Location:
Hotel Simoncini is located in the centre of the historic old town just around the corner from the Golden Lady monument in Constitution Square and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
We took Bus 16 from the airport, with a journey time of only 15 minutes to Hamilius, followed by a five minute walk to the hotel. Please note that all public transport is free of charge throughout the entire country of Luxembourg and no tickets are required.
Arrival and check-in:
The Hotel Simoncini is the only hotel gallery in Luxembourg as the hotel lobby forms half of the building’s ground floor. The remainder is taken up by the Galerie Simoncini, an art gallery sharing the same ownership as the hotel.
The stylish entrance lobby has white sofas and is decorated with modern art pieces from the adjoining gallery. We were warmly welcomed by the receptionist and within a few minutes were handed our key cards for our room on the sixth floor. The artistic flair of the hotel is reflected in the hallways between rooms and lifts with modernistic pieces on display.
The Room:
We were booked into one of the hotel’s penthouse suites which came equipped with a spacious bedroom furnished in shades of white and cream with a wooden laminate floor.
The room featured a large, comfortable bed with individual duvets, a flat screen television, dressing table/work desk and a large wardrobe.
The bathroom had a bath with shower over, fragrant Damana organic toiletries and a generous supply of fluffy bath towels with the WC housed in a separate cubicle.
Moving through to the living area, this well equipped space continued the white and cream decor and comprised a sofa bed, coffee table and a dining table and chairs.
Along one wall was a well equipped kitchen with hob, microwave, fridge, kettle, coffee maker, breakfast bar and stools.
Dining:
The light and airy breakfast room is located on the first floor with windows overlooking the old town. The buffet contained a good selection of cold meat, salad, cheese, bread and pastries.
A choice of hot drinks is served to the table and omelettes, fried and boiled eggs are cooked to order. We selected omelettes on one morning and as they had been freshly prepared they tasted delicious.
The hotel does not serve meals at other times of day but as there are many restaurants in the vicinity and our room had cooking facilities, we didn’t find this to be a problem.
We alternated between eating out and preparing meals in our suite which worked well for us.
Facilities:
Hotel Simoncini has 35 rooms, three of which are equipped to accommodate people with mobility issues. There is a lift to all floors, 24 hour reception and a car park (additional cost).
The hotel is connected to the Simoncini Gallery on both the ground and first floors and it was interesting to view the art work whilst we were staying there.
Out and About:
The city is divided into two levels with the upper part perched on a rocky plateau high above the lower town which is nestled in the Alzette river valley.
The old quarter is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its large number of historical buildings and fortifications. The majority of my suggested places to visit are within walking distance of the hotel.
Grand Ducal Palace: This was originally the Luxembourg City Hall before becoming the permanent home to Grand Duke Adolphe in 1890 and is now the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Visitors can view the exterior at all times but the interior is only open during the summer months.
Notre Dame Cathedral: This magnificent cathedral took over 300 years to build and boasts three towers, stunning stained glass windows and a vaulted nave.
The crypt can also be visited below the church and contains the tombs of former Grand Dukes and Duchesses of Luxembourg.
Luxembourg City History Museum: This excellent museum documents the thousand year history of Luxembourg.
The permanent exhibition ‘The Luxembourg Story’ is divided into four major periods from the city’s beginnings to the dynamic financial hub it has become today.
Pétrusse Casemates: these form part of Luxembourg’s medieval fortifications and were built around 1644 and modified 20 years later to raise their height.
Take a guided tour to gain a sense of their structure by walking along their winding underground paths and staircases.
Wenzel Walk: A 5.5 km walk that takes its name from Wenceslas II, Duke of Luxembourg between 1383 and 1419. It was during his reign that the Wenzel Wall was erected to protect the inhabitants of the valley.
The walk commences from the Bock promontory then crosses the castle bridge leading up to a small fortification tower. Continue over the remnants of the wall which was erected in 1735.
The Corniche balcony affords some breathtaking valley views. The walk takes visitors through the oldest parts of the city and to some of the fortress remains which were inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1994.
Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator: walk along the glass viewing platform and then take the lift down the 71 m glass lift to the Pfaffenthal district at the base of the Alzette valley.
Musee Dräi Eechen: housed inside the fully restored 18th century fort Thüngen and approached across a drawbridge.
The main gallery traces Luxembourg’s history from 1443 to 1903 and after visiting there are good views from its upper terrace.
If you plan to visit several museums whilst visiting Luxembourg, I suggest purchasing the Luxembourg Card. These cards offer excellent value as they cover more than 70 attractions not just in the city centre but the whole country with a three day card costing only €28.
Overall:
As the hotel is located in the heart of the historic old town it’s possible to walk to many of the key attractions and access to public transport is close by for visiting places further afield. We enjoyed our stay at the hotel very much. Everywhere was spotlessly clean with sleek, modern furnishings and all staff we came into contact with were helpful and friendly.
Details:
Hotel Simoncini 6, Rue de Notre Dame L-2240 Luxembourg
During our stay we were guests of Visit Luxembourg and as always all views and opinions are my own.
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