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COUNTRY HOPPING: Luxembourg
OFFICIAL NAME: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
AREA: 2,586 sq km
POPULATION: 448,569
CAPITAL: Luxembourg
CURRENCY: Euro. (Before January 1, 2002, when euro-denominated coins and bills went
into circulation, the Luxembourg franc was the official currency.)
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Luxembourgisch
MAJOR CITIES: Esch - Alzette, Differdange, Dudelange, Petange
A landlocked country in Western Europe, it is bounded north and west by Belgium, east by Germany, and south by France. Although a small country, Luxembourg occupies an important position in Western Europe, being a founding member of many international organizations, including the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Atomic Energy Commission, and the European Economic Community (the predecessor of the European Union).
Land & climate
Luxembourg consists mainly of the upper basins of the Sauer and Alzette rivers. The highest point is Buurgplaatz (1,834 ft), in the Ardennes Plateau in the north. The southern two-thirds of the country is a rolling plateau, the Bon Pays. Rich deposits of iron ore are found in the south. Luxembourg has a moderate climate with a mean annual temperature of 10°C and a yearly rainfall of about 815mm.
Government
Luxembourg is a hereditary and constitutional monarchy. The constitution provides for a single-chamber legislature, the 60-member chamber of deputies, elected for a five-year term.
There is also an advisory body, the council of state, whose 21 members are appointed by the grand duke for life. The chamber of deputies can overrule its decisions. The grand duke also appoints a prime minister and council of ministers who are collectively responsible to the chamber.
People
The inhabitants of Luxembourg are mostly of German and French background but have a distinct national consciousness. Three fourth of the population is Celtic based with German or French blend, while rest are guest workers and residents from other European countries, including Portugal and Italy
Roman Catholics constitute 94 per cent of the population of Luxembourg, 2 per cent Protestants and 3per cent are nonreligious.
Language & education
The national language, called Letzeburgesch (Luxembourgisch), is a Germanic language. French and German are also used in official publications and in schools. Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15, and illiteracy is almost nonexistent.
Economy
Banking, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are the most important economic sectors. Major manufactures include iron and steel, processed food, rubber and plastic products, metal and machinery products, paper and printing products, food products, and chemicals. The growth of Luxembourg’s financial sector has compensated for the steel industry’s diminishing importance. Agriculture plays a minimal role in the country’s economy. Principal crops include barley, wheat, potatoes, oats, rye, and wine grapes. Substantial numbers of cattle, hogs, and poultry are also raised.
Places to visit
Echternach — a town situated on the River Sauer. It is a tourist centre and was largely rebuilt after World War II. Echternach developed around an abbey founded in 698AD by a missionary monk from Yorkshire, England, called St Willibrord, who is also buried there. A traditional procession, originating in the 8th century, is held annually on Whit Tuesday (part of the Christian festival of Pentecost).
5th Century BC: The area that is now Luxembourg was occupied by the Franks, and later became part of the empire of Charlemagne.
10th Century AD: Luxembourg established itself as an independent entity.
11th Century: Its rulers took the title of count of Luxembourg, taking their name from the castle of Lucelin-burhuc.
1308: Count Henry became king of Germany as Henry VII, and Holy Roman Emperor in 1312.
1354: Emperor Charles IV raised Luxembourg to the rank of a duchy.
1443: It was ceded to dukes of Burgundy.
1482: Came under Habsburg control, along with the rest of the Low Countries, on the marriage of Mary, the Burgundian heiress, to Archduke Maximilian of Austria.
1555-6: On the division of the Habsburg lands following the abdication of Charles V, Luxembourg passed to the Spanish Habsburgs.
1648: It remained part of the Spanish Netherlands when the independence of the northern Netherlands was acknowledged.
1683-84: Louis XIV of France conquered Luxembourg, but was forced to return it to Spain in 1697.
1713: Spanish Netherlands, including Luxembourg, was transferred to Austria under the Treaty of Utrecht.
1797: During the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars Luxembourg was ceded to France at the Peace of Campo Formio.
1815: At the Congress of Vienna it was created a grand duchy (the king of the Netherlands being grand duke) and became part of the German Confederation.
1830: Belgium and Luxembourg revolted against Dutch rule. Belgium achieved independence in 1839 and most of Luxembourg became part of it, the rest becoming independent in its own right in 1848.
1867: By the Treaty of London it was declared a neutral independent state.
1890: Link with Dutch crown ended on accession of Queen Wilhelmina, since Luxembourg’s law of succession did not permit a woman to rule; Adolphe of Nassau-Weilburg became grand duke.
1912: Revised law of succession allowed Marie-Adelaide to become grand dutchess.
World War I: Occupied by Germany in 1914 and remained so till the end of the war in 1918.
1919: Plebiscite overwhelmingly favoured continued independence; Marie Adelaide abdicated after allegations of collaboration with Germany, succeeded by Grand Dutchess Charlotte.
1921: A bill was passed for the economic union of Luxembourg with Belgium and the use of Belgian currency.
1940-44: The Germans in World War II occupied Luxembourg again.
1948: Luxembourg formed an economic union with Belgium and the Netherlands (Benelux), which became fully effective in 1960 and was the forerunner of wider European cooperation.
1964: Grand Duchess Charlotte was abdicated after a reign of 45 years, and was succeeded by her son Jean.
1994: Santer was chosen to succeed Jacques Delors as president of the European Commission.
1995: Jean-Claude Juncker replaced Santer as prime minister.
1999: The country joined the Euro currency area.
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