Luxembourg is a small country that is located in the heart of Europe, bordering France, Belgium and Germany. In its 2,586 square kilometers, it contains beautiful castles and dreamlike landscapes that make it the best kept secret in Europe.
Join us on this tour of 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 AD, when it passed from a small fiefdom from one dynasty to another, and from these to the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte, to later begin its process of independence 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, from the year 2000, who ruled for 36 uninterrupted years.
3. Its capital is the seat of important institutions of the European Union.
In Luxembourg City, the European Investment Bank, the Courts of Justice and Accounts and the General Secretariat, important bodies of the European Union, have their headquarters.
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 their flag: a different blue
The flag of Luxembourg and the Netherlands are similar. They have three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue colors. 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 (the country’s capital) a World Heritage Site due to its old quarters and castles that constitute an example of the evolution of military architecture over the years.
7. Luxembourg: founding member of several 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 longest-lived 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 country’s motto 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 want to continue enjoying the independence they achieved 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: 23 June
June 23 marks 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 really 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 signage 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 1,999 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 550,000 inhabitants that Luxembourg has, a large percentage is foreign. People from more than 150 countries live here, representing approximately 70% of its workforce.
16. Bourscheid: the biggest castle
In Luxembourg there are a total of 75 castles that remain standing. Bourscheid Castle is the largest. It houses a museum that exhibits objects that have been found in excavations of the place. From its towers there is a beautiful view of the surrounding sites.
17. High voter turnout
Luxembourg is a country whose inhabitants have a high sense of civic and civic duty; For this reason, it is the European Union country with the highest rate of electoral participation, standing at 91%.
18. Prime Minister as head of government
As in any country with a monarchy, the government is directed by the figure of the Prime Minister. The current prime minister is Xavier Bettel.
19. Luxembourgers are Catholic.
The majority of the inhabitants of Luxembourg (73%) practice some form of Christianity, being the Catholic religion the one that agglomerates the largest amount of population (68.7%).
20. Plateo típico: bean dip
The typical dish of Luxembourg is the 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. In the euro of Luxembourg you can see the image of the Grand Duke Henri I.
23. Diversified industry
Among the main prominent industries are iron, steel, aluminum, glass, rubber, chemicals, telecommunications, engineering and tourism.
24. Headquarters of important companies worldwide
As a stable financial center and a tax haven, many 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 purchased for every 1,000 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 de 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 beautiful images of the surrounding environment can be seen.
28. Excellent hosts
It is a deeply rooted custom in Luxembourg to give a box of chocolate or flowers to the people they invite to 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 Chemin de la Corniche street , 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 grape varieties: 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 for every occasion; however, chrysanthemums are the flowers intended to accompany funerals.
34. Cheap fuel
Despite the fact that the cost of living in Luxembourg is generally high, gasoline here is among the cheapest in the European Union.
35. Bebida tradicional: Squeeze
The 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 extend over 21 km.
37. Electricity Ground
In the heart of the capital is the neighborhood known as “Grund”, which is a beautiful place to visit. It has houses that were carved out of rock, a bridge dating from the fifteenth century and numerous establishments called “pubs” to spend pleasant and fun times.
38. Luxembourg Gastronomy
Among the most recognized dishes in Luxembourg are:
- Potato Biscuits
- Potato pancakes (also made with onions, parsley, eggs and flour)
- The “Luxembourg Menu”, which is a plate of cooked and smoked ham, pate and sausages, served with boiled eggs, pickles and fresh tomatoes
- The Moselle Fry, 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. Echternach dancing procession
Included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the Echternach dancing procession is an ancient religious tradition that attracts many tourists every year. It is celebrated on the Tuesday of Pentecost. It is performed in honor of Saint Willibrord.
As you can see, Luxembourg is a country full of mysteries to discover, which is why we invite you to visit it, if you have the opportunity, and enjoy this wonder, considered the best kept secret in Europe.
