Arlon Tourist Attractions
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Situated in the far southeast corner of Belgium wedged between France and Luxembourg, Arlon (Flemish Aarlen) is one of the country's oldest towns. Now the capital of the Belgian province of Luxembourg, it lies on the plateau of the Ardennes at the intersection of two Roman roads, Reims to Trier and Tongeren to Metz. Having founded the settlement (Orolaunum), the Romans also later fortified it in the third C. AD The town is built on the slopes of a conical hill once topped by the castle of the counts of Arlon.
Grand' Place
The square known as the Grand' Place with its medieval cross, symbol of civic freedom, is the center of the old part of Arlon.
Roman Tower
Reached by an alleyway leading off the southeast corner of the square, the Tour romaine (Roman tower) is a relic of the third C. Roman ring walls. Today it is a museum.
Saint-Donat's Church
From the Grand' Place the road climbs to the top of the hill, where Saint-Donat's church now occupies the site of the counts of Arlon's medieval stronghold. Capuchin friars built a monastery on the ruins of the old castle in 1626, only for it to be converted into a fortress again by Louis XIV. The erstwhile chapel became a church in 1807, undergoing considerable alteration later in the 19th C.On the west side of the hill stone steps lead up in an impressive arc to the church, and near their foot is a statue (1987) of the "Helleschman", an Arlon carnival figure. The interior of the church is embellished with 17th and 18th C. frescos of the life of St Donatus. There are also a number of other treasures well worth seeing.
Saint-Donat View
The tower affords a splendid panoramic view encompassing four countries - France to the south, the Belgian Ardennes to the north and west, and to the east Luxembourg with Germany beyond.
Place Léopold
Down the hill from Saint-Donat's, below the Grand' Place, Arlon's provincial government building (1845), Palais de Justice (1864) and main post office stand grouped around Place Léopold. At the southern corner of the square an American tank commemorates the liberation of the town by General Patton's forces in December 1944.
Saint-Martin's Church
Beyond Place Léopold, on the far side of Square Albert I, the 97m/318ft tower of Saint- Martin's church (1907) rises high above the roofs of the new town.
Musée Luxembourgeois
The Musée Luxembourgeois contains fascinating collections of Roman tombstones and sarcophagi, ceramics, etc., along with Merovingian period pieces, and folk art.
Map of Arlon Attractions
Map - Arlon
