Euro Travel Pages

Luxurious Luxembourg

For such a small country, it seems that Luxembourg has a lot to offer the world. It boasts of a highly developed economy with a gross domestic product per capita that is considered the highest in the world. The country also has a colorful history that defines its influence in many events that shaped the centuries past. And if that isn’t enough, its influence has prevailed to the modern times as it became one of the founding members of the European Union, the United Nations and other revered international organizations. It is home to the seats and is under the EU.

Culture

And to add to that – yes, there’s more – Luxembourg has managed to retain most of its folk traditions despite being overshadowed by bigger neighbors. Its culture is still manifested in the many architectural landmarks that dot the whole country. The country boasts of some of the most notable and popular museums in the world including the National Museum of History and Art, the new Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art and the History Museum of the city of Luxembourg.

The country’s capital and largest city is Luxembourg. The city itself is of great historical importance that it was listed under UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites due to the significance of its many fortifications. The city was also the first to receive the title European Capital of Culture twice – the first time being in 1995 and then again last year, 2007.

People

Luxembourg has three official languages namely: Letzeburgesch, French and German. The first one is a Germanic dialect that derives a lot of words from the French language. Majority of the country’s population speaks this language. However, German is widely used by the press as well as in commerce. For government administration, French is mostly used.

The country is dominantly Roman Catholic with more than ninety percent of its population belonging to this religious affiliation. Protestantism and Judaism are also followed by a select few citizens of the country.

Tourist destinations

A small country such as Luxembourg is commonly a victim of underestimation. Interestingly, for one that has a pretty small geographic area, the country has managed to attract the interest of many tourists because of its festivals and various attractions.

The capital city in itself is a tourist attraction, what with its beautiful architectural masterpieces as seen in its buildings and other structures. The medieval city has managed to preserve tradition while still embracing development. It is currently the seat of the Court of Justice of the European Communities. The European Investment Bank also has its main headquarters in the city.

Because the city is located in a high plateau, it boasts of a good view of the Alzette and Petrusse rivers. This is one reason why sidewalk cafés are quite popular in the area. While sipping your afternoon or morning cup of espresso, you can take in the breathtaking natural scenery at the same time.

Another place that is widely visited in Luxembourg is the town of Grevenmacher. Located in Moselle Valley, this town is popular for its annual wine festival which is held on Thursday after Easter.