Quick travel guide: Luxembourg
Vianden, Clervaux, Echternach, Grevenmacher and the Mullerthal.
Facts for visitors to Place D'Armes, Aire De Berchem, the Bock Casemates, Moselle Valley, Chemin de la Corniche, Ardennes and Edward Steichen's Family Of Man exhibition.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - Location: Luxembourg is a small country landlocked in north-western Europe. It borders Belgium, France and Germany.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - Capital city: Confusingly enough, the capital of the country is also called Luxembourg, and it is one of the most underrated cities in Europe. It is 1,000 years old and quite rightly World Heritage-listed. Place D’Armes is the pedestrianised heart of town, but it is the setting above the deep valleys of the Petrusse and Alzette rivers that is the main attraction. Other highlights of the capital are the Bock Casemates, a series of rock galleries that have been used as everything from slaughterhouses to bomb shelters, and the Chemin de la Corniche, a fabulous promenade.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - Other major cities: To call them cities would be stretching it a little bit, but other places worth visiting are Vianden in The Ardennes, Grevenmacher in the Moselle Valley and Echternach in the Mullerthal to the east of the country. Vianden is in a beautiful setting, and is known for its castles, whilst Grevenmacher is the access point to the famous Moselle wineries. Meanwhile Echternach is the starting point for many great hiking trails.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - Population: It’s only a tiny country, hosting just under half a million people.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - Languages spoken: Luxembourgers are notoriously multi-lingual, partly because they simply have to be. There are three official languages – Luxemburgian (or Letzebuergesch), French and German, and many are fluent in all three plus English for good measure. Luxemburgian is used to communicate amongst the locals, but French is usually used when dealing with foreigners.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - What we know it for: Luxembourg is known for being the home of many key European Union institutions and plenty of banks. It has the highest per capita GDP in the world – largely a result of all the banking – and it is the only Grand Duchy in the world. It is also home to Europe’s busiest petrol station at Aire De Berchem.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - Why you should go: Luxembourg is often overlooked by travellers who write it off as one big, drab bank. This is monumentally unfair, as it is a wonderfully green, scenic country. The capital, in particular, rivals the likes of Sydney and Rio De Janeiro in terms of its natural setting.
Quick travel guide: Luxembourg - Great place to visit: The little town of Clervaux has plenty to offer, including Gregorian masses at the Benedictine Abbey of St Maurice and Edward Steichen’s Family Of Man photographic exhibition inside the castle.
MORE QUICK GUIDES: Andorra, Australia, Bolivia, East Timor, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Spain, Paraguay, Portugal.
