Luxembourg Bock Casemates

April 3rd, 2019

We toured Bock Casemates, the remains of a fortified castle that all began in 963 when Count Siegfried built his castle the Bock promontory and it quickly became a key part of the city. Over the centuries came the Burgundians, the Spaniards, the French, the Austrians and the German Confederation who all kept expanding and improving the defensive fortifications. Eventually it included 24 forts connected by 14 miles of tunnels and casemates (a sheltered space where you can place a canon and it can fire at enemy targets).

In 1867 after the declaration of neutrality, it was decide to remove the fortress so it was not a military threat. It took 16 years to demolish 90% of the defenses but they had to leave some intact or it would have also demolished part of the city. Today there are over 10 miles of tunnels that still remain. They are on different levels and have stairways that go up to inside the rock face.