Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator, Luxembourg (must see)

Luxembourg is a city built on many levels, with the historic old city built on the plateau and other communities sitting below in deep gorges. Connecting the different parts of town for pedestrians and cyclists has always been a challenge from a planning perspective.

The Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator was begun in 2006, but due to various delays, it wasn't completed until 2017. Along with the Grund public elevator and the Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg funicular, the city is connected to the Alzette and Petrusse river valleys below.

The elevator's main shaft is about 60 meters tall, and it is built right into the Cote d'Eich hillside. Seventy-two anchor bolts are drilled as far as 30 meters into the bedrock, and the terrain is reinforced with concrete. The footbridge leading to the elevator in Pescatore Park has an observation platform that extends out over the Alzette Valley. It also has window panels and clear glass flooring, allowing for some stunning views.

Why You Should Visit:
The glass-walled elevator is a quick and easy way to connect to the community of Pfaffenthal, but that's far from the only reason to take the ride. The elevator provides some of the most beautiful panoramic views to be found anywhere in the city.

Tips:
Even if you don't plan to ride the elevator, take the trip out on the footbridge to check out the observation deck.

If you'd like to visit the Pfaffenthal section of town, consider going down on the elevator and back up via the Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg funicular. In this part of town, you'll find the Grand-Duchess Charlotte bridge, several parks, and Fort Niedergrünewald.