Luxembourg is the seventh smallest country in Europe, yet compared to Malta, San Marino, or Andorra, it feels positively spacious. Still, it’s small enough that visiting all its extreme points — north, south, east, west, highest, lowest and centre — in a single day would probably be possible. Not this time, though.
The day had begun with a slow morning of sightseeing in Luxembourg City, which easily took half the day. I’m not complaining — some might find the city dull, but to me it’s one of Europe’s most likeable capitals: safe, elegant, and effortlessly enjoyable.
After exploring the city, I managed to reach the country’s lowest and easternmost points before finding myself back in “sightseeing mode” in Medernach, a region that hides some of Luxembourg’s most beautiful natural spots. With daylight slipping away, I chose one must-see location: the Schiessentümpel waterfall — a place that lives up to the hype.
The small cascade, framed by mossy rocks and an old stone bridge, looked almost storybook-like. It’s conveniently close to the parking area, yet once there, time seemed to stop. It’s one of those places where every visitor turns into a photographer. The real challenge wasn’t appreciating the waterfall — it was getting a photo without someone standing right in the middle of the bridge. At times, it felt as if they were stationed there purely to test everyone’s patience. Oh well.
But soon another problem emerged — the day was vanishing. After delays at the easternmost point, the clock was catching up fast, and I still needed to drive into Belgium, where I’d booked a hotel that supposedly closed its check-in at 9 p.m. The problem? It was already 7:30, and the hotel was two and a half hours away.
I began calling them, hoping someone would pick up. Each attempt went through the same automated menu, the same background music, and the same dead silence. I must have called half a dozen times before a tired-sounding woman finally answered. We were both momentarily surprised to be speaking to an actual human being. I explained my situation. She sighed and said not to worry — reception was staffed around the clock. Still, she appreciated the call so they could hold my room. I laughed and said, “The pleasure’s all mine.”
Crisis averted — and just in time for one last stop: the geographical centre of Luxembourg in Mersch. The timing looked perfect for sunset. Luxembourg’s roads are beautiful — curving, well-kept, and scenic — and I was enjoying the drive when a motorcycle appeared behind me. I slowed to let it pass, but it just stayed there, tailing me through the twists as if content to follow.
I had no expectations for the geographical centre — I hadn’t even checked how to reach it. I simply followed the navigation. Near the destination, it told me to turn left, which I did, only to meet a car coming the other way on what turned out to be a road closed to traffic. What that other driver was doing there, I have no idea. I turned around and tried from the southern side instead, hoping for a proper parking area.
Ten minutes later, the same problem: another “No entry” sign. Parking was tricky too — steep roads lined with villas didn’t feel ideal for leaving the car. Eventually, I stopped in front of an old barn that didn’t seem actively used. From there, it was about a kilometre to the point — first uphill, past cows and across open fields, and then into a patch of forest. The sun was already setting behind the fields, so I jogged most of the way, aware that there was still a long drive ahead.
It was eerily quiet out there. Not a single person around, no hum from the nearby A7 motorway, just the occasional rustle from the woods — and who knows what made those sounds. Soon, I reached the site near the forested area of Spierenuecht and the Pëttenerbësch nature reserve. The geographical centre of Luxembourg is marked by a simple sign and a small monument — modest, but quietly symbolic.
I took a few photos in the fading light, then turned back toward the car. The road ahead led into Belgium, where another country and another geographical center awaited.