I found Europe’s most accessible walking destination with no crowds
It’s a dry, sunny day in the Bonnert Forest. Dappled light shines through the tall pine trees and the ground is scattered with wildflowers, bluebells and yellow primrose. Occasionally another day-tripper will greet us with a cheery “bonjour!” as they pass, but the only other sound we hear is birdsong as we have the place pretty much to ourselves. The pathway is well signposted, and while it’s steep at times, the fine gravel surface makes it easy to wheel on.
My fiancé Paul has been using a wheelchair full-time since a car accident when he was 21, over two decades ago, and we’ve come to Luxembourg to explore some of its accessible infrastructure. This is a country whose capital in 2022 was named top among 40 cities by the European Commission for improving accessibility, so our hopes are high.
Developed as part of Luxembourg’s Tourism for All campaign, five “comfort trails” were launched in October 2024 to improve access to the great outdoors. The hiking routes are wide and smooth enough for wheelchairs and buggies, with benches positioned along them for rest stops.
The paths – in Bissen, Remich, Echternach, Grevenmacher and Redange-sur-Attert – are dotted around the tiny country, but all are easily reached by car from Luxembourg City, and we’re road-testing three of them.
We’ve driven all the way from our home in Staffordshire, to allow us to bring Paul’s electric chair in the boot of his estate car. Fit and healthy as I am, pushing Paul in his manual chair along the trails – which range in length from 2km to 4km – would be too challenging, whereas the electric wheelchair has enough battery power and manoeuvrability for the task.
Our first stop is the Remich trail – a walk along the River Moselle and through Remich town centre, starting from the tourist office, where disabled parking costs under €2 (£1.73). Each pathway has regular signposting – a little red dot encompassed by a red semicircle – which pops up about every 20 metres. Straight rivers like the Moselle are simple to follow, but after 40 minutes along the river towards Stadtbredimus and back, we take a turn at some lights, stop for coffee and lose track of the signs in the town centre. It’s not a problem, as we’ve enjoyed the wide and flat asphalt of the promenade, and spotting birds and clematis weaving through the hedgerows along the river.
After lunch at Liblingsplaz, a nearby restaurant with a sprawling terrace, we drive five minutes to park alongside the Moselle again, this time in Grevenmacher for its 3.5km circular route. It’s a smart move to create comfort trails along these river promenades, which are already wide and flat, and while we lose the red dot signposting again amid the winding streets of the town centre, we follow the same back-up plan as before and follow the river. We easily finish the route within the estimated hour and 15 minutes, though we’re glad for the rest benches along the way, where we can stop to take in the soothing views over the water and bobbing ducks.
The next day, it’s away from the river and into the woods. On our drive to the Bissen trail’s starting point, we’re met with road works and a long diversion, but it’s more than worth it once we arrive. There’s plenty of parking, backed by a wheat field, and public toilets at the beginning and end. In fact, all the comfort trails share the same “comforts”: disabled parking, free access, restrooms, signposting and regular benches.
While Paul has enjoyed our Moselle walks, the Bonnert Forest – also known as the Bissen Forest – edges it. The tracks are smooth for woodland, he says, and the cool temperatures and bluebells are winners too. He also notices how the areas we visit are always being improved for better access for all, with lots of works taking place, and everywhere we visit there’s free disabled parking (albeit sometimes just one spot).
While there will always be inaccessible pathways, narrow walkways and cobbled streets to contend with, we’ve yet to find such a comprehensive series of trails that’s so accessible. Luxembourg’s comfort trails come as a welcome development and an opportunity for everyone to see the country from different angles.
How to get there
LeShuttle goes from Folkestone to Calais, from which it’s a four-hour drive to Luxembourg City.Where to stay
The recently refurbished Novotel Luxembourg Kirchberg has accessible doubles from £216.More information
visitluxembourg.com
المصدر: iNews
