Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of Europe’s smallest nations, with a total area of 2,586 square kilometers (998 square miles) and a length of 82 kilometers (51 miles) and a width of 57 kilometers (35 miles) among the 194 sovereign countries of the globe. It is located between 49° and 51° north latitude and 5° and 7° east longitude.

Luxembourg has boundaries with the German Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland to the east, and the French region of Lorraine to the south. To the west and north, the Grand Duchy shares boundaries with the Belgian Walloon Region, particularly the provinces of Luxembourg and Liège, which are members of the German-speaking Community of Belgium.

The ‘Oesling’ is the northern third of the nation, and it is part of the Ardennes. Hills and modest mountains dominate the landscape, with the Kneiff in Wilwerdange serving as the highest point at 560 meters (1,837 ft). The ‘Buurgplaaz’, at 559 meters near Huldange, and the ‘Napoléonsgaard,’ at 554 meters near Rambrouch, are two more mountains. Only one town (Wiltz) has a population of more than 4,000 people, making the area sparsely inhabited.

The “Gutland,” which covers the southern two-thirds of the nation, is more thickly inhabited than the Oesling. It’s also more varied, with five distinct geographic sub-regions. The Luxembourg plateau is a vast, flat sandstone formation in south-central Luxembourg that is home to the city of Luxembourg. Little Switzerland, located to the east of Luxembourg, is known for its rocky terrain and dense woods. The Moselle valley, which runs along the southeastern border, is the lowest-lying area. The Red Lands, located in the far south and southwest of Luxembourg, are the country’s industrial core and home to many of the country’s major cities.

Three rivers define the boundary between Luxembourg and Germany: the Moselle, the Sauer, and the Our. The Alzette, Attert, Clerve, and Wiltz are some of the other important rivers. The Gutland and the Oesling are separated by the basins of the mid-Sauer and Attert.

Luxembourg ranks 4th out of 132 nations evaluated in the 2012 Environmental Performance Index, making it one of the top performers in the world when it comes to environmental preservation. Luxembourg is also ranked sixth among the world’s top ten most livable cities by Mercer’s.

Luxembourg has a moderate oceanic climate, with the Ardennes hills giving some additional shelter from Atlantic influences. May through August is the finest, or at least the sunniest, season to visit, but pleasant weather may be found in April and September as well. The country’s peak season is July-August, with outdoor events all throughout, although Spring brings numerous flowers and Autumn brings wine-making possibilities in the Moselle river region.

Despite the country’s tiny size, there are noticeable variations in overall temperature, with the north being a few degrees cooler and experiencing heavy snowfall in the winter. Winters are chilly for travelers, while being moderate for this area of Europe, with average temperatures around +2°C in January and occasional lows of -15°C at night. The hottest months are July and August, with average temperatures of 15°C to 25°C with a few days exceeding 30°C. The average annual precipitation is approximately 780mm, with August and December being the wettest months.

Ethnicity

Luxembourgers are the people who live in Luxembourg. Immigrants from Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, and Portugal, with the latter accounting for the bulk of the population, boosted the immigrant population in the twentieth century, with approximately 88,000 people of Portuguese nationality living in the city in 2013.

In addition, there is a tiny Romani (Gypsy) and Jewish community. Both of the two groups that live in Luxembourg have been impacted by the Holocaust and have been removed from the country.

Since the Yugoslav conflicts began, Luxembourg has welcomed a large number of immigrants from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia. Over 10,000 new immigrants come in Luxembourg each year, mainly from EU countries and Eastern Europe. In the year 2000, Luxembourg had 162,000 immigrants, accounting for 37% of the total population. In 1999, Luxembourg had an estimated 5,000 illegal immigrants.

Religion

Luxembourg is a secular state, although some faiths are recognized as legally required. In return for paying some operating expenses and salaries, the state is given a role in religious administration and clergy selection. Roman Catholicism, Judaism, Greek Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Russian Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Mennonitism, and Islam are now covered by such agreements.

The government has been prohibited from collecting data on religious beliefs or activities since 1980. According to the CIA Factbook, 87 percent of Luxembourgers, including the royal family, are Catholic, with the other 13 percent consisting of Muslims, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Jews, and people of other or no faith. According to a Pew Research Center survey from 2010, 70.4 percent of Americans identify as Christian, 2.3 percent as Muslim, 26.8% as unaffiliated, and 0.5 percent as belonging to other faiths.

According to a 2005 Eurobarometer survey, 44 percent of Luxembourg residents believe in God, while 28 percent believe in some kind of spirit or life force, and 22 percent think there is no such thing as a spirit, god, or life force.

The national language is Luxembourgish (“Ltzebuergesch”), but French is the administrative language. German is another extensively used and almost globally recognized language. Luxembourgish is a distinct language that developed from a German dialect (“Moselfränkisch”). German (Hochdeutsch) is an official language that appears in the media, is used in court, and is taught in schools. However, everything from road signs to menus to shop information will be in French. With the exception of areas close to the German border, such as Diekirch or Echternach, French is obviously the most helpful of the three languages to know, effectively making Luxembourg a Francophone nation for the tourist.

Foreigners make up more than one-third of Luxembourg’s total population, and this number increases to approximately 50% in the cities. As a result, speaking French is your best option if you want to communicate with the majority of people, particularly because most individuals working in stores and pubs are from France or Belgium and don’t bother learning the local native language. Although English is commonly recognized by bus drivers, many store workers would only reply if addressed in French or German. Educated Luxembourgers speak all four of the aforementioned languages well; it is the “frontaliers” (workers who reside across a border) who may not speak English well or at all. Except for the elderly, almost every Luxembourger knows and speaks basic German and French well. Luxembourgers are Europe’s polyglots, perhaps making the Swiss envious!

Luxembourg’s market economy is stable and high-income, with modest growth, low inflation, and a high degree of innovation. Unemployment has historically been low, but by May 2012, it had increased to 6.1 percent, owing mainly to the effects of the global financial crisis of 2008. As a result, Luxembourg’s economy was expected to expand at a negligible rate in 2012. Luxembourg was the second wealthiest nation in the world in 2011, according to the IMF, with a per capita GDP of $80,119 on a purchasing-power parity (PPP) basis. Luxembourg is rated 13th in the Heritage Foundation’s Ranking of Economic Freedom, 26th in the UN Human Development Index, and fourth in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality of life index.

Luxembourg’s foreign debt is very high whether measured by external debt per capita or debt-to-GDP ratio. External debt per capita in 2014 was $3,696,467, while external debt as a percentage of GDP was 3443 percent, the most in the world by both measures.

Steel dominated the industrial sector until the 1960s, but it has subsequently expanded to include chemicals, rubber, and other goods. Growth in the financial industry has more than compensated for the decrease in steel output in recent decades. The bulk of economic production is accounted for by services, particularly banking and finance. Luxembourg is the second biggest investment fund center in the world (behind the United States), the eurozone’s most significant private banking center, and Europe’s top reinsurance center. Furthermore, the Luxembourg government has made a concerted effort to recruit internet start-ups, with Skype and Amazon among the numerous businesses that have relocated their regional headquarters to Luxembourg.

The G20 placed Luxembourg to a “grey list” of countries with dubious financial arrangements in April 2009, citing concerns about its banking secrecy rules and reputation as a tax haven. As a result, the country quickly embraced OECD norms for information sharing and was later included to the list of “jurisdictions that have largely implemented the globally agreed tax standard.” The Sunday Telegraph claimed in March 2010 that the majority of Kim Jong-$4 Il’s billion in secret accounts is held in Luxembourg banks. According to The Guardian in April 2012, Amazon.co.uk also profits from Luxembourg tax loopholes by routing significant UK earnings via Luxembourg. The Tax Justice Network’s 2011 Financial Secrecy Index of the world’s biggest tax havens placed Luxembourg third, just behind the Cayman Islands. Luxembourg was rated as the world’s second safest tax haven in 2013, after Switzerland.

Small, family-owned farms are the foundation of agriculture.

Luxembourg has particularly strong commercial and financial connections with Belgium and the Netherlands (see Benelux), and it benefits from the open European market as a member of the EU.

In May 2015, the nation ranked tenth in the world in terms of holdings of US Treasury securities, with $171 billion. However, the rating is flawed since some international investors entrust the safety of their assets to organizations based neither in the United States nor in the owner’s home country.

Luxembourg is a signatory to the Schengen Treaty.

Minimum validity of travel documents

Luxembourg-Findel International Airport (IATA: LUX) lies 6 kilometers outside of the city of Luxembourg. Luxair, the national airline, and other airlines link it to numerous European locations. On the airport’s website, you may get a complete schedule. The hubs at Amsterdam (served by KLM), Paris Charles de Gaulle (served by Luxair), Frankfurt (served by Luxair), and London Heathrow (served by Luxair) may link visitors from airports not directly serviced to Luxembourg (served by British Airways). It’s worth noting that international flights to Luxembourg that include a stopover at a hub airport are often comparable to or even less costly than flights to the hub itself.

The Ryanair hubs Frankfurt-Hahn, approximately two hours away by direct Flibco bus, and “Brussels”-South Charleroi, about three hours away by direct Flibco bus and charleroiexpress.com, are two alternative airports, particularly for low-cost airlines.

Luxembourg City and Frankfurt Airport are connected by the DeLux-Express bus service.

Direct trains run from Paris (2 hours), Metz (1 hour), Brussels (3 hours), and Trier to Luxembourg railway station (43 min). On the website of the national railroads firm CFL, you may find both international and national schedules. Trains from Paris must be booked in advance [www.voyages-sncf.com on the SNCF website], with savings available for those who do so. There are no prior savings or the ability to reserve seats on trains to Metz, Brussels, Trier, and other nearby destinations, thus there is no benefit to booking these trains in advance.

When going from Trier, it is recommended to purchase a TagesTicket DeLux, a day-ticket that costs €8.40 and includes a roundtrip journey to Luxembourg as well as unlimited bus and rail travel throughout Luxembourg and the Trier region. The CFL runs a minibus shuttle between Luxembourg train station and TGV Lorraine, from which passengers can connect to TGV trains to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland Paris, Rennes, Bordeaux, and other destinations, as well as a bus shuttle to Saarbrucken, from which passengers can connect to the German ICE network.

The A3 highway connects Metz (A3), Brussels (A6), and Trier (A1) to the ring road surrounding Luxembourg City, which connects to most other areas of the nation.

Leave the highway arriving from the east (Germany) at exit “Cents” if you wish to enjoy a beautiful view on your route to the city, “Grund,” and Kasematten. Drive down the hill into Cents. Don’t be deterred by signs indicating that the road through “Grund” is closed.

Aside from the airport services mentioned above, commuter buses to Trier and Bitburg are sometimes available. The train is a much better choice for getting into the country from a local location. There are a few intercity buses that run between Germany and Luxemburg.

Luxembourg is a small nation, so public transportation can get you to almost every town in the country in an hour or less. The Mobilitéit agency is in charge of organizing Luxembourg’s trains and buses; its website and mobile app are both extremely helpful for arranging trips across the nation.

Tickets are usable on trains and buses and may be bought at railway stations, certain bus vending machines, and all bus drivers when available. A fixed fee of €2 for two hours (unlimited transfers) or €4 for the full day is available.

The Luxembourgeois Chemins de Fer (CFL) rail network is an excellent method to go across the nation. While the south is very well served, the north is restricted to a single major line that goes from Luxembourg City to Liège in Belgium through Mersch, Ettelbrück, Wilwerwiltz, Clervaux, and Troisvierges. Ettelbruck has a branch line to Diekirch, while Kautenbach has a branch line to Wiltz. Bettembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette are located to the south. There is another a line to the east that crosses the Moselle River at Wasserbillig and enters Germany.

Luxembourg’s trains are pleasant and modern, and they usually operate on time.

Countless bus routes run across the nation, reaching every little hamlet. During the week, most services run at least every hour, with greater frequency on weekdays and decreased service on Saturdays and Sundays.

The city of Luxembourg is served by buses numbered 1-31, with line 1 being the most helpful upon arriving in the nation (Train Station – City Centre – Kirchberg – Airport). Almost all buses make stops throughout their itineraries at the major bus station, Hamilius, and the railway station (Luxembourg Gare). Buses are contemporary and clean, and if you have a ticket, you may board at any entrance. On most city bus routes, on-board screens and announcements inform passengers of the upcoming stop. It’s critical to signal the bus you want by extending your hand toward the road as it approaches.

Out of town, the bus service is very wide and dependable. Buses with numbers 100 and above will transport you out of town. To go to places in the north of the country, take the train to Mersch, Ettelbruck, Wiltz, or Clervaux, then change to a bus to the ultimate destination. The capital typically has a direct transport to other locations.

The road infrastructure of Luxembourg is well-developed, although not necessarily well-thought-out. Anywhere along the main highways is readily accessible with them (including Grevenmacher in the east, Mamer to the west and Bettembourg to the south). Esch-Alzette, the country’s second city (by worldwide standards, more akin to a small town), has its own highway, the A4. Furthermore, parts of a new highway in the country’s north (Mersch, Ettelbrück) are already operational. The present North Road, on the other hand, offers convenient access between Luxembourg and Mersch.

Unless otherwise stated, the speed limit in cities and villages is 50 km/h, 90 km/h on open country roads, and 130 km/h on the highway (110 km/h in the rain). On the N7 and N11, speed limits are increased to 110 km/h in certain areas, and reduced to 70 km/h on other open rural routes. Speed restrictions may be increased to 70 km/h on major highways inside cities and villages, or reduced to 30 km/h in residential areas. Random police checks are used to enforce speed restrictions. If you have a right-hand-drive vehicle, be aware that you will almost certainly be picked out for a customs inspection on the way in. In town, police are also on the lookout for vehicles who have the ‘wrong’ lights on, such as side lights instead of dipped headlights.

Driving in Luxembourg isn’t nearly as difficult as it is in other European nations. Even while entering roundabouts, the people remain courteous. Other cars will allow you to join the traffic line if you access the highway from a side road into the slower traffic lane, although traffic indications are required. Always stay in the slow traffic lane on European roads, leaving the fast lane for passing. Even if you are driving at the speed limit, some drivers go at fast speeds and flash their headlights to show that they are in a hurry. Trucks usually stay in the slow lane and maintain their prescribed speed for big vehicles. When overtaking other trucks, they may be a nuisance. Truck drivers seem to be on the lookout for other vehicles. Cars pulling caravans may be dangerous at times, but being vigilant will guarantee that no issues arise. When overtaking, keep an eye on the cars’ close speeds, since some drivers exceed the posted speed limits. Driving in Luxembourg is enjoyable on a daily basis, although traffic can slow down at peak hours.

On weekends, finding parking in Luxembourg’s city center may be challenging. The majority of parking spots are rapidly filled, and some garages shut early. Finding a hotel near the station and then walking about the city center is the best choice. There are also a large number of traffic wardens who are always on the lookout.

Luxembourg’s streets and environment provide for excellent riding terrain; highly recommended.

Luxembourg is split into three administrative districts, each of which has 12 cantons and 106 communes.

• Luxembourg is the Grand Duchy’s capital.
• Clervaux
• Colmar-Berg – Berg Castle, the main home of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, is located in this little town.
• Diekirch is the location of a World War II museum dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge.
• Echternach
• Ettelbruck
• Esch-sur-Alzette
• Mertert
• Mondorf-les-Bains – On the Luxembourg-France border, there is a spa town with a gaming “Casino.”
• Remich – Promenades along the Moselle are popular.
• Schengen – renowned for the treaty signed there, the site was most likely selected because of its proximity to both the French and German borders, as well as its natural beauty.
• Vianden – A charming little village dominated by a magnificent château.

Because of its magnificent wooded slopes, the Mullerthal, also known as Luxembourg’s Little Switzerland, is a popular hiking, cycling, and photography destination.

Hotels in downtown Luxembourg are very costly due to the strong banking and EU presence in the city, but there is a decent youth hostel. Staying over the border in, say, Trier and “commuting” into Luxembourg might be more cost-effective.

The Luxembourg Association of Independent Hotels offers a booking service for a handful of smaller hotels, mainly in the countryside but with a few in the city.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a varied country, rich of lovely environment and magnificent ancient sites, despite being one of Europe’s smallest countries. Its tumultuous past is littered with tales of emperors and counts, as well as many wars and disagreements. Today, the almost fairy-tale-like castles and fortifications remain a faint but impressive reminder of bygone days, and they provide for some excellent and beautiful views in their lovely natural environment.

The majority of the country’s population lives in rural regions, and towns are generally tiny, with the exception of the charming ancient city of Luxembourg, which serves as the country’s capital. The capital, on the other hand, is a must-see destination. It is perched high on a rock, with panoramic views of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers’ deep and narrow valleys. UNESCO has designated many sections of the old town as World Heritage Sites, including the Gothic Revival Cathedral of Notre Dame, the town walls, and, of course, the Grand Ducal Palace, which is encircled by beautiful cobblestoned alleys, among the most fascinating. The Bock casemates, Neumünster Abbey, and the Place d’Armes are just a few of the sights to visit. There are many World War II memorial sites and a number of high-end museums, but strolling around the old town, taking in the magnificent views from the Chemin de la Corniche, and crossing bridges to the nearby plateaus is just as enjoyable.

Echternach, Luxembourg’s oldest city, is a bustling hub of activity. The basilica of the Abbey of Echternach, where the country’s patron St Willibrord is buried, is the country’s most famous ecclesiastical building. The annual Whit Tuesday festivities in his honor, which take place in the old town centre and are a major tourist attraction, include a large number of dancers. Apart from its own attractions, Echternach is an excellent starting point for exploring the lovely Müllerthal, often known as “Little Switzerland.” Hike or bike through the thick woods, which include many streams and caverns.

Despite the summer throng, the charming hamlet of Vianden with its magnificent medieval castle remains a tourist favorite and well worth a visit. The fortress’s lovely setting in the Our river valley, surrounded by dense woods and a swan-filled lake, gives it a classic fairy-tale castle appearance. Visit the Victor Hugo home after you’ve wandered the streets and seen the Gothic cathedrals and fortified towers of this beautiful town. Following that, the lovely cafés of the Grand Rue are a great spot to relax and unwind.

Start your own journey along the Route du Vin in Remich and experience the numerous excellent wines made in the Moselle Valley.

The influence of German and Central European cuisine is evident in traditional recipes, which are mainly centered on pork and potatoes. Judd mat gaardebounen, or smoked pork neck paired with boiling wide beans, is the unofficial national dish. Gromperekichelchen (literally, potato biscuits) are a kind of fried shredded potato cake with onions, shallots, and parsley that you must taste if you have the chance. They’re usually offered during outdoor events like markets or funfairs, and they’re really tasty. They’re also a great snack on a chilly winter day.

However, at most places, the traditional local cuisine would be French cuisine served in larger quantities. Since the 1960s, Italian cuisine has been popular. Ketty Thull’s recipes, which have reportedly been the best-selling cooking and baking book in Luxembourg since WWII, have had a significant impact on home cuisine.

You may also sample “Bamkuch” (meaning “tree cake”), which is traditionally served at weddings and baptisms. This cake is typically baked on a spit and served like a tree trunk with many layers that resemble the tree rings and are visible when sliced.

Riesling, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Rivaner, and Elbling, to mention a few, are among the excellent white wines produced in Luxembourg’s Moselle valley, which is located to the east of the country. Many communities around the Moselle river have wine-tasting village festivals in the fall.

Young folks choose to consume either domestic or foreign beer. Diekirch, from the same-named hamlet, Bofferding, Battin, Simon, and Mousel are among the most prominent breweries in Luxembourg. Despite the fact that none of them are readily available outside of the nation, they are all outstanding lagers.

Luxembourgers like an eau-de-vie as an after-dinner digestive. Mirabelle and Quetsch are the most widely accessible. Both are very powerful and made from plums! These are sometimes eaten with coffee, which may be more appealing to some.

Luxembourg is a eurozone country. It is one of many European nations that utilize the Euro. All euro banknotes and coins are legal tender across the EU.

One euro is made up of 100 cents.

The euro’s official sign is €, and its ISO code is EUR. The cent does not have an official symbol.

Luxembourg is a eurozone country. It is one of many European nations that utilize the Euro. All euro banknotes and coins are legal tender across the EU.

One euro is made up of 100 cents.

The euro’s official sign is €, and its ISO code is EUR. The cent does not have an official symbol.

The National Holiday commemorates the Grand Duke’s birthday and was formerly moveable to coincide with the monarch’s real birthday. To prevent cold weather on Grand Duke Jean’s (reigned 1964-2000) January 5 birthday, the Grand Duke’s Official Birthday celebration has been moved since 1962 to Jean’s name day on June 23, and has been preserved during his successor Henri’s reign. If June 23 falls on a Sunday, the event is rescheduled for Monday, June 24.

Respect the local language by making an attempt to speak a word or two in it, even if it’s only the customary greeting “Moien.” Avoid referring to “Luxembourgish” as a dialect of German or thinking of the nation as simply an extension of France or Germany. Locals, particularly in small towns and villages, are very friendly; saying “Hello” to them in any language will be met with a grin.

Luxembourg’s culture has been eclipsed by those of its neighbors. It has retained a lot of folk customs despite being a very rural nation for most of its history. There are many noteworthy museums, the most of which are concentrated in the capital. The National Museum of History and Art (NMHA), the Luxembourg City History Museum, and the upcoming Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art are among them (Mudam). Diekirch’s National Museum of Military History (MNHM) is well-known for its depictions of the Battle of the Bulge. The historical significance of Luxembourg’s fortifications has earned the city of Luxembourg a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The country has produced several globally renowned artists, including painters Théo Kerg, Joseph Kutter, and Michel Majerus, as well as photographer Edward Steichen, whose The Family of Man exhibition was included to UNESCO’s Memory of the World list and is now permanently preserved in Clervaux. Loretta Young, the actress, was of Luxembourgish ancestry.

Luxembourg is the only city to have twice been designated European Capital of Culture. The first time it happened was in 1995. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland in Germany, the Walloon Region and the German-speaking portion of Belgium, and the Lorraine region in France were to be the European Capitals of Culture in 2007. The event was an effort to encourage mobility and the interchange of ideas by physically, mentally, aesthetically, and emotionally transcending boundaries.

Luxembourg had its own pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, which ran from 1 May to 31 October 2010. The pavilion was inspired by the Chinese translation of the term Luxembourg, “Lu Sen Bao,” which means “Forest and Fortress.” It portrayed Luxembourg as the “Green Heart of Europe.”

Unlike in most other European nations, sport in Luxembourg is not centered on a single national sport, but rather on a variety of team and individual activities. Despite the absence of a central athletic emphasis, more than 100,000 Luxembourgers, out of a total population of just 512,353, are licensed members of one or more sports federations. The country’s biggest sporting facility, d’Coque, is an indoor arena and Olympic swimming pool in Kirchberg, north-eastern Luxembourg City, with a capacity of 8,300. The arena hosts basketball, handball, gymnastics, and volleyball matches, including the 2007 Women’s European Volleyball Championship final. The national stadium (and the country’s biggest) is the Stade Josy Barthel in western Luxembourg City; named after the country’s lone recognized Olympic gold medalist, the stadium seats 8,054.

Luxembourg cuisine reflects its location on the border between the Latin and Germanic cultures, with cuisines from neighboring France and Germany significantly influencing it. It has lately been enhanced by the large number of Italian and Portuguese immigrants.

The majority of local Luxembourg meals, eaten as customary everyday fare, have origins in the country’s folk cuisines, as do those of neighboring Germany.

Luxembourg has been dubbed the “safest nation in the world” in many polls; as long as you take the normal measures, you should be OK. The area surrounding the train station in the city center is a bit sketchy; you’ll see individuals panhandling. In this neighborhood, there are also some shady nightclubs that tourists should avoid.

Luxembourg’s food and tap water supplies are excellent, and the country’s healthcare system is world-class. Even though the summers may be scorching, the temperature is generally pleasant. These temperatures, however, seldom exceed 30°C.