Luxembourg is a small but glorious country located on the border between Roman and Western Europe. Seemed to take the best of both civilizations over time Luxembourg has built its own face of political and economic power. Luxembourg is called “Little Switzerland” – whether because of the natural area of its territory, bearing the same name, whether because of similarity in relation to architectural and urban, whether for peaceful and somehow peaceful atmosphere of public of that every small and big town. But in fact differs from Luxembourg Switzerland in one respect – despite their attempts to maintain neutrality, the country is a member of all major European pacts – the European Union, NATO, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, United Nations, Benelux and Western Union. Not considered rare Luxembourg “city – a country with a big heart” – this is one of the smallest countries in the world whose capital bears the same name. There are many recognized religions (Roman Catholics are the most, but also Jews, Orthodox Greeks, English, Protestants and Muslims) speak three official languages (French, German and Luxembourgish) and live dozens of nationalities.
Luxembourg City is one hand of the richest cities in the world, establishing itself as a serious financial and administrative center. Here are the seats of some of the most important European Union institutions, including the European Court, European Court of Auditors and European Investment Bank. Luxembourg is one of the offered tourist destinations – cultural heritage and millenary history leave such traces in the heart of every visitor that make him want to go back there again and again and again – while aware of any ancient place within the Luxembourg. Yes, although it can be toured on foot in just a few hours, the city – country status with the Grand Duchy, protect heritage, which can be studied for years.
Luxembourg territory is locked between the three countries – Belgium (in the north and west) Germany (east) and France (south). Enter into a tripartite composition of the Benelux (together with Belgium and the Netherlands). An area of only 2586 sq km is divided into three areas, 12 Cantons and 116 municipalities. The terrain is hilly and plains, the highest point in the Ardennes mountains (565 m) in the northern part of the country. Luxembourg is a hereditary constitutional monarchy – the Grand Duchy (the world’s only such a status management). The capital city of Luxembourg is Luxembourg. It is located in the southern part of the country where the rivers merge and Alzet Petrus. They divide it into two parts – Upper and Lower Luxembourg, connected by bridge “Adolf” and the Bridge of Grand Duchess Charlotte. It is 188 km from Brussels, 289 km from Paris and 190 kilometers from Cologne. Good road network improvement works ensure that a convenient transportation by air, train and car. Except Luxembourg, the other more famous cities are Esch-sur Alzet, Schengen (which was signed title and agreement), asbl, Diferdanzh, Clairvaux and Sanem. Popular areas are more Moselle Valley (winemaker) and Little Switzerland (woodland in the northeastern part of the country with attractive climbing, cycling and trekking).
The territory of present-day Luxembourg was occupied by the Romans as early as I century (remains of the residence they now draw the old town of the capital and declared by UNESCO World Cultural Heritage). Later become part of the Frankish Empire in 963 and on up as a feud despite the status of the county. In 1354 it managed by the Duchy of Luxembourg. In the period 1477 – 1684 power in the hands of the Habsburgs and then turn to France, Spain, Austria and France again.
Congress of Vienna in 1815 proclaimed Luxembourg Grand Duchy under the tutelage and guidance of the Dutch king. In 1839 a large part of the territory passed to Belgium in exchange for the country won greater autonomy. In 1867 it was declared an independent and neutral country, which lasted until 1948, when the duchy violate this Agreement, concluded a customs and economic union with Belgium. In 1958 they joined to the Netherlands (Benelux is formed). In 1949 Luxembourg enter NATO, and in 1957 became one of the six founding countries of the European Union.
Although the entire territory of Luxembourg is covered by sightseeings without doubt the main tourist purposes is the eponymous capital. Located on several hills, it is interwoven old and new, abound in a variety of architectural styles and bridges plan (111 in number), cathedrals, public and residential buildings, parks and palaces. Upper Luxembourg impresses with high-Gothic buildings and narrow towers. There are the most important government buildings – the Palace of Grand Duke (his formal residence), Parliament, Town Hall and Notre Dame Cathedral (built in baroque style with Renaissance elements). Against the backdrop of modern malls, office buildings and huge banks somehow naturally raise the ancient ruins of the old town (called Millennium Monument). The first fortified walls were built at the beginning of X century around the historic castle Luxembourg, built by the first ruler of the country I King Siegfried Bock scale. To XII century the town has grown so that the fortifications cover an area of 50,000 square meters and reach St. Nicholas (now Notre Dame Cathedral). In the rocks are called does. “Kazemati – a maze of dark and damp rooms, served as bomb shelters tens of thousands of people during the two world wars, and today there is an open gallery for temporary art works. Worthy of special attention and the two large pedestrian square, “Place d’Armes” (Square of the Army) and “Place Guillaume” (where City Hall is located today, and once belonged to square Franciscans). One of the main tourist attractions and the unofficial symbol of Luxembourg is the bridge “Adolf”, which connects the two parts of the city. It was built between 1900 – 1903 by the Frenchman and Luxemburgs like the “Walnut Lane Bridge in Philadelphia, USA. The facility with numerous arches is 150 meters long and 17.2 meters is wide with four lanes and two pedestrian and was named the first monarch, inherited the throne without any family ties with the former – Adolf (reigned between 1890 and 1905). Luxembourg City is proud with its museums, concert hall of the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Conservatory. Museum of Modern Art (short for Fr. MUDAM) is located in the old part of Luxembourg, near the fort Fort Tyungen and is housed in a modernist building designed by the architect of the pyramid to the Louvre in Paris Yeo Ming Pei. Near it is located, the oldest church in the city of St. Ulrich, Neumunster old cathedral, the National Museum of Natural History (founded in 1850 and offering exposure in 8 areas of science – botany, ecology, geology and mineralogy and astrophysics, paleontology, vertebrates and invertebrates) and the National Museum of History and Art (tracking the development of art in all ages of Luxembourg history).
Tags: civilizations, Luxembourg, small country, urban
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