The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small landlocked country situated in the north-west of continental Europe, bordered by France, Germany and Belgium. It is also the only independent Grand Duchy in the world.
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg | |
|---|---|
| Motto: Luxembourgish: Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn (English: "We wish to remain what we are") | |
| Anthem: Ons Heemecht ("Our Homeland") | |
 | |
| Capital and largest city | Luxembourg |
| Official languages | French, German, Luxembourgish (de jure since 1984) |
| Government | Grand duchy |
| Independence | |
• Water (%) | Negligible |
| Population | |
• 2005 estimate | 468,571 (162th) |
• 2005 census | 468,571 |
| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate |
• Total | $29.37 billion (95th) |
• Per capita | $62,700 (1st) |
| HDI (2003) | 0.957 very high (4th) |
| Currency | Euro 1 (€ EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Calling code | 352 |
| ISO 3166 code | LU |
| Internet TLD | .lu |
1 Prior to 1999: Luxembourg franc. | |
History
Main article: History of Luxembourg
The recorded history of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg begins with the construction of Luxembourg Castle in the year 963. Around this fort a town gradually developed, which became the center of a small but important state of great strategic value. In 1437 the ruling family had the crisis of no rightful heirs to assume the throne. In the following centuries, Luxembourg's fortress was steadily enlarged and strengthened over the years by its successive occupants, the Bourbons, Habsburgs, Hohenzollerns and the French, among others. Even after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, when the Congress of Vienna gave formal autonomy to Luxembourg, the country was disputed between Prussia and the Netherlands.
The Belgian revolution of 1830–1839 more than halved Luxembourg's territory as the purely francophone western part of the country was transferred to Belgium. Luxembourg's independence was then confirmed in 1839, but it was not formally ratified until 1867, after the Luxembourg crisis nearly led to war between Prussia and France. In the same year 1839, Luxembourg joined the German Confederation.
The king of the Netherlands remained head of state as grand duke of Luxembourg until 1890. At the death of William III, the Dutch throne passed to his daughter Wilhelmina, while Luxembourg (at that time restricted to male heirs (see Salic Law)) passed to Adolph of Nassau-Weilburg .
The country of Luxembourg was invaded and occupied by Germany during World War I and World War II. In 1942, Luxembourg was formally annexed by the Third Reich.
During World War II, Luxembourg abandoned its policy of neutrality, when it joined the Allies in fighting Germany. Its government, exiled to London, set up a small group of volunteers, who participated in the Normandy invasion. It became a founding member of NATO and of the United Nations in 1946. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area. Several European agencies are located in Luxembourg. In 2005 a referendum on the EU treaty establishing a constitution for Europe was held in Luxembourg.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Luxembourg
Luxembourg has a parliamentary form of government with a constitutional monarchy by inheritance. Under the constitution of 1868, executive power is exercised by the Grand Duke or Grand Duchess and the cabinet, which consists of a prime minister and several other ministers. The Grand Duke has the power to dissolve parliament and reinstate a new one.
Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, directly elected to 5-year terms. A second body, the "Conseil d'État" (Council of State), composed of 21 ordinary citizens appointed by the Grand Duke, advises the Chamber of Depities in the drafting of legislation.[1]
Luxembourg's contribution to its defense and to NATO consists of a small army. As a landlocked country, it has no navy, and it has no Air Force, except for the fact that the 18 NATO AWACS airplanes were registered as aircraft of Luxembourg as a matter of political and aviation convenience.
Justice
Main article: Justice of Luxembourg
The Grand Duchy has three lower tribunals (justices de paix; in Esch-sur-Alzette, in Luxembourg and in Diekirch), two district tribunals (Luxembourg and Diekirch) and a Superior Court of Justice (Luxembourg), which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation.
There is also an administrative tribunal (Luxembourg) and an Administrative Court (Luxembourg), as well as a Constitutional Court (Luxembourg).
Geography
Main article: Geography of Luxembourg
Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe. It is ranked 167th in size of all the countries of the world. The country is about 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq. mi) in size. In the west it borders the Belgian province of Luxembourg, which is (at 4,443 km²; 1,715 sq. mi) nearly twice the size of the country.
The north of the country, part of the Ardennes, has hills and low mountains, with the Buurgplaatz as the highest point at 559 metres (1,834 ft). The rest of the country is also hilly.
Luxembourg's eastern border is formed by three rivers, the Moselle, the Sauer/Sûre and the Our.
Administrative Subdivisions
Main article: Administrative subdivisions of Luxembourg
The country is divided in 3 districts, 12 cantons and 118 communes.
12 communes have city status, whereof Luxembourg, the capital city, is the largest city in the country.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Luxembourg
Luxembourg's stable, high-income economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market. Luxembourg possesses the highest GDP per capita in the world ($62,700 as of 2005). Unemployment was 4.4% of the labour force as of July 2005.
Language
Main article: Language of Luxembourg
The linguistic situation in Luxembourg is characterized by the practice and the recognition of three official languages: French, German, and Luxembourgish, a Franconian language of the Moselle region similar to German. Apart from being one of the three official languages, Luxembourgish is also considered the national language of the Grand Duchy.
Religion
87 percent of Luxembourg's population are Roman Catholic Christians and the other 13 percent are mostly Protestants, Jews, and Muslims.
Culture
See: Culture of Luxembourg and Cinema of Luxembourg.
See also
External links
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