Guttland Trail Fautelfiels

5.4km trail of the very highest quality. Easily one of the best short hikes in Luxembourg.
- Bonus – Only 20 minutes by car from Lux-Kirchberg!
Highlights include a reconstructed neolithic house, a mysterious rock chapel and plenty of little caves ripe for exploration by young and old alike.
Park and hike at Neolithic Site Blaschette – Houbësch, 7390 Blaschette.
Not easy to access by public transport. If necessary: Blaschette Kraïzung.

There had been an early-summer thunderstorm during the night, and the forest seemed to be more alive than ever. Earthy and rich, the scent of rain lingered in the air as we parked our car and approached the rust-chic “Guttland Trail” trailhead map and information board.

We set off. Within minutes, the first landmark emerged from the dripping green: a reconstructed Neolithic house with great standing stones arranged in front of it, like silent watchers. It looked almost like we’d accidentally stepped into a film set, but it was simply the start of a brand-new hiking trail: the Guttland Trail Fautelfiels.

Ferns (bracken, if I’m feeling pedantic) were everywhere. Rain-fed and glistening, they had recently exploded into life along the path, brushing our knees and framing the trail in a restless, relentless green. The route itself kept things simple and natural: soft Guttland earth underfoot, a few tree roots to navigate, the occasional twist through denser woodland.

And then came the fun part.

The trail is named after the Fautelfiels chapel, a stone-carved place of worship hidden in a vertical cleft in the rock. There’s a “main” entrance too: a small, dark metal door reachable by steep, time-worn stone steps, somewhat improbably framed by classic Luxembourg sandstone rocks. It looks like the entrance to another world but, sadly, this ~~portal~~ door was locked tight. Consolation, though: if you go to the glass and squint you can just about see the plain benches of the interior, bathing in the green forest light streaming in from the only remaining window.

The Fautelfiels chapel was likely carved during the French Revolution, offering secret refuge for worship when public Mass was forbidden, but it may date from an earlier period. These imprecise origins deepen its quiet mystery.

The chapel marks the beginning of the most exciting section of the trail, with a viewpoint over the Alzette valley and several mini-caves to explore, some just large enough to peek inside, others worth a careful scramble. Of these, the Gourmangslay is by far the most celebrated and beautiful: Carved steps and a thick rope anchored to the rock face lead upward into darkness, and the cave itself goes back even further we than dared to explore. For curious kids (and overgrown kids), this is the stuff of adventure and legend.

A little further on, and I clambered inside another cave: no room for the dog and teenage son in this one. I rested there a while, legs dangling above the forest floor, my subterranean view framing the woods like my very own secret diorama. From here the trail briefly dips down towards an algae-strewn pond and resting area (another feature of this trail is the quality and quantity of picnic tables and benches!) before climbing gently back up again towards the starting point.

It was almost over too soon; the Guttland Trail Fautelfiels is short, but rich. With its blend of natural path, forest growth, and quiet wonders, it makes an ideal afternoon stroll for families. Highly recommended!