Interesting Facts About Luxembourg and why you should visit
Luxembourg is a small landlocked country, located in western Europe. During our visit to the western European countries of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, we decided to explore Luxembourg and learned so much about it. We also did a fair bit of research before our trip and we were intrigued by the interesting facts about Luxembourg. We curated all the information we researched in this post.
The country’s official name is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Luxembourg had existed as an independent nation since 1890, but not many people know about this beautiful country.
The capital of Luxembourg is Luxembourg City. Get the sightseeing tour of Luxembourg City here
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Interesting Facts About Luxembourg that you don’t know
Here are some of the fun facts about Luxembourg.
History of Luxembourg: Rule by many dynasties
Luxembourg’s history dates back to 963 AD. At that time, the territory around the Luxembourg Castle was occupied and ruled with autonomy by Siegfried I of Ardennes. Siegfried’s descendants increased territorial expansions through marriage, war, and vassal relations.
In the 13th to 14th centuries, Luxembourg was part of the Imperial German monarchy, followed by French and the Hapsburg dynasty of Austria (under Maria Theresia).
Present-day Luxembourg was formed in 1815, after the Vienna Congress. Luxembourg was under the rule of the King of Netherlands (serving as the Duchy of Luxembourg) for a major part of the 19th century.
For a brief period, Luxembourg was independent (19th and 20th century) only to be occupied by Germany in the Second World War and annexed as part of the German Third Reich. Luxembourg was a neutral country and with Germany’s defeat, Luxembourg was liberated in 1944.
Luxembourg means ‘Lucilinburhuc’ little fortress
Luxembourg is named after the historic 10th-century castle, called the Lucilinburhuc. Lucilinburhuc means “little fortress”. The anglicized version of Lucilinburhuc is Luxembourg.
Luxembourg is a landlocked country
Luxembourg is a landlocked country, surrounded by France, Belgium, and Germany, making it easy to take day trips from each of these countries.
Luxembourg is the smallest European Nation
With an area of 2,586 square kilometers, Luxembourg is the smallest sovereign European Nation.
Least populated country, with the fastest population growth rate
Luxembourg is one of the least-populous countries in Europe. But it has the highest population growth rate. Immigrants and foreigners account for almost half the population of Luxembourg. And Portugal leads the foreign population of Luxembourg.
A tiny country, with 3 national languages
Did you know that Luxembourg is a small country, but has 3 official languages – French, German and Luxembourgish? A country as large as Canada has only 2.
People of Luxembourg are called Luxembourgers
People and residents of Luxembourg are called Luxembourgers.
Majority of Luxembourgers are Christians
About 72.4% of Luxembourg’s population adhere to different forms of Christianity.
The only remaining Grand Duchy in the World is Luxembourg
Luxembourg is the only remaining Grand Duchy in the World. It was established as such by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. As a duchy, it was a part of German Imperial power but was ruled by the Netherlands. Hence why the official name of Luxembourg is the “Grand Duchy of Luxembourg”.
Luxembourg loves to stay what they are: Their motto
Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn is Luxembourgish for “We will stay what we are”. It is the national motto of Luxembourg. This tells us that Luxembourg LOVES who and what they stand for.
Luxembourgish National Day, same to same as Grand Duke’s official birthday, is it so?
June 23 every year is celebrated as the Luxembourgish National Day. It is also recognized as the Grand Duke’s official birthday. The date of celebrations originated from Grand Duchess Charlotte’s birthday, which was January 23rd. Although her actual birthday was in January, due to winter, the birthday celebrations were postponed to summer and hence June 23 became the official birthday of the Grand Duke and the national day of Luxembourg.
The Capital of Luxembourg is named the ‘European Capital of Culture’ twice
The capital of Luxembourg is by the same name of Luxembourg City. And it is the first city in Europe to be named the “European Capital of Culture” twice.
European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for one calendar year in which the city organizes cultural events to showcase strong pan-European culture. The event started in 1985 when the Greek and French Cultural Ministers came out with this plan to promote European culture.
Luxembourg had won it in 1995 and 2007. Up until now, 40 European cities have been recognized as European Capital of Culture, and Luxembourg City is the ONLY city to win twice.
How is Luxembourg governed?
Luxembourg follows parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Luxembourg is the head of government.
Did you know that Luxembourg scores highly in the governance index? It is the 8th BEST governed country in the world, right before Canada!
Tiny nation but Mighty Founders of EU, OECD, NATO, UNO, and Benelux
Luxembourg was a neutral party during World War II. And later on, it went on to contribute HUGELY to European politics, peacebuilding, and trade efforts in the region.
Luxembourg is the founding member of the following international and European agencies
- Founding member of the European Union (EU)
- OECD – Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development
- United Nations – United Nations Organisation, formed after the World War II (also served on the UN Security Council)
- NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Benelux – Regional Cooperation of BElgium, NEtherlands and LUXembourg
Did you know that you can purchase a BENELUX rail pass, that allows transit and travel of all three nations?
Luxembourg is part of the Schengen Zone (named after a town in Luxembourg)
Luxembourg is part of the Schengen Agreement, which means that Schengen visa holders can travel and stay there for up to 90 days. The Schengen agreement comprising 26 European states was signed in Luxembourg in June 1985, in the wine town of Schengen (and hence the name).
5th BEST Ranking Passport in the World
Luxembourg passport is ranked the 5th BEST ranking passport in the world. Luxembourg citizens enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 186 countries and territories.
Top 10 Richest Country in the World
Luxembourg is one of the TOP 10 richest countries in the world, with one of the lowest GDP debt ratio. The GDP per capita is 62.4 billion USD (2017).
On average, residents of Luxembourg earn twice as much as an American. With one of the least population in the world, the standard of living is great as well.
Luxembourg’s economy benefits from education and specialized workers in private sectors. Tax restriction in the private sector is very lax. The government also invests in assets and makes money externally of the private sector.
The economy of Luxembourg was heavily into steel, once upon a time. With the fall of the steel industry, they strengthened their asset management sectors.
Luxembourg – A Tax Haven
Luxembourg is a strong tax haven, has a huge network and set of financial institutions. This is evident from buildings in Luxembourg city.
A 99% literacy rate – Yay Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s adult literacy rate is around a whopping 99 %.
World’s safest country is Luxembourg
Did you know that Luxembourg is the safest country in the world? The country of Luxembourg only has 2 prisons and 1300 policemen for a population of 595,537.
Luxembourg also comes first for personal freedom and health with a high rate of longevity.
Luxembourg, like the name, is famous for Castles
Luxembourg, like the origins of its name, is home to 130 castles.
Dancing hopping procession of Luxembourg
Luxembourgers’ dance in the hopping procession in Europe, which is ONE of its kind. The ‘Echternach Sprangprëssessioun’ (hopping procession) is a religious tradition. About 10,000 Luxembourgers dance in procession on Whit Tuesday after Whitsunday. This is a UNESCO listed cultural heritage.
Luxembourg and its UNESCO listed sites
Here are the listed UNESCO world heritage sites of Luxembourg
- Fortifications of the Old City of Luxembourg including the fortress (located in Luxembourg city)
- Dancing procession of Echternach or hopping procession
- “The Family of Man”, curated by photographer Edward Steichen. His photos speak volume of ‘the unity of the people’
Luxembourg Cuisine – Smoked Pork and Beans
Traditional Luxembourg meat cuisine is called the Judd mat Gaardebounen. It is made out of smoked pork, which is soaked overnight and boiled with spices and vegetables. It is served with beans and mashed or boiled potatoes. It is the national dish of Luxembourg.
Wine Lover and Wine paradise – Luxembourg
If you are a wine lover, head to Luxembourg. Not to their vineyards, but to Restaurant Chiggeri, they offer over 2000 varieties of wine in their menu – that’s the ultimate wine list for you!
Luxembourg is tolerant of homosexuality
LGBT rights in Luxembourg are the same as non-LGBT citizens, including marriage rights. They are respected and accepted. You will find tons of gay bars and clubs in the country.
Did you know? Xavier Bettel, the current Prime Minister of Luxembourg, is the first gay Prime Minister in the world.
One of the 36 countries to win a Gold at Olympics
Only 36 countries in the world have ever won a GOLD in the Olympics and Luxembourg is ONE of them. Luxembourg has competed in 28 Olympic games so far (2019).
Why should you visit Luxembourg?
There are many reasons why you should consider visiting Luxembourg. The listed UNESCO world heritage site is definitely a crowd puller. The country’s safety and rich infrastructure are a reason to experience Luxembourg.
The dense forest areas, mountainous terrain, wine paradise, and castles will surely keep you hooked.
Being a landlocked country, surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany, you can take many a day trips here and check off another country from your bucket list.
READ: How to spend a day in Luxembourg
We are sure these Luxembourg facts will keep you wanting for more. Before you decide to book the flight ticket, here are some travel tips for your trip to Luxembourg.
Tips for traveling to Luxembourg
Here are some of the quick tips for traveling to Luxembourg
- Travel Documents – Schengen visa holders can travel to Luxembourg for up to 90 days. EU passport holders are visa-exempt. Currently, passport holders of the USA and Canada do not require visas or travel authorization. From 2022 onwards, ETIAS is required by the US and Canada to travel to Luxembourg and other Schengen areas. Here is a detailed guide to Europe trip planning
- Luxembourg Airport – Luxembourg has only ONE international airport. It was previously called – Luxembourg Findel Airport. The distance from Luxembourg airport to the city is about 7 kilometres.
- The best time to travel to Luxembourg – May, June, and September are great months to travel. We were there in September and almost all services were open and were less crowded. Find more European fall destinations to visit this year
- Budget for Luxembourg Travel – Luxembourg is an expensive country. You can keep costs low by booking in advance or staying in budget hotels and dorms. In Luxembourg, you will need around $170 USD for a day (food and accommodation). In other European countries, on average, we have spent $100 -$125 per person per day
- How much time to allot for Luxembourg stay – Allot a day or two for Luxembourg city. Add another day or two for the countryside. Most tourists prefer taking a day trip to Luxembourg which is not a bad idea either.
We recommend using Booking.com to find accommodation. It is our favorite hotel website for quickly comparing the prices of multiple hotel booking sites at once.
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Although i knew most of these i still really enjoyed the article, Thanks for the good read! 🙂
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the article!