Luxembourg is a small country that is located in the heart of Europe, bordering France, Belgium and Germany. In its 2586 square kilometers it contains beautiful castles and dreamlike landscapes that make it the best kept secret in Europe.
Join us on this journey through 40 interesting facts about this country. We guarantee that you will want to spend a few days in such a wonderful place.
1. It is the last Grand Duchy in the world.
Its history is very interesting and dates back to the 10th century of our era, when from a small fiefdom it passed from one dynasty to another, and from these into the hands of Napoléon Bonaparte, to later start its independence process throughout the 19th century .
2. As a Grand Duchy, the Grand Duke is the Head of State.
The current Grand Duke, Henri, succeeded his father, Jean, since 2000, who ruled for 36 uninterrupted years.
3. Its capital is home to important institutions of the European Union.
The European Investment Bank, the Courts of Justice and Accounts and the General Secretariat, important European Union bodies, have their headquarters in Luxembourg City.
4. It has three official languages: French, German and Luxembourgish.
German and French are used for administrative purposes and official written communications, while Luxembourgish is used in everyday life. All three languages are taught in schools.
5. The colors of your flag: a different blue
The flag of Luxembourg and that of the Netherlands are similar. They have three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue. The difference between the two lies in the shade of blue. This is because when the flag was created (in the 19th century), both countries had the same sovereign.
6. Luxembourg City: World Heritage Site
Unesco declared Luxembourg City (capital of the country) a World Heritage Site due to its old neighborhoods and castles that constitute an example of the evolution of military architecture over the years.
7. Luxembourg: founding member of various organizations
Luxembourg is among the twelve founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Likewise, together with Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, he founded the European Union.
8. Luxembourgers are among the oldest in Europe.
According to figures from the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the life expectancy of the inhabitants of Luxembourg is 82 years.
9. Luxembourg: economic giant
Despite its small size, Luxembourg has one of the most stable economies in the world. It has the highest per capita income in Europe and is among the highest in the world. Likewise, it has a very low unemployment rate.
10. "We want to continue being what we are."
The motto of the country is “Mir wëlle bleiwe, war mir sin” (We want to continue being what we are), making a clear allusion to the fact that, despite their small size, they wish to continue enjoying the independence they conquered after centuries of arduous struggle .
11. Universities in Luxembourg
The duchy has only two universities: the University of Luxembourg and the University of the Sacred Heart of Luxembourg.
12. Luxembourg National Day: June 23
June 23 is Luxembourg's National Day, as well as the birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte, who ruled for almost 50 years.
As a curious fact, the Grand Duchess was actually born on January 23, but the festivities are celebrated in June, because in this month the weather conditions are friendlier.
13. Excellent signage
One of the most attractive aspects is that Luxembourg cities have a very good signaling system.
In Luxembourg you can see a large network of signs, in several languages, that accompany each route, thus facilitating the visit to each important tourist place.
14. The country with the highest minimum wage
Luxembourg is the nation in the world with the highest minimum wage, which in 2018 amounts to 1999 euros per month. This is because its economy is one of the most stable in the world, coupled with the fact that unemployment is almost zero.
15. Luxembourg: confluence of nationalities
Among the little more than 550 thousand inhabitants that Luxembourg has, a large percentage are foreigners. People from more than 150 countries live here, representing approximately 70% of its workforce.
16. Bourscheid: the largest castle
In Luxembourg there are a total of 75 castles that still stand. The Bourscheid Castle is the largest. It houses a museum in which objects that have been found in excavations of the place are exhibited. From its towers there is a beautiful view of the surrounding sites.
17. High electoral participation
Luxembourg is a country whose inhabitants have a high sense of civic and citizen duty; For this reason, it is the country in the European Union with the highest electoral participation rate, standing at 91%.
18. Prime Minister as Head of Government
As in any country with a monarchy, the government is led by the figure of the Prime Minister. The current prime minister is Xavier Bettel.
19. Luxembourgers are Catholics.
Most of the inhabitants of Luxembourg (73%) practice some form of Christianity, being the Catholic religion the one that agglomerates the largest number of the population (68.7%).
20. Typical dish: Bouneschlupp
The typical dish of Luxembourg is Bouneschlupp, which is made up of a green bean soup with potatoes, onion and bacon.
21. Most important museums
Among the most representative museums are the National Museum of History and Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of History of the city of Luxembourg.
22. Currency: Euro
As a member of the European Union, the currency used in Luxembourg is the euro. On the Luxembourg euro you can see the image of Grand Duke Henry I.
23. Diversified industry
Among the main outstanding industries are iron, steel, aluminum, glass, rubber, chemicals, telecommunications, engineering and tourism.
24. Headquarters of major companies worldwide
Because it is a stable financial center and tax haven, a large number of companies such as Amazon, Paypal, Rakuten and Rovi Corp, as well as the Skype Corporation have their European headquarters in Luxembourg.
25. Luxembourgers drive by car.
In Luxembourg, 647 cars are bought for every 1000 inhabitants. The highest percentage worldwide.
26. Cycling: national sport
Cycling is the national sport of Luxembourg. Four cyclists from this country have won the Tour from France; the most recent is Andy Schleck, who was victorious in the 2010 edition.
27. Luxembourg and the bridges
Thanks to the natural characteristics of the city, in which its main rivers (Petrusse and Alzette) form large valleys, it became necessary to build bridges and viaducts that characterize the city. From them you can see beautiful images of the surrounding environment.
28. Excellent hosts
It is a deep-rooted custom in Luxembourg to give a box of chocolate or flowers to the people they invite into their homes.
29. Floral customs
In Luxembourg it is customary that flowers should be given in odd numbers, with the exception of 13, as it is considered bad luck.
30. Headquarters of entertainment companies
The RTL Group, the largest entertainment network in Europe, is based in Luxembourg. It has interests in 55 TV channels and 29 radio stations around the world.
31. The most beautiful balcony in Europe
It is widely believed that Luxembourg has the most beautiful balcony in all of Europe, the street Chemin de la Corniche, from which the view is absolutely beautiful.
From here you can see the church of Saint Jean, as well as numerous houses, the characteristic bridges of the city and beautiful green areas.
32. Wine producer
The Moselle Valley is world renowned for producing excellent wines from nine varieties of grapes: Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Auxerrois, Rivaner, Elbling and Chardonnay.
33. Flowers to remember
In Luxembourg there are many varieties of flowers and there are them for every occasion; however, chrysanthemums are the flowers destined to accompany funerals.
34. Inexpensive fuel
Although the cost of living in Luxembourg is generally high, gasoline here is among the cheapest in the European Union.
35. Traditional drink: Quetsch
Quetsch is the traditional alcoholic drink and is made from plums.
36. The Bock
The place that attracts the most tourists in Luxembourg is the Bock, a large stone structure that houses a network of underground tunnels that stretch for 21 km.
37. The Grund
In the heart of the capital is the neighborhood known as “Grund”, which is a beautiful place to explore. It has houses that were carved out of rock, a bridge dating from the 15th century and numerous establishments called "pubs" to spend fun and entertaining moments.
38. Luxembourgish Gastronomy
Among the most recognized dishes in Luxembourg are:
- Gromperekichelcher
- Potato pancakes (also made with onions, parsley, eggs, and flour)
- The 'Luxembourgish Menu', which is a plate of cooked and smoked ham, pate and sausages, served with hard-boiled eggs, pickles and fresh tomatoes
- The Moselle Frying, which consists of small fried fish from the Moselle river
39. Pets and their waste
In Luxembourg it is illegal for dogs to defecate in the city, so dog poop bag dispensers are widely available and even have printed instructions for proper disposal.
40. Dancing procession of Echternach
Included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the Echternach dancing procession is an ancient religious tradition that attracts many tourists every year. It is celebrated on Pentecost Tuesday. It is performed in honor of Saint Willibrord.
As you can see, Luxembourg is a country full of mysteries to be discovered, that is why we invite you to visit it, if you have the opportunity, and enjoy this wonder, considered the best kept secret in Europe.
See also:
- The 15 Best Destinations In Europe
- 15 Cheapest Destinations To Travel In Europe
- How Much Does It Cost To Travel To Europe: Budget To Go Backpacking
