By Erica Crompton
Luxembourg is steadily developing a network of comfort hiking trails as part of its Tourism without Barriers campaign, with accessible routes around places such as Bissen and Remich. I travelled with my fiancé, Paul, who uses a wheelchair full time, to see how these trails work in practice.
Our first stop is Remich, where the river Moselle offers a wide, smooth promenade and a gentle introduction to the region. We drove from Staffordshire so we could bring Paul’s electric wheelchair, which has the battery life and manoeuvrability needed for these 2 to 5 kilometre trails. As fit as I am, pushing a manual chair over those distances would have been unrealistic, so flying was not an option.
The trails are marked with a small red dot inside a half circle, appearing roughly every 20 metres. Along a straight river path, navigation is easy, and after 40 minutes of strolling we turn into town for coffee and quickly lose the signs. It does not matter. The riverside walk has already delivered what we came for: flat ground, wildlife and space to breathe. Disabled parking at the Remich Tourist Office costs under two euros, and the trail begins right there.
After lunch, we drive five minutes to Grevenmacher for a 3.5 kilometre circular route. Again, the river becomes our backup guide when the signage fades. The hour long walk is peaceful, dotted with benches and framed by water and birdsong.
The next day takes us to Bissen and the Bonnert forest. A diversion caused by roadworks adds ten minutes, but the trail is worth it. The gravel is fine and firm, the signage clear and the forest cool and quiet. We even spot other wheelchair users tackling the inclines with ease.
Across all trails, the consistency stands out: free disabled parking, accessible toilets, rest stops and thoughtful surfaces. While town centre signposting could be clearer, Luxembourg’s commitment to accessibility is unmistakable. In a continent known for cobblestones and steep old towns, these comfort trails feel like a rare and welcome invitation to explore.
