Luxembourg was founded in 963. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna granted Luxembourg the Grand Duchy status. In 1867, the Treaty of London granted independence to Luxembourg. In 1948, Luxembourg entered into the Benelux Customs Union and joined NATO one year later. Luxembourg is a co-founder of the European Economic Community (1957) and joined the Euro currency area in 1999.
You might have heard about the “Schengen Treaty” signed in 1985 and referring to the gradual abolition of checks at common borders between Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Did you know that Schengen is a small Luxembourg village located on the banks of the Moselle river?
Luxembourg is located in the middle of Western Europe surrounded by Belgium, Germany and France. The total land in Luxembourg is 82 km from North to South and 57 km from East to West. The main cities are Luxembourg (capital) and Esch-sur-Alzette. The upper part of Luxembourg city is perched on top of a rock. From the “Bock”, you can make out the city’s inner suburbs of Grund, Clausen and Pfaffenthal. When you cross the Adolphe Bridge, you get to the lower part of the town and the city’s train station. Across the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, also known as the “red bridge”, you have the new Kirchberg business centre, which also houses the European Institutions.
In 2007, Luxembourg and Greater Region have been named European Capital of Culture.
During this cultural year, more than 500 projects have been presented.
Today, traces from this event are still alive across the city!
Explore also the walls, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage.
This “corniche” is described as “Europe’s most beautiful balcony”.
Treasury of Luxembourg is not only in banks…
Experience non-stop entertainment! During the year, lots of traditional events are scheduled in Luxembourg.
Here is brief listing of the main typical rendez-vous…
…in Luxembourg City :
• “Fêtes de la Musique” are celebrated in June everywhere in the city with concerts and open bars
• “National Day”, the 23rd of June, with a spectacular firework on the 22nd
• "Schueberfouer" : from end of August to mid September, an enormous fancy fair, will celebrate its 669th birthday in 2009
• “Christmas Market” at the Place d’Armes, in November-December
…across the country :
• “The International Festival of Echternach”, in May and June, dedicated to the Medieval life
• “The European Festival of theater and music open-air in Wiltz”, in July
• “The International Comic Strip Festival in Contern”, in July
Can you imagine such a tiny country marketing national foodstuff brands ?
Here are some of them:
- Beers : Bofferding, Mousel, Battin, Dieckirch, Simon
- Dairy products : Luxlait
- Water : Rosport
- Salt meat : Luxviande
- Wines (Riesling, Rivaner, Elbling, Gewürtztraminer, …) : Vinsmoselle
- Cremants : Poll-Fabaire, Bernard Massard
You’ll easily recognize those products in the shop with the label « Made in Luxembourg ».
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- 57 km : the greatest distance from the west to the east of the country (Rosport – Perlé)
- 82 km : the greatest distance from the north to the south of the country (Huldange – Rumelange)
- 162 : number of nationalities cohabiting in Luxembourg
- 17% residents, who speak more than one language with their children
- 51%...of commuters live in France
- 23%...of commuters live in Germany
- 26%...of commuters live in Belgium
- 483 800 : total population of the country
- 205 900: number of foreign nationals living in Luxembourg
- 73%...of foreigners living in Luxembourg are originally from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium and Germany
Source : Statec 2008
