Philharmonie Luxembourg
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- Luxembourg has won the Eurovision Song Contest five times. With both seven victories, Ireland and Sweden are the most successful countries in the international song competition.
- The Grand Duke’s official birthday is on 23 June. Also known as National Day (French: Fête Nationale Luxembourgeoise, German: Luxemburgischer Nationalfeiertag, Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerger Nationalfeierdag), the Grand Duke’s official birthday is celebrated on 23 June.
- The country’s official motto is mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn. Meaning ‘we want to remain what we are,’ the motto refers to the country’s tumultuous history and the wish to remain independent (now and in the future).
- Luxembourg is one of the safest countries in the world. Crime rates in Luxembourg are impressively low. In 2019, it was even named the safest country in the world for expats.
- Overview
- Relief and soils
- Climate
- Ethnic groups, languages, and religion
- Settlement patterns
Luxembourg, landlocked country in northwestern Europe. One of the world’s smallest countries, it is bordered by Belgium on the west and north, France on the south, and Germany on the northeast and east. Luxembourg has come under the control of many states and ruling houses in its long history, but it has been a separate, if not always autonomous, political unit since the 10th century. The ancient Saxon name of its capital city, Lucilinburhuc (“Little Fortress”), symbolized its strategic position as “the Gibraltar of the north,” astride a major military route linking Germanic and Frankish territories.
Luxembourg is a point of contact between the Germanic- and Romance-language communities of Europe, and three languages are regularly employed in the grand duchy itself: Luxembourgish, German, and French. The peoples of Luxembourg and their languages reflect the grand duchy’s common interests and close historical relations with its neighbours. In the 20th century Luxembourg became a founding member of several international economic organizations. Perhaps most importantly, the grand duchy was an original member of the Benelux Economic Union (1944), which linked its economic life with that of the Netherlands and of Belgium and would subsequently form the core of the European Economic Community (EEC; ultimately succeeded by the European Union).
The northern third of Luxembourg, known as the Oesling (Ösling), comprises a corner of the Ardennes Mountains, which lie mainly in southern Belgium. It is a plateau that averages 1,500 feet (450 metres) in elevation and is composed of schists and sandstones. This forested highland region is incised by the deep valleys of a river network organized around the Sûre (or Sauer) River, which runs eastward through north-central Luxembourg before joining the Moselle (or Mosel) River on the border with Germany. The Oesling’s forested hills and valleys support the ruins of numerous castles, which are a major attraction for the region’s many tourists. The fertility of the relatively thin mountain soils of the region was greatly improved with the introduction in the 1890s of a basic-slag fertilizer, which is obtained as a by-product of the grand duchy’s steel industry.
The southern two-thirds of Luxembourg is known as the Bon Pays, or Gutland (French and German: “Good Land”). This region has a more-varied topography and an average elevation of 800 feet (about 245 metres). The Bon Pays is much more densely populated than the Oesling and contains the capital city, Luxembourg, as well as smaller industrial cities such as Esch-sur-Alzette. In the centre of the Bon Pays, the valley of the northward-flowing Alzette River forms an axis around which the country’s economic life is organized. Luxembourg city lies along the Alzette, which joins the Sûre farther north.
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Luxembourg has a mild climate with considerable precipitation. The north is slightly colder and more humid than the south. The mean temperatures in Luxembourg city range from the mid-30s F (about 0.7 °C) in January to the low 60s F (about 17 °C) in July, but in the Oesling both extremes are slightly lower. The Oesling receives more precipitation than the Bon Pays, but the greatest amount, about 40 inches (1,000 mm), and the least, about 27 inches (about 685 mm), fall in the southwest and southeast, respectively. The sheltered valley of the Moselle River benefits from a gentler and sunnier climate than does the rest of the duchy.
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Luxembourg has been one of the historic crossroads of Europe, and myriad peoples have left their bloodlines as well as their cultural imprints on the grand duchy. The Celts, the Belgic peoples known as the Treveri, the Ligurians and Romans from Italy, and especially the Franks were most influential. The language spoken by Luxembourg’s native inhabitants is Luxembourgish, or Lëtzebuergesch, a Moselle-Franconian dialect of German that has been enriched by many French words and phrases. Luxembourgish is the national language; German and French are both languages of administration. There is a strong sense of national identity among Luxembourgers despite the prevalence of foreign influences. The great majority of Luxembourg’s native citizens are Roman Catholic, with a small number of Protestants (mainly Lutherans), Jews, and Muslims.
Luxembourg has a high proportion of foreigners living within its borders. This is chiefly the result of an extremely low birth rate among native Luxembourgers, which has led to a chronic labour shortage. Nearly half of the total population is of foreign birth and consists mainly of Portuguese, French, Italians, Belgians, and Germans. Among the foreign workers are many in the iron and steel industry, and numerous others work in foreign firms and international organizations located in the capital.
Northern Luxembourg is sparsely populated compared with the heavily urbanized and industrialized south. The north’s rural population is clustered in villages of thick-set stone houses with slate roofs. The urban network in the south is dominated by the capital city, Luxembourg, which rises in tiers, with the upper (and older) section of the city se...
- Some of Charlemagne’s most important battles occurred in Luxembourg’s Ardennes forest. The Song of Roland describes a nightmare set in the Ardennes the emperor had on the eve of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778.
- The first towered fortification, the Bock, built in what would eventually become Luxembourg City was constructed on the rocky cliffs above the River Alzette and offered a natural fortification.
- From 1310 to 1437 the House of Luxembourg (its Counts, who were later Dukes), were also Kings of Bohemia (what is now the modern Czech Republic). Three of its members were also elected Holy Roman Emperor: Henry VII, Charles IV, and Sigismund.
- The daughter of Sigismund, Elizabeth of Luxembourg, wed Habsburg’s Albert II, who succeeded Sigismund as not only Holy Roman Emperor but King of Hungary and Bohemia as well.
Apr 15, 2024 · Luxembourg is one of the richest countries in the world. Another interesting fact about Luxembourg is its status as one of the smallest yet wealthiest countries globally. Despite its size, Luxembourg boasts the highest per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world, standing at $126,598.
- Why is Luxembourg known as the "Gibraltar of the North"?Luxembourg earned the moniker "Gibraltar of the North" due to its formidable fortifications. The city's historic defense system, featuring multi-le...
- How many castles are there in Luxembourg?Luxembourg boasts a remarkable collection of over 70 castles. These architectural gems, scattered across the country, narrate tales of the nation's...
- What is celebrated on the Luxembourg national day?Luxembourg's National Day, celebrated on June 23rd, commemorates the Grand Duke's birthday. This festive occasion features a grand military parade,...
- Where does the name Luxembourg come from?The name "Luxembourg" finds its roots in the Latin term "Lucilinburhuc," meaning "small fortress." Dating back to 963 AD, the name first appeared w...
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Nov 14, 2023 · Of Luxembourg’s entire population of 525,000 inhabitants, 43 per cent consist of foreign residents. Luxembourg boasts the highest percentage of expatriates of all European countries and is home to people from over 170 different nationalities. Portuguese residents constitute the largest percentage of the foreign population, at over 15 per cent.
- Lindsay Drake
Apr 28, 2024 · 44 Facts About Luxembourg. Luxembourg, a small but prosperous country nestled in the heart of Europe, is often hailed as the “Gibraltar of the North” due to its strategic location and political stability. Despite its diminutive size, Luxembourg has a rich history and a wealth of interesting facts that make it truly fascinating.
Nov 20, 2023 · Luxembourg country profile. 20 November 2023. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - a small country landlocked by Belgium, France and Germany - is a prominent financial centre. With roots stretching ...
