such a small area, you have so much variation?” We’re lucky. -That’s right. It’s not a flat country at all. It’s hilly with a huge amount of forests. -We have a super small country, so it had better become a bit of a model. But hey, it can still do better. -Annick, where are we going? -We’re right in the middle of Mullerthal, what the Luxos call Luxembourg’s little Switzerland. You’ll see rock formations everywhere in the middle of the forest. We’re on our way to our climbing spot. -OK, this is where we’re going to climb. -Absolutely. Birds singing. … -You’ve found a very beautiful place. I have the feeling little elves are going to come out. -Here, as a child, it was great because we played, we came for walks. From childhood, I would like to go outside. I wasn’t a child who said, “No, I want to stay inside and watch TV.” For me, it was always going outside. My parents had to say yes , but we also had to work a little for school. If someone had asked me what I wanted to be, I would have said adventurer. Doesn’t that exist? -It suits you, I like the look, it looks very adventurer. … -We’ll follow each other because it’s going to get narrower. We can already see the beginning of the walls. -OK! … Annick, a friend of yours is here to lead the way. -Yes, because we still want to have a line next to ours. It’s also good that he warms up a little. -For me, it’s going to be a lot less easy, I think. I hadn’t seen, but you have funny glasses. -Yes. If you do a lot of climbing like us, your neck is always in a bad position. These glasses have little mirrors in them. I must not be in super extensor like that either . -We can see the pro. Are you really sure I’m going to make it, Annick? -Yes. The first steps are going to be a little hot, maybe, but we’re here to help you a little. -Yes, because that, for example, I don’t know how to do. Are you still okay, Annick? -Yes. -Are you enjoying it? -It’s a crazy pleasure. It’s great, honestly. I’m a few degrees warmer than you down there. I’m getting a little sun, it’s great. -These glasses are great. I don’t know who invented them , but they’re the invention of the century. -Can you see me okay? -Yes. How do you feel up there? -Excellent. I love it. It clears my head. I’m so in the moment. Up here, I feel 150% of life. -There, you’re far from the news. -Yes. With all the misery in the world, sometimes we tend to bring everything back home, but I let off steam by exercising outside. I forget everything, all the bad, and I try to recharge all my batteries. It takes my mind off things. -It’s an outlet for you. -That’s it. … Birdsong. -In Luxembourg, a new outdoor activity is developing at high speed: canitrail, running with dogs. -Stop! Barking. I never run without a dog, and I like it because it gives me a lot of motivation to run. Even if the weather isn’t great, you have to take the dogs out. For the same price as going for a walk, I can do a short run. -Mike combined his passion for running and dogs to create his ideal job: dog walking coach. Barking. I’ve already put on my harness with a flexible leash. There you go, he’s getting excited. It’s normal. He’s already very nervous because he knows exactly that with this harness, we’re either going to have a super nice walk or a race. If everyone’s ready, we can start. He speaks Luxembourgish. -Sporty hikes, which are trendy in this country where the number of pet dogs has doubled in the last 5 years. … -We’re a dog walking group that goes for walks every Sunday. The dogs have a good routine. It’s a specific harness for the dog that’s designed so that the dog can pull without any trouble and put all its weight on it without any difficulty. It never takes your breath away. -But canimarche isn’t just a walk. It’s a complete sport where the effort is shared , and to progress, you need to vary the terrain. Today, Mike chose a spectacular site: the Molberlee ridge. -Here, we’re at the entrance to the Molberlee, the most technical point of our entire walk. We’re trying to take the tension off our dog so he doesn’t pull us too much. We try to keep them behind us, without tension, until we reach the entrance to the forest. It’s a very steep climb. Slow down, dogs. … -The Molberlee is a natural curiosity in the north of the country, a unique and little-known rocky ridge in the Luxembourg Ardennes. -The dogs are in great condition. We can do 10, 15, or 20 km sessions with them. They still have to learn to hold back when it’s very steep, but that’s why we’re here today, and we’re going to try to work on that. -Another way to admire Luxembourg’s landscapes is to observe them from the sky. -Hello. -Hello. -Dominique Nelis arrives at the summit with only one idea in mind: to fly. But it all depends on the wind. -It’s okay, we’ll see how it goes. We can’t really know. That’s the story. There are days like today when it’s not safe. We come anyway, we try. Since we live nearby, it’s easy for us. -There are about sixty paragliders who regularly meet up on these heights of the Sûre Valley, the only place in the country where the altitude allows for safe takeoffs. -We have the highest vertical drop in Luxembourg here. We have more than 200 meters of vertical drop. For mountaineers, it means nothing , but for us, it’s our mountain. I’ve been paragliding all the time for 16 years. It’s my passion. -A sport of freedom but with its rules: maximum authorized altitude, 1040 m. -I have a flight instrument that tells me my altitude, the air zones. This allows us not to break the air law because it can be very boring for the sport. We don’t try to look for problems. -One last glance at the windsock and off we go. -It’s magnificent… There, we’re climbing at 3 m/s. Oh my… So… -Up there, the landscape unfolds like a map. We glide above forests, villages and castles. Another view of Luxembourg. -It’s a great sport. Every flight is different. It can be short, it can be good, it can be eventful, a bit like today. You unload your equipment on a slope and then you take off. We’re always in great places, actually. It’s fantastic. Come on! Hop là! -The same desire unites these enthusiasts, that of connecting with nature in a different way. … Excitement. -What’s he doing? -Always doing silly things, you know. Laughter. Words in Luxembourgish. Explosion. -There. That’s Joseph. It’s always like that. He’s always blowing something up. -Hi, Joseph. … I really want to know a little more about you. We’re in an abandoned train station, in a lab? I don’t really know where I am. -Actually, this is my studio where I always produce my science experiment show. -Oh, okay. You’re a bit like the Jamy Gourmaud of Luxembourg? -Some people say that, but I don’t think I’m that well-known. -“C’est pas sorcier”, “Le monde de Jamy”… -It must be said that in Luxembourg, he’s still very well-known. -This is Mr. Science. -I’m preparing for a show I have next weekend on climate change. I want to make this topic More positive, and one of the solutions for producing energy in the future is hydrogen. When it burns, it no longer produces CO2, which is harmful to global warming, but water is formed. I’m now going to fill this box of chips with hydrogen. -OK. Your boyfriend is really weird. -I know. -We’re going to burn the hydrogen, it’s going to explode. The one who catches the box of chips will be spared from the next challenge. -Is there a next challenge? OK. Go ahead. -I think I’ve had enough… Watch out. It’s burning now. It’s going to fly away soon. -We have to catch the box. Explosion. Screams of fright and laughter. So good! I’ve never seen anything like that. -Does that mean Annick is spared for the next challenge, which is? -We’re going to build a boat. -Okay, a small paper boat? -We’re not going to make it small, but a very big one. Can you swim? -I know how to swim! -So there won’t be any problems. -We’ll take up the challenge. Is that good? OK. Let’s go. … Are you good at origami? -Yeah, not bad. Annick sighs. -Hey! -You’ll have the most complicated boat and you’ll have the easiest. -I can already see my shipwreck. Laughter. -You unfold it and fold the corners towards the middle. -Is that what you did as a child? Were you always a playful child? -I always tried to make boats that went as far as possible on a river. This model we’re building is designed so you can climb inside. -What do you mean? -Oh, you don’t know yet? -No! -We’re going to build this boat really big and you, since you lost to Annick, you’re going to climb inside and we’re going to go out onto the lake. -Those Luxembourgers are crazy! … -You have to be careful not to break it. You have to fold it back to the other side. -Is it an artificial lake, Annick? -Yes, it’s our largest water reserve in Luxembourg. It’s really a very important lake. We’re not allowed to go out with motorized boats. We’re only allowed to take stand-up paddleboards. There’s a solar boat for tourists… -They called me, they told me we’re not allowed to sail with paper boats either. We have to cancel this experience. Sorry. … -You can go diving in our lake, here. There are still remains of a sunken village. -Not bad, look! It’s cool. I got it. I’ll have to reproduce this on a bigger scale. -We make the folds, the 4 corners up to the middle and then, when we make a fold, we first come back to the middle, then to the sides. -I wasn’t very good at math and physics at school. Is that not a big deal? -To do this, no. My job is to elevate science to the same level where people talk about theater, music. -I like it. -You don’t need to be a musician to love music. It’s the same thing, you don’t need to be a scientist to love science or be interested in it. I’d like to convey this message to people. Words in Luxembourgish. … -I don’t know what you’re saying, but I know you’re thinking of my safety above all. That’s what reassures me. -OK. We’re almost there. We just have to turn it over one last time. -We could even lie down in it. -It could almost be a bed. Or a coffin, I don’t know. … I was expecting a weekend full of surprises , but here I am, tied to a leash by Joseph, who suggests I set off in a paper boat that looks like a sarcophagus, on a lake… And the wind picks up! -We’re going to cheat a little, though. If you get in the water Without a plate, it’ll just fall like that because the paper isn’t strong enough. We’ll just solidify the ground, but that’s the only thing we’re going to do. -OK. Perfect. -Shall we carry it to the water? Be careful… OK. -I’ll take the rescue boat here to come and get you. -Shall I stay sitting like this? -No, more like lying down. -Very well. Come on, thank you very much! -OK, you’re floating! -I’m floating! -We’re going for a quiet walk , and you have to stay lying down. -I’m looking at the sky. -Are you still okay? -It’s going very well. Guys, we’ve succeeded in our challenge! Wow! They’re a bit crazy, these Luxembourgers, but it was a really nice challenge. -I didn’t believe it at first, but it must be said that Joseph’s experiments work 90% of the time. -I love it. I never thought it would work on a big lake. You’re the one who’s doing it right. -I’m starting to feel the water! -Shit, it’s going to sink! Laughter. -Well done, guys. -A big thank you, Annick, for this lovely day spent in your company and this slightly offbeat moment. It was really very nice. -I’m glad you trusted me. I promised you it was going to be adventurous. Are you coming back to Luxembourg? -Yes! I’m continuing my weekend in Luxembourg, which is going really well. I’m very happy. -It’s truly incredible. This 8mm lens really works wonders. I love it. -When you’re passionate about photography and architecture like Gediminas, any position is good for capturing the perfect shot. Gediminas works at the European Parliament. As soon as he finishes his day, especially when the sun is out like today, he heads off to his favorite spot, the Philharmonie, his favorite building in the Kirchberg district, the heart of business and the European institutions in Luxembourg City. -Here, I’m photographing one of the most emblematic buildings in Luxembourg. The Kirchberg district is a perfect place for architectural photography because there are so many modern buildings. Everything is quite recent. It was built in the last few decades and there’s still a lot of construction going on. -For half a century, this district has established itself as a true laboratory of contemporary architecture. Big names have left their mark here, such as Ieoh Ming Pei, the architect of the Louvre pyramid, or Dominique Perrault, creator of the François-Mitterrand National Library in Paris. -Now, we’re going to see the water towers. -For some time now, Gediminas has found a new source of inspiration: water towers. A side trip to the Luxembourg countryside that allows him to work on other, rougher and more unexpected forms. -I like this spiral shape. The shadows and the deep contrast it creates. I particularly like this water tower because it really brings me what I’m looking for: a play, an interaction with light. There’s a certain drama in the image. You might think that a water tower is just a utilitarian and isolated building , but for me, it brings a kind of action to the image. Normally, we walk past it without paying attention. But when you place them side by side, you realize how beautiful and different they are. They are a new form of art. That’s what makes them poetic. -Little by little, these futuristic silhouettes, visible from afar, are redrawing the Luxembourg skyline. This new generation of water towers emerged in the early 2000s. In just a few years, these utilitarian constructions have become true emblems for the municipalities, mixing art and territorial identity. -I think you have to go down a little to get the right view. You have to have a little perspective. -The architect Carlo Schemel participated in one of these projects about twenty years ago. -What is specific to this water tower is that there are two basins. Normally, there is an upper basin and it serves, depending on the height, the water points. Here, there is an upper basin that is 58 m high and serves the water points a little further away and the basin below serves the business zone in which we are located. Of course, this interests the architects. -Its position and height encouraged the architect to make it a work in its own right. -If you look behind it, the motorway connects Luxembourg to Esch-sur-Alzette. So it is very visible. Automatically, the other municipalities said to themselves: “Why not do it?” It becomes a point of interest in the landscape. Instead of building only useful things, why not combine the two? In a small area, you have about ten that are still spectacular. Perhaps that’s what’s specific to Luxembourg. -The latest water towers no longer just store water. Some offer a panoramic view by transforming into an observation tower. Others become refuges for local wildlife. -They have just emerged. They are diving. It’s pretty to see. -Completed only 6 months ago, this water tower on the edge of a forest and a neighborhood under construction is the perfect example. Designed like a tree in the forest, it is slowly beginning to blend into the decor. -We observe the water tower, equipped with nesting boxes for birds and the highest part, these are nesting boxes for black swifts. It’s still a little too early to observe them but we can see today that the nesting boxes are occupied by other species. -Shelters are also being built for bats. But there is another, rarer species that the specialist would like to see settle at the very top of the water tower, in the nest box built at a height of 54 m. -There, we arrive at the hatch that opens onto the peregrine falcon nest box. For the moment, it’s still too new; we really need to allow a certain amount of time for a new pair to settle in. -To increase the chances of attracting a pair, Jacques is rearranging the nest box with leaves, branches , and then white paint to simulate bird droppings, giving it a more natural and welcoming appearance. Just a few days after his intervention, a falcon came to inspect the nest box, proof that nature knows how to recognize a refuge. Thus, these new-generation water towers, at the crossroads of architecture, art, and ecology, re-enchant the landscape and offer a future to those who fly over it. Birdsong. … -What do you want us to pick up here, in the forest? -There are a lot of things. Already, that. -Clover? -No, it’s not a clover. Taste it, you’ll see, it’s like biting into a Granny Smith. -Oh yes, it’s surprising! It’s good! -Very good. -With a tiny bit of acidity. -It’s called oxalis. -What are we going to do with this little bouquet of oxalis? -A little juice. Or in a vinaigrette… In this season, strawberries go really well with it. -Ah yes, oxalis and strawberries. -It’s great. -It’s in the countryside, in the Luxembourg forests that you find your pantry because you make a point of cooking plant-based food. -Yes, and plant-based food is something very vast and very rich. Just here, we have lots of plants. This is really the food that rabbits love. It’s their candy. -I see little violets. It’s a candy too. -It’s a childhood memory. It’s very interesting. When we pick the violets, we put them in a box and close them tightly. We leave them overnight and the next night… What’s interesting for us is to capture the flavors. -You started about twenty years ago here in Luxembourg. Did you come from the neighboring country, Belgium? -I’ve been here for 23 years. Luxembourg is a bit like when you go to the North. At first, you complain and then you cry when you have to leave. I don’t think I’ll ever leave again. -Let’s continue. … -We’re going to stop here to get some comfrey leaves. -I know the comfrey balm, for massaging… -You can also eat it. It has the flavor of oysters, it’s very salty. I call it my fish and chips! You have to be very careful not to confuse it with foxglove, foxglove being deadly. There’s a very easy trick: if you rub it, it’s rough, a bit like sandpaper. -Is foxglove soft? -Yes. At first, we were made fun of a lot for our way of working with vegetables, for doing 100% plant-based because here, people are meat-eaters. I was called leaf sucker, king of chicory, “what is he doing to us with his leaves?”… -And now, they nickname you the Druid of Luxembourg. Do you prefer that? -Of course! “Druid” pleases me! There’s a source of mystery and I like that. This is the famous Bourlingster Castle, where it all began for me here in Luxembourg. -I see La Distillerie. Was that your restaurant? -Yes, a Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant, recognized as the best plant-based restaurant in the world. It always warms the heart to come back here. -Were there some wonderful encounters? -Very wonderful. As it’s a private state domain, we received all the great heads of state, the Luxembourg and Belgian royal families, all the presidents… It’s a great honor to come back here. -We have beautiful plants, we can make a great recipe. Are we missing anything? -The main thing is vegetables! -Where can we find them? -At my friend Sandrine’s. -Isn’t she far from here? -A few kilometers. By car, it’s very quick. -Nothing is far away in Luxembourg! These little country roads are pretty. -It’s magnificent. -All these plots, these 5 or 6 meters like that, along the entire length of many fields here, it’s the municipality that pays the farmers to have this, for biodiversity… It’s exceptional. There’s wild fennel, campion… Every week, we see the change. This week, it’s yellow and next week, maybe white or red. We should do this everywhere. You have enough to eat. -It could be a good pantry, it’s good for biodiversity and it’s pretty in the landscape. -Everyone finds their place there. -Very good initiative. -Hi, Sandrine. How are you? -Hi, René. -I’m here to pick up some vegetables and introduce you to someone. It’s Sophie. -Nice to meet you. Are you planting tomatoes now? -That’s it, we’re in the beginning of the heirloom tomato season. How are you ? -Good. -My choice was to grow heirloom tomatoes for their qualities. I knew what it was like to eat a real tomato, but many don’t. -I know what it’s like too. -How good! How many plants do you have to finish? -About fifty. -We’ll give you a hand. -Come on! -You’ll be so proud, René, when you put them on the table this year. -Those are my tomatoes! -“I planted them.” You dig your shovel in hard. You pull, it’ll make a hole… We put our tomato in. The deeper we bury it, the better because it will root on the stem, which gives it more strength. -Did market gardening come quite naturally? -Oh no, not at all! My parents were farmers , and I always said I would never do that. -Wrong! -Yes… I must have really had it in my blood. I still think so today, otherwise, it’s not possible to do this job. It’s very difficult, the seasons are very complicated , but I love it. I marvel at a four-leaf clover, a bee, a bumblebee… -And so do we! All the chefs. -There, I recognize it, it’s chard. It’s as pretty as anything at your place. -Yes, it’s rainbow. Do you want some, René? -I’d like a few. -So it inspires you right away? -Yes, it does. It can be used in lots of ways. -How do you see your chard on the plate? -You’ll see. I can’t let you discover everything right away! You have to take your time, be patient. Patience, Sophie! … Sophie, do you recognize this plant? -I recognize it. We picked this before coming to your place. It’s the comfrey leaf. What happened to it, poor thing? -Soaked in a little oil! With a little tempura batter, rice flour and water, quite simply. We’ll add a few condiments. Here, the little sunflower seed cream, which has been fermented like cheese. We add a few small morels. Then, a little candied lemon. We also add a little powder. Then we decorate with little flowers here. -We can play a game, try to recognize wild plants. -I have some in the garden… Is it julienne? -Ladies’ julienne. -And the pretty blue one? -It’s borage. It also has a salty taste. -Yes, it will go very well with the dish here. -This is really Sandrine’s dish, if I dare say so. -It’s called that on the menu. -Sandrine’s garden dish. -It’s noted that way, it’s nice. -A lot of customers ask me who this Sandrine is. -How do you feel? -I’m very proud, though, sometimes embarrassed too, but it’s a source of pride, to have them on René’s table. For me, these dishes are real little gems, like goldsmith’s work. -Shall we share, chef? -Come on, let’s share. Please. -Thank you. You’re generous, you’re giving me the biggest piece. -Of course. I’ll have another chance to eat some, maybe you more. -It’s like a slice of toast. It’s very, very good. -Crispy. -We have the crunch, that little cream we added, very tasty, the flower that gives a little touch of originality… What a surprise! It must be a constant surprise every time, when you make these mixtures. -It’s about creating emotions, about all the senses being activated. That’s what will create the emotion. Flute. … Words in Luxembourgish. -In the forests that border the city of Luxembourg, sometimes, nature speaks. A shrill bird’s cry. Storyteller, naturalist, slightly off-kilter druid, the Green Man, the green man, is all of these things at once. -Pleased to meet you, dear friends. I wonder, perhaps you’ve seen the jay, no? -We heard something before. A kind of scream. The Green Man imitates the jay. -Look, those are his feathers. You see? Come on, come on! We’re going for a walk. You know that, after all. -With him, the forest becomes a living encyclopedia. -That’s a beech tree. You see, it has hair. It’s a magnificent lettuce. You’ll see, it’s magical. -Thanks to the Green Man, visitors rediscover a forgotten history, that of the inhabitants of the forests of Luxembourg in the Middle Ages. -Come in, come in! When I was here 300 or 400 years ago, I was with my friend, Charles. He was a charcoal burner, he lived here with his family. They took all the trees to make charcoal, back then. -If the charcoal burners burned so many trees, it was to exploit another resource that they collected from the ground. -Look. That’s alluvial ore. It contains a lot of iron. When you were melting it, that’s why we needed coal, it came out. -Luxembourg’s wealth was really iron. It’s not the banks. -As people think… -It’s iron that made us rich. -In Luxembourg, nature hasn’t always been well treated, particularly because of the exploitation of this iron, which has fed generations but left its mark on soils that have become sterile. Today, residents refuse to turn their backs on this damaged land and want to bring it back to life in community gardens. -It’s starting to flower. We can decide to leave the chard so that it sets seeds or remove it. This site has a steelmaking history. This means we’re on polluted soil. For that, we have to garden in raised beds that don’t touch the ground. It was also a bit of our idea, to say that even with this past, there were possibilities to grow vegetables and flowers without health risks. -This return of plants to an industrial site is a small miracle that owes a lot to the commitment of the residents and their keen sense of resourcefulness. -We always try, in this community garden, to integrate recycled materials. We try not to take something new, like a new greenhouse, but to build a greenhouse with materials destined to be thrown away. -We are good for the plant exchange. -OK. -The plant exchange is the event of this beginning of the season for the community garden. The one that gives meaning to all this work. -Welcome to the community garden. Here is the registration list, if you want to know what we do during the year or on Saturday mornings. We always meet from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Here are the seeds that we produced in the community garden. There are vegetables and flowers. -Great, thank you very much. -There’s a very community aspect , but on this site, it’s a bit special because in 2018, when it was still a brownfield site, the municipality of Dudelange asked citizens what they would imagine on this site. They asked for a community garden, which is why this site is quite social, community-based, and associative. -It’s going great. It’s a great experience, being able to come together here and spend this wonderful time of year. -Even in the heart of the capital, you don’t have to go far to find nature. It’s everywhere. -There, let’s hang on. Let’s go straight ahead. Very good. -In her little car, Ann Muller is the coordinator of an event that celebrates nature in the city through a unique trail, the Luga. -The Luga is an open-air exhibition with urban gardens, landscaped and artistic installations. -This year, the theme of the Luga, making the invisible visible, seeks to weave subtle links between plant and urban, between nature and architecture. -It’s a stone that comes from a Luxembourg quarry. It naturally takes up the history of this fortress where we are with these stones and inside, you are also enclosed in this garden as in the fortress. You are enclosed, it protects you and on the other hand, you must focus on yourself. We are a very green city but also with a very strong, very built heritage. It was a very interesting process, to put ourselves on this beautiful green space and to see where we could position ourselves with installations. It also makes our super beautiful city visible, which we love. We must celebrate nature, that’s what we must do. … -Thanks to initiatives like the Luga and the festivities that accompany it, the inhabitants of Luxembourg are rediscovering the incredible green heritage that surrounds them while having fun. Shouts in onomatopoeia. … -Hi, Charel. I heard noise in the forest, I understand why. -Yes, as you can see. There, that’s Poli. He’s an Ardennes draft horse. He’s made for jobs like this. -Logging consists of extracting wood from forests, where machines can’t go? -That’s it. We have a good yield because we know how to go through, left, right. It’s an advantage, the flexibility in the forest but also the compaction of the soil. It’s the capital of the forest. If we go through with big machines, we’ll make two lines, like stripes… -Furrows. -Yes, and the water will be drained. This is causing more and more problems with climate change. I think logging with the horse can answer that too. -The words you use are almost just onomatopoeia. -I have a few commands for him, always to go left or right. I make different sounds to indicate right, left. If I want him to move forward, I blow him a little kiss. I don’t do it now otherwise he’ll leave. -So if I try to blow him a kiss, he’ll leave again? -Yes, but we have to keep a little distance. -I step back and blow him a little kiss. Polite? She imitates the sound of a kiss. It’s magic. Charel makes a sound with his mouth. … His work isn’t over! Now he’s leaving in the carriage. -That’s a good idea. -I thought it was over for you, but no. -He’s worked a little but isn’t tired yet. He can take one more ride in the carriage with the nice weather. -He’s poli-valent… This one’s good! Are you coming, my Poli? Come on. You’re being nice. -We’ll stay like this. -Don’t move too much, we’ll get told off. No, on the other hand, you mustn’t move! -It doesn’t matter. -How do you say back up? -Back up. -It’s quite simple. Back up. -We’re going to do a U-turn. -Oh yes, around the post. It’s still a mass, when you’re next to it. -When it wants to move, it moves. -It’s nice, but you can feel the power behind it. Did you tell me how many kilos? -800. -That’s right, you can really feel the power of your 800 kg. It makes the sound of a kiss. I love it, it’s great. … Preserving this breed and protecting it, is that what you do here, in your village of Munshausen? -Exactly. First, you have to use the horses, but you also have to train people to use them properly. I think that if we want to work with a horse or an animal in the 21st century, we must above all respect its well-being. -Do you have births here? -Normally, no , but this year, we had a little surprise. -What happened? -We bought a horse and in the spring, we noticed that it had a big belly and was quite slow… -Is that her? -There, we see the result. -Oh yes, the little one is here! How wonderful! Hello, baby. How beautiful you are. Welcome to the world. Here, we arrive at the breed conservation center . -Yes, a center of competence for draft horses. We don’t only focus on the Ardennes breed but especially on draft horses. -You also do workshops with children, that’s good. To get to know the horses? -Yes. -Is it going well? -Yes. -What do you learn in this workshop? -When we do this, we can see if a horse is injured. -Ah! What do you think of this horse? -He’s beautiful. -Why is it important for you to hold workshops for younger children? -First, for the contact with the animal. Often, people don’t have the opportunity to touch an animal up close like that. During the workshop, we explain to the children that horses take care of each other; they live in a large group, a herd of horses. It’s important that one looks at the other, that one takes care of the other. This is the word “social” that the children can learn from this workshop. We must also understand that it’s important, in a society, to be able to take care of others. -It’s a beautiful metaphor for life in society. Apparently, Doudou is okay. His eyes are almost closed. We braid his hair, we stroke him… -It’s a luxury massage. That’s a lucky charm. You have to be careful with it. If you want happiness to stay with you, you have to hang it like this. If you put it down, happiness goes away. -You can hang it in your room. I’m ending this weekend in Luxembourg in style thanks to you. Thank you very much. -Thank you very much too. I’m back in Luxembourg City. It’s time to take my train home. Many thanks to Charel who gave me a little lucky charm. Well, small… The problem with the Ardennes horse is the size of the horseshoe compared to a classic shoe. It’s not easy to put in your pocket , but thank you to him for this thoughtful gesture. A nice surprise, that’s what this Luxembourg weekend inspires in me. I hope you enjoyed these beautiful escapes. Throughout this weekend, the sun was out, which allowed the Luxembourg landscapes to be magnified. I wanted to thank Annick and Mike for acting as guides for me and allowing me to meet unique personalities like Joseph or to have the Grand Ducal Palace all to myself. I confess to a little crush on the inventive, creative and 100% plant-based cuisine of the Michelin-starred chef R. Mathieu. If you want to see these “Echappées belles” again, go to france.tv Don’t hesitate to give us news on social networks. “Addi”, as we say here, I send you a big kiss and have a wonderful trip! Church bells. … france.tv access