Clervaux
Hotels in Clervaux- Code:CL
- Type:canton
- Native name:Canton of Clervaux
- Population:22,179 (2026)
- Area:343 km²
- Capital:Clervaux
Introduction
Clervaux Canton, Luxembourg's northernmost, is anchored by the small town of Clervaux and its castle — home to the Family of Man photography exhibition — plus a genuinely striking hilltop Benedictine abbey most visitors don't expect to find here.
Overview
Clervaux town sits in a tight valley bend of the Clerve river, dominated from above by both its castle and, on the opposite hillside, the Abbey of Saint-Maurice-et-Saint-Maur — a working Benedictine monastery rebuilt in the early 20th century in a deliberately monumental neo-Romanesque style, its twin towers visible across the whole valley. The castle itself, beyond the Family of Man exhibition, also houses a model museum with detailed scale reconstructions of Luxembourg's other castles, useful context before or after visiting Vianden or Bourscheid. The town below is small and quiet even by Luxembourg's own modest standards, genuinely worth an overnight for visitors wanting to see the abbey at a relaxed pace rather than rushing through as a single stop on a castle-hopping day.
Discover Clervaux
The castle and the Family of Man
The castle-north guide tells the Family of Man exhibition's full curatorial and homecoming story; practically, the exhibition occupies several floors of the castle and is genuinely worth two to three hours given the number of images (503) and the accompanying context panels. The castle's separate model museum, showing detailed scale reconstructions of Vianden, Bourscheid and Luxembourg's other major fortresses, makes a useful practical primer before visiting them in person.
The Abbey of Saint-Maurice-et-Saint-Maur
The abbey, on the hillside directly opposite the castle, is a working Benedictine monastery rather than a historical ruin — the current buildings date mostly to a major early-20th-century reconstruction in a deliberately monumental neo-Romanesque style, replacing an older complex. Visitors can attend the monks' services or simply walk the grounds for the view back across the valley to the castle, a genuinely striking pairing of two hilltop landmarks facing each other.
Getting there and around
Clervaux is reached from Luxembourg City by free direct train, roughly an hour, making it a straightforward day trip or a comfortable overnight stop for visitors wanting to see the abbey without rushing. The town centre, castle and abbey are all within a short, if somewhat steep, walk of each other and the train station.
Ways to Experience This Destination
A landmark 1955 photography exhibition permanently installed in Clervaux's castle, plus a scale-model museum of Luxembourg's other castles.
A working Benedictine monastery rebuilt in monumental neo-Romanesque style, facing the castle across the valley — open to visitors for the grounds and the view.
Clervaux Travel Notes
- Reached from Luxembourg City by free direct train, roughly an hour.
- The castle, abbey and town centre are all within a short but somewhat steep walk of the train station.
- The Family of Man exhibition genuinely warrants two to three hours given its scale (503 images) — allow enough time rather than treating it as a quick stop.
- Clervaux makes a comfortable overnight base for visitors wanting to see the abbey at a relaxed pace rather than rushing through on a single castle-hopping day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Family of Man exhibition take to see?
Can I visit the Abbey of Clervaux?
Is Clervaux worth an overnight stay?
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