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Luxembourg

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Luxembourg is a fairy-tale complete with a happy ending. The story of this land’s tumultuous history beguiles with its counts and dynasties, wars and victories, and fortresses and promontories. It’s no surprise that Luxembourgers are a proud people whose national motto, Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sin ('We want to remain what we are'), sums up their independent spirit. The population of about half a million is predominantly rural based – the only centres of any size are the capital, Luxembourg City, followed by Esch-sur-Alzette.

Though too small for its full name to fit on most Europoean maps, pint-size Luxembourg (2586 sq km, or 82 km long and 57 m wide) is wonderfully diverse. Lush highlands and valleys in the northern Ardennes merge effortlessly with the Müllerthal’s ancient forested landscape to the East, where the vibrant town of Echternach makes an enjoyable base. The impossibly picturesque and ridiculously romantic (not to mention tourist-flooded) Viaden is just a short trip north from Luxembourg City. In the Southeast snakes the Moselle Valley with its steep vineyards and riverside hamlets. In between all this are rolling farmlands dotted with pristine, pastel-toned houses and medieval hilltop castles.

Luxembourg’s cuisine is French and German based. The national dish is judd mat gaardebounen – slabs of smoked pork served in a thick cream-based sauce with chunks of potato and broad beans. Other specialties include ferkelsrippchen (grilled spareribs), liewekniddelen mat sauerkraut (liver meatballs with sauerkraut), and kachkeis (a cooked cheese). Beers to sink include Bofferding, Diekirch, Mousel and Simon Pils, after which comes a host of local fruity white and sparkling wines. From 2008 you can enjoy all this in an untainted environment, thanks to recent legislation banning smoking in restaurants and, during dining hours, in cafés.

European Capital of Culture in 2007, Luxembourg's moment in the spotlight has arrived.

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General information

Capital:
Luxembourg

Government:
Constitutional Monarchy

Currency:
euro (EUR)

Area:
2,586 sq km

Population:
474,413 (July 2006 est.)

Language:
Luxembourgish (national language), German and French (administrative languages)

Demonym:
Luxembourger

Religion:
Roman Catholic 87%, remainder Protestants, Jews, and Muslims

Time Zone:
UTC +1

Drives on the:
Right

Electricity:
230V/50Hz (European plug)

Internet TLD:
.lu

Country Code:
352

International Access Code:
00