Luxembourg: small miracles in 'Little Switzerland'

290 4 1

Nature doesn’t have much room to really show off in Luxembourg – one of the smallest countries in Europe with just over 2.500 km2. However, here and there nature enthusiasts will find small gems, cute places, tucked away between forests and rivers, but nonetheless worthwhile exploring.

Published: 2012-05-28 16:33:35 UTC

2/10

A Small Stream near Chipkapass

A good starting point to catch a glimpse of the country’s natural beauty is the Mullerthal; also called “La Petite Suisse Luxembourgeoise”.

3/10

Butterfly Larvae or Caterpillar on Sandstone

The comparison to Switzerland may seem a little far fetched, but the forested hills of the area around the villages of Echternach, Consdorf, Berdorf and in the valley of the lower river Sauer are famous for their impressive rock formations, a paradise for hikers.

4/10

Common Liverwort

Botanists praise the fairy-tale landscape of caves and stone domes for their unique flora: mosses, lichen and ferns are abundant, some of them, like the filmy fern species Hymenophyllum tunbridgense – which can only be found in Alsace, here in the Mullerthal and – as the scientific name suggests – in southern England around the city of Tunbridge Wells

5/10

Small Stream in a Thick Forest

At the border with Germany, close to the Eiffel and the Ardennes on the Belgian side, creeks and small rivers like the Our are habitats for the river otter, dippers and kingfishers. The rarely seen Hazel grouse breeds in the neighbouring forests.

6/10

Hedgerow Crane's-Bill

Geranium is found throughout the temperate regions of the world and the mountains of the tropics, but mostly in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region. The long, palmately cleft leaves are broadly circular in form. The flowers have 5 petals and are coloured white, pink, purple or blue, often with distinctive veining.Cranesbills are eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Brown-tail and Mouse Moth.

7/10

Winter Moth

The Winter Moth is an abundant species of Europe and the Near East and one of very few Lepidoptera of temperate regions in which the adults are active in the depth of winter. Winter Moths are considered an invasive species in North America; Nova Scotia experienced the first confirmed infestations in the 1930s.

8/10

Robert Geranium

Geranium robertianum can grow at altitudes of up to 1,500 metres. It grows as an annual or biennial plant, producing small, pink, five-petalled flowers (about 1 cm in diameter) from April until the autumn. The leaves are fern-like, and the stems often reddish; the leaves too turn red at the end of the flowering season. The plant has little root structure.

9/10

Landscape in the Ardennes

Anthriscus sylvestris is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant. The hollow stem grows to a height of between 60–170 cm, branching to umbels of small white flowers. Flowering time is mid-spring to early summer. The tripinnate leaves are 15–30 cm long and have a triangular form. The leaflets are ovate and subdivided.

10/10

Creeping Jenny

Lysimachia nummularia is a low, creeping plant. It is native to Europe, but has been introduced to North America, where it is considered an invasive species in some areas. It aggressively spreads in favorable conditions, such as low wet ground or near ponds, but is usually easily removed by hand pulling.