It’s a dry, sunny day in the Bonnert Forest. Dappled light shines through the tall pine trees and the ground is scattered with wildflowers, bluebells and yellow primrose. Occasionally another day-tripper will greet us with a cheery “bonjour!” as they pass, but the only other sound we hear is birdsong as we have the place pretty much to ourselves. The pathway is well signposted, and while it’s steep at times, the fine gravel surface makes it easy to wheel on.
My fiancé Paul has been using a wheelchair full-time since a car accident when he was 21, over two decades ago, and we’ve come to Luxembourg to explore some of its accessible infrastructure. This is a country whose capital in 2022 was named top among 40 cities by the European Commission for improving accessibility, so our hopes are high.
Paul on one of the easy-to-follow riverside routes
Developed as part of Luxembourg’s Tourism for All campaign, five “comfort trails” were launched in October 2024 to improve access to the great outdoors. The hiking routes are wide and smooth enough for wheelchairs and buggies, with benches positioned along them for rest stops.
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