welcome

Welcome to Luxembourg

Five months in the Grand Duchy will pass very quickly and to help you make the most of it, particularly at the beginning when you are not quite au fait with what�s what, this guide has been compiled and updated by previous stages in order to pass on all the useful things we have learnt. In it you will find our suggestions of where to eat, drink and be merry. There are also tips on day to day mundane things like where to do your shopping, buy stamps and wash your clothes, which actually become quite crucial when you are hungry, have no clean clothes and want to write and tell your friends about the whole experience.

If you are under 26 years old, make sure you have a Euro Under 26 card as this will get you discounts in cinemas, on public transport and even on flights. Just to give you an example of the discrimination people over 26 are submitted to, I will tell you that the return ticket to Brussels costs 500 BEF if you are under 26 and 1.500 if you are over� So, have the under 26 card handy, your stagiaire card and a student card (if you possess one) so you can profit from whatever reductions are available. Have an excellent stage, enjoy Luxembourg and don�t forget to bring this guide up to date when you leave if places we have suggested close down or are no longer any

Welcome to the Commission

Work and residence permit � Stagiaires coming from countries not belonging to the EU-15 will need to register with the local commune and obtain a work permit. Please get in touch with the Welcome Office (JMO B2/28) for more details. EU stagiaires don�t need to register if they are staying for 5 months only and of course need no work permit.

Stagiaire Committee � These are the lucky people who will organise trips, social events and life generally for all the other stagiaires. It is best if you choose your stagiaire committee while you are in Brussels on your introduction week so that they can liaise with the Training Office for things like the trip to Strasbourg. So, if you are interested in such a position, start lobbying soon� If there are more than three stagiaires who want to do the job, take a vote. Mr. Llanso, Mrs de Gruiter and Mrs Lamin (Welcome Office, JMO B2/28) are the civil servants who "look after" the stagiaires in Luxembourg and we were very grateful for all their help. You will meet them during the week in Brussels and the introductory sessions in Luxembourg and then they can be contacted in the Jean Monnet Building for advice about the stagiaire bank account, booking rooms in JMO (Jean Monnet Building) for stagiaire events and Commission info.

Liaison stagiaire � Stagiaires benefit from having a stagiaire from the previous stage around to give tips and handy hints. You will meet him/her in Brussels and he/she will be in Luxembourg during the first month.

Stagiaire Bar � The bar of the Foyer européen (rue Heine) has been the most common meeting place for stagiaires (for drinks or language classes), and the big room of the second floor is ideal for your National Parties. These basically involve cooking national dishes and offering drinks (and dancing and partying, of course..). The entrance fee is usually 200 Flux, depending on the cost and how many people come along. Make sure you develop the necessary contacts with the stagiaires of the other institutions (Parliament, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors), so that you make your nightlife more interesting. Ask your liaison stagiaire for more details.

The Commission � The first day at the Commission will involve being shown around JMO and meeting your supervisors. An introduction period may or may not follow in your specific DGs and Units. To get to the Commission, Jean Monnet Building, take bus numbers 16, 18, 13 or 5 from the Centre Hamilius bus station. After going through the rigmarole of getting a service card in Brussels, I am afraid to say that you have to go through the same process in Luxembourg. Most stagiaires work in JMO or BECH(Eurostat), but there are also usually stagiaires at EUFO (Euroforum Building, Gasperich) and OPOCE (Official Publications, Gare). Because you are all spread out like this, it is best to send e-mails or use the stagiaires website to tell everyone of plans to go out, etc.

Accommodation

Once you get the accommodation list from the Welcome Office (Bureau d�Acceuil), you can start ringing around. You can also check the notice boards in the Commission buildings and the Foyer Europeen, or buy the Luxembourger Wort on Fridays (packed with pettites annonces about accommodation). Try also their website: http://www.immonews.lu

Ask to see the places, as the descriptions given are not very accurate. There are also some accommodation agencies in the city, but they are expensive and probably only a last resort option. They charge one month�s rent as their fee. A word of warning � do not under any circumstances sign a contract for a duration longer than that for which you will stay. The law in Luxembourg is not the same as elsewhere. Make sure you are properly informed and don�t feel pressured into signing anything until you know exactly where you stand. Ask about the charges (for electricity, gas, etc.) before you commit yourself. In general, if you can afford to rent somewhere for 14,000 flux or more, it is worth the extra money.If you need to stay somewhere for the first few nights, there is a Youth Hostel near Clausen � 2, rue du Fort Olizy, L-2261 Luxembourg, tel: 22.19.20, 22.68.89, fax: 22.33.60, 22.19.18. If you need to stay long, try to get a better price, they are usually flexible.
Finally, do try to find a place near to where you will be working and not too far from the centre. Although the bus system is good during the week, there are limited buses at night and at the weekends, especially on Sundays, so if you live too far away, you could find yourself having to walk a lot! If you are considering renting accommodation outside Luxembourg city, consider that you will not be paying much less than anyone else and, unless you have a car (and you don�t drink), getting around could be a problem.

Transportation

Parking � If you are lucky enough to have a car, be careful where you park it! Get a parking permit from the Commission and also one for the street in which you live.

Public Transport � Buses: If you don�t have a car, as for the majority of stagiaires, you will find the public transport system efficient and always on time. The only negative thing that I can think to say is that the buses don�t run very late during the week and weekend timetables are limited, to say the least. However, on Fridays and Saturdays, there are late night buses, which are free. You buy your bus tickets in a number of places � the Post Office, the tobacco and press shops, the train station or under Centre Hamilius. There are a few different types of bus ticket on offer: if you wish to travel around Luxembourg City and country on an unlimited basis in buses and trains, you can buy a monthly "carte bleue" (blue ticket) for 1600LUF. This can be bought on any day of the month and is valid from the day you stamp it (in the machine on the bus). If you are content to stay within the city limits, there is an unlimited monthly ticket which simply has "City kaart" written on it. It is cheaper but it must be bought on the first of each month. For stagiaires, these are the handiest tickets to buy. There is also the �red ticket� which costs 800LUF and allows you to make unlimited journeys, but only on one bus line specified on it. Otherwise, a trip on a bus in the city costs 45LUF .

Trains - : trains are always on time and serve a large number of destinations. If you need to check the timetables go to:http://www.cfl.lu/f/rail/horairesen.htm

Taxis � Taxis are very expensive in Luxembourg. Try to make a deal about the price before taking the taxi, sometimes they are fle

Everyday life in Luxembourg

Once your professional life and living arrangements are all established you can get on with the serious business of enjoying yourself. Whilst time available for going out may be limitless, the choice unfortunately is not. Here is a selection of places we have sampled. The "reviews" given below are, of course, based our own personal opinion - it is worth checking all these places out for yourselves!

Going Out

Upper part of town

Centre / Place d�Armes � The centre of town offers a number of lively drinking spots. The vast majority of places to go are tucked away near rue de la Boucherie and rue de la Loge. All within stumbling range of one another, Sodaz, Yesterday�s, Prime Time, Down Under and Majestic all make common stagiaire meeting places.

Interview, 21 rue Aldringen (just beside Centre Hamilius) � Convenient bar in the centre of town, good for beers and chats. Open on Sunday and Monday nights, but usually packed.

Peche Mignon, 17 rue du Saint-Esprit � Tastefully decorated bar, very popular with stagiaires who fancied a quiet night out, with a bit of music, and maybe something to eat. Live bands on Fridays and Saturdays.

Down Under, 10b rue de la Loge � Uses an Australian slant to lure thirsty stagiaires. More often than not it remains a last ditch nightclub with low ceilings and a very crowded dance floor. However, the DJ�s tend to be more adventurous than their neighbours are.

Yesterdays, 6 rue de la Loge � Very popular. A true dungeon in many levels offering a good mix of pub and disco ambience. DJ�s aren�t afraid to roll out old favourites and current chart music. It is usually very busy, and after a certain hour the atmosphere becomes truly suffocating.

Prime Time, 6 rue de la Loge � Directly above Yesterday�s, a small pub that caters to a disco crowd on weekends. It�s a good starting point, but often gets overly crowded on weekends and there�s usually a line to get in during later hours.

The Tube, 8 rue Sigefroi � Lively, small pub with quicker service than most � the staff is usually English-speaking. Attracts mostly English-speaking crowd and offers a good variety of music and buzzing atmosphere. Always packed.

Artscene, rue Sigefroi (beside The Tube) � Attractive pub that attracts most of its business from holding live gigs. Be careful, prices double when the bands start to play.

Sodaz, 16 rue de la Boucherie � Good meeting point. Its small but friendly confines offer a variety of music, an upstairs for private parties and occasional dancing. Good place to meet both for a few quiet midweek beers and for many more on the weekend. Gets pretty packed later on. The best place for your �connections��

Majestic, rue de l�Eau � One of the larger venues in Luxembourg, Majestic has tables upstairs for heavy drinking and chatting, while the dungeon downstairs provides an ample dance floor. However, the music has always been badly criticised by stagiaires. There is a big screen upstairs for major sporting events and which serves as a general backdrop in the bar. Party-going stagiaires will undoubtedly find themselves her more than once or twice. Be warned the prices go up after a certain time, usually 21h30!

L�Epicurean, rue du Palais de Justice � Late night bar to go to when all the other pubs have shut down for the night.

Banana�s, 9 Av. Monterey, Place d� Armes. A good meeting point for stagiaires and students, excellent for a coffee or chats. Sometimes they also have caraoke on Fridays.

El Companero, Av Monterey, near Place d� Armes. The most popular latin bar of the town offers nice tapas and drinks upstairs, while downstairs the salsa fans among you will find a dancefloor reminding of the 70�s discotheques. They also organise salsa lessons on Fridays, so those of you interested have to go. Drinks are cheaper upstairs.

Sul Palco, rue Felippe II, The favourite place of all Italians, since it shows all major Italian football events on Sunday evenings. Nice bar, with friendly atmosphere and unconventional decoration. Good for afternoon hours, it attracts crowd ranging from 23-30y old. Lots of good-looking and fashionable Italian girls. Not recommended for non-smokers�

Lester�s, 27 rue Felipe II, nice pub, it will probably be the only one you will find open late on weekdays or Sundays.

Foyer Europeen, rue Heine - where it all starts and ends, the Foyer was the most common meeting point for stagiaires from all institutions. The �social hour�, every Tuesday after 7 pm, was the true event of the week. Drinks are really cheap and the atmosphere very cosy. They also serve small meals for the hungry stagiaires. Friendly staff. Open until 12:00 am.

In the Grun

Down in the valley, a plethora of pubs and restaurants are to be found. To get to the Grund, either walk down the steep roads near Yesterdays or take the lift from Place de Saint Esprit.

Scotts, Bisserweg (first on the right as you cross the bridge from the elevator) � Lively pub on the river with a pleasant summertime patio. It has got a Scottish theme, but bartenders don�t pull pints as such. It gets packed at the weekends with very young clientele.

French Cafe,, rue de Treves � Same owner as Scott�s, with Celtic / Breton theme. Friendly bartenders who like to turn the music up! Occasionally live bands play there. Gets packed and smoky at weekends. Good for romantic rendezvous during the week.

Traders, Bisserweg (opposite Scotts) � New, modern pub which operates on the model of the Stock Exchange � prices of drinks are displayed on screens and change every minute depending on demand. Visit their website: http://www.traders-cafe.lu/

Bonaparte�s, Bisserweg (beside Traders) � Rather upmarket, sophisticated pub for the quieter stagiaires among you. Lots of suits on a Wednesday night.

Melusina, rue de la Tour Jacob � Large night club that plays a mix of 80�s, chart and techno, with smaller rooms upstairs playing a variety of music. It�s supposedly much more popular in the summer and attracts a young crowd.

Pygmalion, rue de la Tour Jacob � Comfortable Irish pub that serves quality Guinness and shows football (and Father Ted for those fans among you!) on a big screen television. Easily the best place to watch matches on Sky Sports every Sunday. It also stays open late on most nights and serves Italian food to your barstool from the pizzeria next door.

Britannia, rue de Clausen � Typical English pub usually full of pub-dwelling Brits. Although it shows all the British football, it would only be worth going there if Pygmalion, just across the road, was closed for some reason.

Gare � Hollerich are

Besides a bevy of cabarets and porn shops, this area of town has quite a few nightclubs and bars (not to mention excellent late night kebab shops).

Elevator, 48 rue de Hollerich � Eclectic scenery and comfortable furniture, Elevator has a wide variety of events and styles. One night you�ll hear techno, another live jazz, or sometimes just laid back rock in the background. Well worth a look.

Marx, 42-44 rue de Hollerich (tucked in behind The Elevator) � Trendy and lively bar that caters to the supposed �elite� of Luxembourg. Don�t wear tennis shoes. They sometimes play a good mix of music.

Saxophone, rue de Hollerich � Very cheesy Italian karaoke bar � fun if you�re Italian!

Digeridoos, 31 rue Bouillon � Warehouse style nightclub that plays a wide range of dance music. There�s a late arriving crowd that usually doesn�t appear until after one in the morning. Unfortunately, its location is a bit of a hike.

The White Rose, rue Dicks � English pub which is better on the inside than it looks from the outside. Stays open till very late.

Pulp, 36 boulevard d�Avranches � Just over the Viaduc Bridge from the city centre, Pulp offers the most accessible late nightclub dancing. A modest cover charge also buys two drinks. There�s two dance floors providing a choice in music (usually one plays techno, while the other plays indy, 80�s, chart). An excellent venue for those who want to keep going after pubs close down.

The Black Stuff, 15 val de Hamm (Pulvermuhle) � Authentic Irish pub with regular crowd. A must for special occasions such as St. Patrick�s Night, or after GAA matches in Luxembourg (yes, it�s true!). Live bands from time to time. Again, its location is a bit of hike unfortunately � number 6 bus to the last stop!

Eating Ou

This is really a small taster of what culinary delights Luxembourg has to offer � you are well advised to look around yourselves too according to your tastes and your pocket. Check out www.restaurant.lu for more possibilities.

Maybe Not Bob�s, 107 rue de la Tour Jacob (Tel 42 18 69) � Informal bar / restaurant with relaxed atmosphere and friendly, welcoming staff. The food is good and there is plenty of it at a reasonable price.

Mousel�s Cantine, 46 monte de Clausen (Tel 47 01 98) � Attached to the brewery, this casual restaurant is a must. Luxembourg specialities in huge quantities await you and the prices are good. I guarantee that you will not need to eat for ages after eating here. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

La Baita, 21 rue de la Tour Jacob (Tel 42 95 29) � Tasty Italian food which can be ordered and eaten either in the restaurant, or in neighbouring Pygmalion if you get the munchies after a few pints!

Giorgio�s, 11 rue du Nord (Tel 22 38 18) � Excellent pizzas, even the Italians were impressed. Outside eating area in the summer.

Chi-Chi�s, 15 place d�Armes (Tel 46 07 74) � Tex-Mex type food, but really not worth the effort. Go to Maybe Not Bob�s for this type of cuisine.

Melusina, 145 rue de la Tour Jacob (Tel 43 59 22) � The dining room looks like something out of an elegant mansion. The food is beautifully presented and the whole experience makes a real change. If you make it known that you are poor stagiaires, they may do a special deal for you on the wine.

Trattoria dei quattro, 64 rue du Fort Neipperg (Tel 49 00 39) � Best pizzas in town according to one Italian. Will accommodate group bookings.

Congo�s, 44 rue du Hollerich (Tel 48 28 95) � Nice place for a little salad, pita, etc. Next to Marx and The Elevator.

Mona Liza, Place de Paris, excellent pizzeria with wide variety and big portions. Very friendly staff.

Pizza Hut, Place d� Armes, good pizzas and salads, the best place for a quick meal. They offer 20 % discounts for students and stagiaires.

Bacchus, 32 rue du Marche aux Herbes, 50m down the palace, Italian cuisine and pizzas at reasonable prices.

Chiggeri, 15, rue du Nord, nice place for drinks or food in the old part of the town. It gets usually very busy so better book before going.

La table du Pain, 19 Av. Monterey or Place de Paris, excellent place for late breakfast or brunch, very good fresh bread, soups and sandwiches. Nice decoration with big wooden tables. Very good for the weekends.

Cinema

Culture is a bit lacking in the Grand Duchy, so an evening out at the cinema may be as intellectual as it gets. However, beware! As the choice of things to do is easily exhausted, book in advance for new popular films. To find out what�s on, ring up the cinema, look up nightlife.lu or check the web � www.cinema.lu or www.caramba.lu are two of the best sites. One final work of info � those anglophiles amongst you will be delighted to find that English language films remain in their unadulterated linguistic format and subtitles in French and Dutch / German are given.

Cinematheque Municipal, Place du Thetre (Tel 47 96 2644) � Shows old films every night in their original version. Pleasant, old-fashioned cinema near the centre.

Utopia, 16 avenue de la Faencerie (Tel 22 48 11 Reservations for evening showings only; 42 95 95 Programme) � Five screen cinema short walk from the centre (or bus number 3 from Centre Hamilius). All seats reduced on Monday night; otherwise student discounts every night or tries with your stagiaire card. Participates in Europa cinema scheme so shows both popular and art-house films.

Utopolis, 45 avenue J.F. Kennedy (Tel 42 95 95) � Large, modern 15 screen cinema in Kirchberg (just behind Eurostat / Auchan). Shows all the latest blockbusters. No telephone reservations possible � can buy tickets in advance from the cinema

Cine-Cite,, Place d� Armes - Old cinema that has been renovated and was re-opened summer 2000. Very handy location wise.

Theatre

There are two: the Thetre Municipal and the Theatre de Cappucines. At the time of writing, the Theatre Municipal is closed for renovations and looks like it will be for some time to come yet. All tastes are catered for: opera, ballet, plays, but again book well in advance as these things are in BIG demand! Student discounts available.

General Information on Luxembourg

Tourist Offices:

Luxembourg City tourist office is on Place d�Armes (Tel 22 28 09). Check their website http://www.luxembourg-city.lu/touristinfo/
A tourist office with information covering the whole country can be found in the train station (Tel 48 11 99). Information booklets on all activities are available here. You can also find out about places to visit, places to stay outside Luxembourg City, city walks, country walks, museums, castles and other Luxembourg attractions.

Internet

One of the most comprehensive search engines is www.luxweb.lu. You should also check http://www.luxcentral.com/, and http://www.luxpoint.lu/. Also, check out frequently the Luxembourg stagiaires web-page: www.geocities.com/luxsol

Nightlife.lu:One of the best sources of information is the small magazine Nightlife.lu which you can find in bars and restaurants, or on the web � www.nightlife.l

It also includes some interesting events in nearby Trier which may be worth checking out - the last train from Trier leaves around midnight.

Shopping

Supermarkets � Opening hours are more limited than you may be used to. Most supermarkets in town open Monday to Saturday and close at about 18h00 or 18h30 on weekdays. Auchan and Cactus stay open later, usually until about 20h00 most weekdays. The supermarkets in the Commission and Parliament are handy during the day and usually cheaper for things like alcohol.

Alima, Gare / Bourse / Belair

Auchan, beside Eurostat

Cactus, Howald / Beggen/ Limpertsberg (also open on Sundays !!!)

Market � Every Saturday morning in Place Guillaume.

Commission Economat, JMO Building

Parliament Economat, BAK Building

If you need to do lots of shopping try to go to Trier. You will be surprised by the difference in prices and the variety of goods.

Post Offices

The main post-offices stay open until 19h00 during the week. They sell stamps, phone cards and cards for recharging mobile phones (Tip Top / Tango). This is also the place to go if you need to install a phone in your flat, BUT beware � it will take a long time and can be costly. Check the details first.

Opposite the train station

Centre Hamilius

Commission, JMO Building

Banks

There are two banks in the JMO Building where you can open an account as soon as you arrive. Beware when opening your account � if they do not advise you that you should pay to close the account at the end of your stage, you are not obliged to do so. Check the contract carefully. And don�t be surprised if they refuse to give you an ATM card.

Speuerkess (Banque et Caisse d�Epargne de l�Etat) � Go up the escalator beside the shop and walk to the far end of the corridor. The bank is beside the post office. It is advisable to open your account here as the Commission uses this bank and your grant will arrive earlier in the month.

Dexia � Downstairs beside the coffee bar;

Launderette

No, I�m afraid it�s not a typing error, there really is only one launderette in Luxembourg. It is called Quick Wash and is at 31, rue de Strasbourg (near the train station). It costs 300 FLUX for a wash (including washing powder) and 90 FLUX to dry. Opening hours are until 18h30 on weekdays, 18h00 on Saturdays and it is closed on Sundays. In other words, do try to find accommodation with a washing machine if you can!

Emergencies

If you get into trouble and need to contact your embassy, here are the details:

Austria, 3 rue des Bains, tel. 47 11 88-1

Belgium, 4, rue des Girondins, tel. 44 27 46-1

Denmark, 4 boulevard Royal, tel. 22 21 22

Finland, 2 rue Heinrich Heine, tel. 49 55 51

France, 8b, boulevard Joseph II, tel. 45 72 71-1

Germany, 20-22 avenue Emile Reuter, tel. 45 34 45-1

Great Britain, 14 boulevard F.D. Roosevelt, tel. 22 98 64

Greece, 117 val Sainte-Croix, tel. 44 51 93

Ireland, 28 route d�Arlon, tel. 45 06 10

Italy, 5 rue Marie-Adelaide, tel. 44 36 44-1

Netherlands, 5 rue C.M. Spoo, tel. 22 75 70

Portugal, 24 rue Guillaume Schneider, tel. 46 61 90-1

Spain, 4 boulevard Emmanuel Servais, tel. 46 02 55

Sweden, 2 rue Heinrich Heine, tel. 29 68 34

If you are ill and need some medicine, pharmacies display the rota of which ones are open after normal working hours for emergencies (Pharmacies de garde). If you are seriously ill, there is a medical centre in the JMO Building, or you can call out a doctor. For real emergencies, there are some hospitals around town, such as La Clinique Ste.-Elisabeth, 19 avenue Emile Reuter tel. 45 11 21. You can also call 112.

Sport

But hopefully you will be fit and healthy and instead of calling on medical assistance, you will enjoy an active life. Many sporting activities can be pursued up at JMO Building, but for those of you who do not work there or who find that being there 9-5 is quite enough, the town has lots to offer too.

Olympic Swimming Pool � 2 rue Leon Hengen (Plateau de Kirchberg) tel. 43 60 60-333. This fantastic 50 metre pool with separate diving pool and hot tub is worth the effort of both getting there and working out the complex ticket / key system. The downside is that you have to wear a swimming cap. Entrance 50 LUF with stagiaire or student card and you get 50 LUF back when you return your key.

Piscine Municipale de Bonnevoie, rue des Ardennes tel. 47 96 28-89. Cheap and very clean place to swim. Convenient for those who live / work near the station.

Piscine Municipale du Centre (Badanstalt), 12 rue des Bains tel. 47 96 25-50. Jacuzzis, water fountains and other watery delights await you here. A real treat and a must if you need to recharge those batteries. But try to avoid peak times as it can get quite crowded, especially in summer when the children are on holidays. Reduction with student card, or try your stagiaire card.

Ice skating, Patinoire de Kockelscheuer, 42 route de Bettembourg tel. 46 74 65. Take the number 2 bus to the sports centre in Kockelscheuer. About 200 FLUX enables you to enjoy a good session on the ice. Late night skating on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Football, Pfaffenthal. Those interested in playing football during our stage found a football pitch under the red bridge, near a church for which there is no fee. Why not try to join in the Joan Scott league and invite a Brussels team to play an away game?

Canoeing, Diekirch http://www.outdoorfreizeit.lu/canoe.html. Obviously a summer activity and brilliant fun. Groups need to book in advance and there are different distances, starting points and destinations, depending on how energetic you are feel

Getting away from it all

When you�ve been to Yesterday�s, walked around the Grund and Pétrusse valley and decided that it�s time to venture further afield, the possibilities are many and varied. Most towns in Luxembourg are easily accessibly by train or bus if you don�t have a car and everywhere is close! Public transport is excellent: trains and buses are clean and always on time. When travelling on public transport, always show your under 26 card if you have one and you will benefit from big discounts. A timetable of all bus services in the Grand Duchy is also available from the train station or under Centre Hamilius.

Travel Agencies

USIT Connections � 70 Grande Rue (1st floor), tel. 22 99 33. http://www.connections.lu/ - This is the student travel agency and iff you fancy taking a trip further afield and are under 26, you can benefit from cheap deals.

Some near destinations outside Luxembourg

Trier (Germany). About 40 minutes by train will bring you to Germany�s oldest city (Treves in French). The walking tours in the summer are definitely worth the effort. Make sure you see all the Roman remains that have been either well preserved or restored. Picturesque town and you might even pick up a few bargains here too. If you fancy staying on in the evening, the last trains leave Trier around midnight � check the timetable.

Metz (France). Again, another very beautiful town, full of shops and good for a cheap haircut. The best way is by train � ask for a "Saar-Lux-Lorrain" ticket. Metz is also quite lively compared to Luxembourg, especially in winter.

Strasbourg (France). An absolute must, this city is just idyllic. But as the Commission will bring you here, save this trip for then (see below). Try to pick a date all together which allows you to stay the weekend.

Brussels (Belgium). Trips to Brussels by train take about 3 hours, but are worth the effort for national parties and the EuroBall if you make a weekend out of it. There is always plenty to do in Brussels and it is relatively inexpensive.

Antwerp (Belgium). Again, for a weekend trip, Antwerp (Anvers in French) is a lively, "lived-in" city, but with less of the grime of Brussels. Could be used as a base to travel around the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium.

Ghent (Belgium). About half an hour on the fast train from Brussels, Gent or Gand in Flemish and French, is a typical Belgian town with lots of interesting shops and places to visit. In summer there is a 10 day long music festival in the centre and you can also take a boat-ride on the canals.

Bruges (Belgium). This is a charming town, well worth a visit to see its cobbled streets and laneways, the central square and the windmills. In fact, the only criticism I would have of Bruges is that it is almost too perfect!

Amsterdam (Netherlands). Well, I�m sure you all know about this unique city and its unusual attractions. It is about 6 hours from Luxembourg by train and is ideal for a long weekend. If, like us, you leave it too late to organise accommodation (which is extremely difficult to get for groups), why not base yourselves in Utrecht and travel to Amsterdam during the day? We stayed in a hostel in Utrecht and found the nightlife to be just as lively as Amsterdam, if not more so.

Destinations closer to home

Clervaux. Small village to the north of Luxembourg. Even if there is not much to see in Clervaux itself, its castle houses a superb photographic exhibition called "The Family of Man". The photographs were taken by the director of MOMA in New York and made a big impression on us all. I would definitely recommend a visit to this village, even just to see the exhibition. Good for a bad weather day.

Vianden. Again, to the north of Luxembourg and not too far from Clervaux, Vianden boasts another fabulous castle and Victor Hugo�s house. There is also a chairlift to bring you up the steep incline and the village below is rather quaint. Probably better to visit in spring or summer if you can in order to benefit from the gorgeous walks and scenery.

Diekirch. Although we didn�t actually stop in Diekirch, it is one of the more important towns in Luxembourg. We went on a canoeing trip starting in Diekirch and ending 15 km down river in Dillingen � a wonderful day out! See http://www.outdoorfreizeit.lu/canoe.html

Bourscheid. Another castle awaits you here in this small village in the Ardennes. Taking the bus from Ettelbruck to Bourscheid, a visit to the castle is ideally combined with a walk down to Michelau, where you can catch the train back to Luxembourg.

Esch-sur-Sure. Also in the Ardennes region, this is a very scenic spot with a lake. Nice for a summer excursion.

Ettelbruck. Speaking of Ettelbruck, this is a place you may pass through often on your way to somewhere else. However, if you wish to stop here, you can visit the General Patton Museum in the summer months and also his statue on the road out towards Diekirch.

Echternach. Right on the German border, this attractive village is situated on the Sûre River. You can cross the bridge and enjoy a beer in Germany, or you can stay in Luxembourg and visit the various museums here. It is also a very good base from which to explore the many stunningly beautiful walks in the Mullerthal region of Luxembourg. They are very well signposted and maps are available from the tourist office.

Grevenmacher. A small village by the Mosel, where you will find vineyards and an excellent wine factory, ideal for a visit and for trying different types of wines (Bernard Massard, Rue du Pont, Grevenmacher, tel. 698314). Go to Wasserbillig by train and take the bus from there.

Mondorf-les-Bains. This is a spa town with thermal baths on the border with France. Again, it is ideal for a trip in summer when the weather is hot. A day in the Thermal centre will set you back some 600 FLUX or so, but if you stay the full day and partake of everything this amazing complex has to offer, it is worth the money. See http://www.mondorf.lu/

Remich. Visit the wine producing capital of Luxembourg and have a swig of the wine too! Boat trips down the Moselle are also on offer.

Renting a car

This may be a good idea if you have friends coming to stay or there is a group of you willing to share the cost. The yellow pages contain details of all agents in Luxembourg. Most of them are located at the airport and they do a 24-hour or weekend deal that gives a lot of time to check out the countryside. Most companies will also let you take the car out of Luxembourg. Before hiring a car, check what the company�s requirements are as regards age of driver and length of time that (s)he has had a licence. The other bonus is that petrol is cheap here.

Trip to Strasbourg

Finally, the Commission will arrange a trip to Strasbourg for stagiaires. During this trip you get to see riveting Euro institutions such as the new European Parliament building, the Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe, but there is plenty of time to check out the city. The Commission pays for the train fare and accommodation (we stayed in a very nice three star hotel). There are several different dates these trips run on, and it is best if all the Lux stagiaires go on the same one. So, your new committee should organise a meeting at the beginning of the stage to decide which date you all wish to go and then you should send your forms in before the deadline.

For a map of Luxembourg City click here

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