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Fort Thüngen

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

fortification

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Fort Thüngen is a historic fortification in Luxembourg City, once a vital part of the massive fortress complex known as the 'Gibraltar of the North.' Built by the Austrians in 1732 on the Kirchberg plateau, it was named after Baron von Thüngen, the fortress commander at the time. The structure is most famous for its three distinctive round towers, which are colloquially known as the 'Three Acorns' (Trois Glands) because of the acorn-shaped finials on their roofs. Following the Treaty of London in 1867, which mandated the neutrality and dismantling of the fortress, much of the fort was destroyed, but the iconic towers and foundations remained. After extensive restoration in the 1990s, the site now houses the Musée Dräi Eechelen, focusing on the history of Luxembourg's fortifications. Situated on the edge of the modern Kirchberg district, the fort serves as a bridge between the city's military past and its contemporary role as a European capital.

Location: Luxembourg
Top sights: Fort Thüngen · Musée Dräi Eechelen · MUDAM
Nearby: Strassen (5 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	1	1	5	9	13	17	19	19	15	10	5	2
Rain mm	67	57	57	46	70	68	65	72	56	65	68	79

📋 Practical info

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Visiting

The massively built historic fort with its highly typical round towers is freely accessible from the outside. Inside is a surprisingly excellent paid museum featuring beautifully restored historical underground corridors.

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Typical hours

The museum is typically open during the day, with a firm rest day regularly observed at the beginning of the week. The beautiful parks entirely surrounding the massive historic building are fully and permanently accessible.

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Photography

The historic round towers with their curious acorn-shaped roofs are an incredibly well-suited photo motif. The wonderfully sharp visual contrast with the closely adjacent modern architecture is deeply and exceptionally appealing.

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Time needed

A delightfully quiet walk around the old massive building in the green park usually takes about twenty minutes. An in-depth visit to the exciting and highly detailed indoor museum exhibitions regularly takes one to two hours.

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Combine with

Next door is the widely celebrated MUDAM, an outstanding museum for excellent contemporary art. A highly relaxing walk across the modern Kirchberg plateau with its deeply prominent EU institutions is a brilliant addition.

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Getting there

The famous historic fort on the modern Kirchberg plateau is accessed by the extremely convenient city tram. From the bustling old town center, beautifully maintained walking pathways easily lead directly up to the massive facilities.

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Insider tip

Visit this historic building just before sunset when the warm golden light magically illuminates the old stones. The museum rooftop terrace also has a breathtakingly magnificent view of the entire sweeping valley below.

Geography

Coordinates

49.61670, 6.13920

Facts

The fort was constructed in 1732 on the Kirchberg plateau during Austrian rule.
It was named after Adam Sigmund von Thüngen, a general in the Imperial Army.
The iconic acorn finials on the towers were added during a 19th-century restoration.
About 90% of the city's fortifications were dismantled after the Treaty of London in 1867.
The Musée Dräi Eechelen, located within the fort, officially opened in 2012.
A complex network of underground defensive tunnels exists beneath the fort foundations.