It is a small Walloon town that covered an area around Knippchen hill, and therefore there are only a few sightseeing spots testifying to Arlon long-standing history.

Long before Rome conquered galls, Arlon had been inhabited by Trevires people, the branch of German-Celtic tribes. As time passed, Trevires easily assimilated with Romans and thereby the settlement gradually enlarged. Alongside Tongeren and Tournai, Arlon is nowadays considered one of the oldest towns and cities in Belgium. Its name comes from the Latin “Orolaunum”, meaning that the city was originally a Roman town on the crossroad of two very important trade routes: the road from Reims to Trier and from Tongeren in Metz. The momentous date in Arlon history is 1060, when the count Waleran I of Limburg ordered to build a castle on Knippchen hill, thus turning Arlon into a prominent town in the neighborhood. By 13th century few more mighty constructions appeared in suburbs, including feminine Cistercian abbey and Autelbas castle. In the end of the 16th century most of Arlon buildings and architect beauties were destroyed by French troops that occupied the land during the war with the Netherlands. In the 17th century Capuchins’ Convent built a monastery on the top of Knippchen hill.

Many of the noted historic sightings in Arlon might be found only in historic records. However, tourists still might observe the remains of Roman buildings and vallums dated back to the 3rd century. The sightseeing route around Arlon usually includes St. Martin Cathedral with its momentous Gothic façade. Its carved portal cannot but impress, but even more impressive is the greatness and the ordering of the cathedral, and its huge stained glass rosette. It is impossible not to mention a lush grotto, built right in the church and adorned with flowers and stones, and ceramic jug, from which a small stream starts. Slender columns are decorated with colorful statues of saints, and each holds a book in one hand, and some instrument of production (a key, a sword, etc.) in the other.

On the Knippchen Hill, where once the first castle of Arlon and the Capuchins’ monastery stood, travelers might pay a visit to St. Donat’s church. In fact, it is a great survival of the Capuchins’ Convent that existed till 1796. In 1719, after the temple was once again struck by lightning, it was agreed to consecrate it to the glory of St. Donatus. However, the current official name of the church was established only in 1807. The main attraction of the church is the Royal Way of the Cross put in 1846. It is a stone path up the Knippchen hill, consisting of 14 terraces with the same 14 stone crosses. Lots of historic artifacts of Arlon might be found in the Archeology Museum, recognized as one of the richest in the country.