A view of the old town and fortifications from the Trois Glands park, similar to the photo chosen for an exhibition in Quebec Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne

A view of the old town and fortifications from the Trois Glands park, similar to the photo chosen for an exhibition in Quebec Matic Zorman/Maison Moderne

Added to the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites in 1994, the old fortifications of the capital city will be the focus of guided tours on 8 September. A special recipe book is also being launched.

Founded on 8 September 1993 at a meeting in Fez, Morocco, the Organization of World Heritage Cities now includes some 250 member cities which have a total population of more than 130 million. Luxembourg, which joined in December 1994 when its fortifications and old town were added to the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites, is one of the smallest members.

But the capital was one of just 22 cities selected to be part of a OWHC photo exhibition on show in downtown Quebec City (which houses the headquarters of the OWHC) to coincide with the organisation’s 16th World Congress. The exhibition, which runs through 10 September, had as its theme “It’s good to live in …” Other cities selected for the exhibition include Strasbourg, Porto, Dubrovnik, Vienna, Mexico City, Hoi An and Krakow.

Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer was particularly proud that her city was among the final 22.

Free Unesco Trail tour

The Solidarity Day of World Heritage Cities on 8 September has been held every year since the OWHC was founded and provides residents and visitors with an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas on how to protect urban heritage.

In Luxembourg the Luxembourg City Tourist Office and the Lëtzebuerg City Museum will be giving several guided tours of the city’s Unesco Trail. The tour will take visitors through the Petrusse Valley directly alongside the fortifications, continue along the Corniche, which has been dubbed “Europe's most beautiful balcony” and the ramparts, and then on through the old town.

A tour in English starts at 2pm, with tours in Luxembourgish and French at 11am and 3pm respectively.

The tours are free, but because places are limited they must be booked in advance using the booking form on the .

Book celebrating international culinary heritage

Participants of the tour will also receive a copy of a new World Heritage Recipes cookbook, which includes dishes from a further 22 cities and explains their cultural importance.

 The World Heritage Recipes book features dishes from 22 cities  OWHC

 The World Heritage Recipes book features dishes from 22 cities  OWHC

Luxembourg was again among the selection for its famous Bouneschlupp (bean soup). Other recipes include apple strudel from Salzburg, chilli from San Antonio, chicory gratin from Brussels and eel soup from Stralsund in Germany.

Some 600 copies of the cookbook--200 each in English, French and German, respectively—are being made available at the Luxembourg City Museum's Visitor Centre. It can also be downloaded at the .