Luxembourg a short description of the country for children. The most interesting fact about Luxembourg. Holidays in Luxembourg

Geography of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a duchy located in the west of Europe, sharing common borders with Belgium, France and Germany. The country is divided into 2 main regions: Esling - in the north of the country and Gutland - in the south of the country. The area of ​​the state is 2,586 sq. km.

In the north of Luxembourg are the mountains of the Ardennes with the highest point - Mount Burgplatz (560 m). The border between Luxembourg and Germany is formed by three rivers: the Sur, the Moselle and the Ur.

State structure of Luxembourg

Power in the county is exercised within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. The executive power in the country is concentrated in the hands of the Duke and the cabinet of ministers. The legislative body is the Chamber of Deputies.

Weather in Luxembourg

The country has a temperate climate with cold winter And warm summer. The sunniest months of the year are from May to August, although April and September are often fine. If you love flowers and plants - come in the spring. Summer in Luxembourg is a time of festivals and outdoor recreation.

Language of Luxembourg

The country has 3 officially recognized languages: French, German and Luxembourgish.

The latter is the Franconian language of the Moselle region and is also spoken in neighboring regions of France and Germany.

Religion in Luxembourg

87% of the country's inhabitants are Catholics, the remaining 13% are Muslims.

Currency of Luxembourg

The currency of the country is the euro.

In Luxembourg, international payments are widely used to pay for purchases and services. bank cards. Currency exchange operations can be carried out in banks, exchange offices.

Customs restrictions

For travelers over 17 years of age arriving in Luxembourg from countries outside the European Union, duty-free importation is allowed:

1. Tobacco products in the amount of 200 pcs. cigarettes / 50 cigars / 100 cigarillos. It is allowed to combine products in a 50/50 ratio, that is, you can import 100 cigarettes and 50 cigarillos at the same time.

2. Alcoholic drinks: - 1 liter of strong alcohol, 2 liters of fortified wine, 4 liters of dry wine or 16 liters of beer.

3. Medical preparations for personal needs.

4. Other items worth up to 430 euros.

It is forbidden to import into the country: edged weapons, firearms and ammunition, narcotic substances.

Tips

“For tea” it is customary to leave up to 10% of the bill.

Purchases

Prices for many goods in Luxembourg are an order of magnitude lower than other EU countries, this is due to the absence of VAT on certain activities and services, as well as low income tax. VAT in the country is 12-15%.

Office Hours

Banking institutions in the country work on weekdays from 9:00 to 16:00, a break from 12:00 to 14:00. Exchange points are open daily from 7:00 to 20:30 - at the airport and from 8:30 to 21:00 - at the station.

Shops are open from 9 am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday and until 12:00 - on Saturdays. Supermarkets are open until 8/10 pm.

Mains voltage:

Code of the country:

POPULATION: About 392 thousand people, mainly Luxembourgers, including 110 thousand - foreigners (29%) - Germans, French, Italians, Portuguese, etc.

LANGUAGE: State languages- French, German and Luxembourgish. Many own English language especially in business and tourism.

RELIGION: Mainly Roman Catholic (97% of the population), with some Protestant and Jewish communities.

GEOGRAPHY: The country is located in Western Europe, surrounded on all sides by large Western European countries - Belgium, Germany and France. Together with Belgium and the Netherlands, it is part of the Benelux. In the east, the country is limited by the Moselle River. The relief is mainly a hilly elevated plain, in the north of which the spurs of the Ardennes rise (the highest point is Burgplatz, 559 m.). The total area of ​​the country is about 2.6 thousand square meters. km.

CLIMATE: Moderate, transitional from maritime to continental, very mild and even. The average temperature in January is about 0 C, in July +17 C. Precipitation is over 700 mm. per year, mostly in winter. The best time to visit the country is from May to October.

POLITICAL STATUS: According to the current constitution (adopted in 1868), Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the Grand Duke, who approves laws, appoints officials to the highest government positions, and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The legislative body is the Chamber of Deputies. Certain limited legislative functions are vested in the Council of State, appointed by the monarch. Executive power is exercised by the Grand Duke and the government headed by the Prime Minister.

CURRENCY: Luxembourg franc, equal to 100 centimes, which is equated to the Belgian franc, which circulates in the country on a par with the national currency. Currency exchange points can be found everywhere at banks, railway stations, hotels and at the airport. Credit cards of the world's leading systems and traveler's checks are freely used. Banks are open from 9.00 to 16.00 from Monday to Friday, closed on weekends. Shops are open from 9.00 to 18.00 (break from 12.00 to 14.00) on weekdays, and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 12.00. Many private enterprises and organizations in Luxembourg are closed during religious and other holidays, such as the "day of absolution" in February, the carnival in March, the beer festival (only in the capital) in September, Memorial Day (November 2), etc. If official holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is a non-working Monday. Tipping in most establishments is 10%, in a taxi the amount is rounded up.

TIME: 2 hours behind Moscow time.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS: Luxembourg was founded in 963, at that time it was known as "Luklinburhuk", which in the local dialect means "little castle". A person who first came to this country is struck by the variety of landscapes that fit in such a small area. Bus tours around Luxembourg allow you to see most of the sights of this tiny European country in a short time. Famous local vineyards located in the Moselle Valley, which produce world-famous varieties of Moselle wines. It also produces several varieties of high-quality beer, as well as excellent sparkling wines prepared using champagne technology, several varieties of liquors, the famous blackcurrant wine from Beaufort Castle, fruit juices and mineral waters. There are wines that are produced only in certain villages and are distinguished by their special qualities (for example, "Aans Palomberg" and "Enin Wisselt"). Viticulture is most common in the southern half of the Moselle Valley - from Schengen to Remich, as well as to the north, near the villages of Vintrange, Henin, Wormeldange, Aan and Schwebsingen, where especially valuable vineyards are located. The recognized centers of winemaking are the towns of Remich and Grevenmacher. Cultural attractions of the country - the National Museum of Luxembourg, where departments of ancient, modern art and natural history of the country are opened, the majestic Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral (XVII century), the Palace of the Grand Duke (XVI century), the city council (XIX century), the castle Esch-sur-Alzette (XIX century), as well as the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauberg. You can take a pleasant boat trip along the Moselle River, and on other rivers (Sur, Ur, Clerve, Welz) - ride boats and yachts, go in for water sports. The capital of the country - the city of Luxembourg - was founded over a thousand years ago. Luxembourg leaves the impression of a beautiful, neat and lively city. Hilly terrain, bridges of various architecture, soaring spiers and cones of palaces and churches, parks, monuments, greenery and bright flowers, buildings of different styles and times - all this forms a contrasting and harmonious ensemble of the city. Two rivers flow through the city - Alzeta and Petrus, which divide it into two diverse parts: the Upper City with the remains of a mighty fortress, the ducal palace and many ancient buildings, and the Lower City (slightly to the south, beyond the Petrus River) with new quarters, industrial enterprises and institutions. In the upper city, the Gothic style of houses is striking - narrow towers and spiers against the backdrop of limestone and sandstone cliffs, looking like a natural extension of the rocks. In some places, long beards of grass and moss hang down the slopes, numerous caves are visible. In some places, these cliffs are terraced and small squares are laid out on the sites. Various parts of the capital are connected by a huge viaduct "Adolf's Bridge", built at the beginning of the century, and another 109 bridges of a wide variety of bridges built according to separate projects and dissimilar to each other - the railway viaduct and the old Hondeheischen bridge, a very peculiar arch bridge "The Last su" and towering 85 m. new bridge Grand Duchess Charlotte. On Wilhelm Square there is the House of City Administration, not far from it, on a quiet street, the Palace of the Grand Duke - a three-story building (1580) with high turrets and spiers, which is a wonderful example of Renaissance architecture. Nearby is the Parade Square with a monument to the poets Lenz and Dikka - the center of city life, where parades, holidays and celebrations are held. From the largest and strongest fortress in Europe, built by the French Marshal Vauban and destroyed in 1868, many buildings have survived to this day - separate walls with loopholes, some of the fortress gates (for example, the original Three Doves gate survived), long passages and casemates in the bowels of the rock, the towers "Three Acorns" along the edges of the rocky platform above the cliff and the citadel of the Holy Spirit. Near the square, on the site of ancient fortifications, there is a park, which on the other side ends with a cliff, from which a wonderful view of the ancient suburb of Bokk and the ruins of the castle opens. Interesting and remnants old fortress and the garden of the Spanish governor Ernst Mansfeld (end of the 16th century). The attention of guests is invariably attracted by the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, built in 1751, the Cathedral of Our Lady (1613-1621), famous for its majestic sculptures and the tomb of the Grand Dukes, as well as the tomb of the King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg John the Blind, a former Jesuit college (1603-1621). 1735), where the National Library with more than 600 thousand volumes is now located, the town hall building (1830-1838), the Church of St. Michael (built in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 16th century), the chapel of St. Quirin (XIV century), the Church of St. John on the Stone (XV century) and many other monuments of history and culture. One of the places of pilgrimage for tourists is the Bock casemates, in which 35 thousand people took refuge during the Second World War. During the tourist season, major bridges and buildings, as well as ancient fortifications, are artfully illuminated. The main amusement parks for children: the Miracle Park ("Parc Merveilleux") in Betembourg, the park in Mondorf-les-Bains, the Galdenberg tourist center ("Galdenberg") in Esch-Alzete. Essling is the northern region of Luxembourg, occupying a third of its territory, the highest part of the country. Some peaks here reach more than 500 meters above sea level. Many forests and pastures have been preserved here. The northernmost town of the Grand Duchy - Clervaux, is located in a basin on the banks of the river Clerf, surrounded by wooded slopes. It gives the impression of a medieval town because of the Gothic architecture of its buildings, and also because a prominent place in it is occupied by the buildings of the famous abbey in the country and, a little higher, the ruins of a knight's castle with a tower. Wiltz is the most Big city Eslinga, consists, like the capital, of two parts - the Lower Town (at an altitude of 320 m) and the Upper Town, located 80 m higher up the mountainside around the ancient fortress. Wiltz is a beautiful town, its surroundings are very picturesque, but some randomness of buildings, ravines and fences overgrown with bushes give it a certain touch of provinciality. 10 km. from it, on the Upper Sur, is the town of Esch-sur-Sur - the ancient center of cloth making (because of its lowland location, this town is often called "Esch-le-Trou" - "Ash in the pit"). 18 km. from here is one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities of Luxembourg - Vianden, stretching along the banks of the narrow valley of the river Ur, at the foot of the ancient fortress of the Dukes of Nassau. Vianden is famous for the fact that Victor Hugo lived in it. The house where he lived was restored in 1948 and now a museum is opened in it, which stores some things and books that belonged to the great French writer. Gutland ("good land") - the southern, large (68%) part of the country, where 87% of the total population lives, is a hilly, medium-altitude area, cultivated by the economic activities of people. Small fields, gardens, meadows and pastures, small forests and thickets of bushes - all this constantly alternates with each other, creating an extraordinary diversity of the landscape. As a peculiar corner of the country, the area east of the city of Echternach, along the White and Black Erenz rivers, is especially distinguished, called "Luxembourg Switzerland". Here, on the border of the Triassic limestones and Jurassic sandstones, bizarre pointed peaks and deep gorges with sheer walls have formed, stone pillars are piled above the gorges, further reinforcing the idea of ​​height and depth. Near Berdorf, in the upper reaches of the Eesbach stream, you can see a huge rock with a cave, which in local legends is called the "Roman cave" - ​​huge columns created by nature support a powerful vault. In these places, stone was previously mined for millstones. From the Eesbach valley you can get to the Hals Gorge, winding like a labyrinth of the Cretan king Minos. Especially beautiful is the landscape near the dilapidated fortress of Beaufort (between Echternach and Dikirch), where the small stream Hallerbach, like a real mountain river, rushes along the steeps, ringing stones, bubbling and breaking off with waterfalls. In its valley, completely overgrown with oak, beech, holly, hazel and buckthorn bushes, the air is filled with cool and invigorating freshness. The Müllertal area, as well as the surroundings of Larochet, Konsdorf and Grundhof, are also known for their beauty, streams and waterfalls. The city of Echternach, located near the "Luxembourg Switzerland" - one of the oldest cities in the country - it is about 1000 years old. There are many ancient buildings here, with bizarre vaults and arches. It offers a wonderful view from the other, mountainous and forested, left bank of the Sur. Large buildings stand out against the background of Echternach former monastery, which now houses the classical lyceum. Echternach, along with the capital, is a recognized center of tourism, it is a city of numerous processions and holidays. In the extreme south of Gutland, on the border with France, there is also the resort of Mondorf, famous for its mineral waters, and the balneological resort of Mondor-les-Bains (in the Moselle valley). On the plateau near the town of Useldange, the "Luxembourg Sailing Circle" operates, where from the beginning of May to the end of October, those who wish to engage in hang gliding can undergo an "air baptism". In the Ardennes there is a picturesque natural German-Luxembourg forest park ("Deutsch-Luxembourgisher") - a nature reserve, part of which is located on the territory of Germany.

ENTRY RULES: The country is part of the Schengen area. To enter, you must have a passport and a visa, a confirmed hotel reservation and medical insurance. The usual term for processing documents at the embassy is 10-14 days. Required: passport, 3 application forms (in French, English or German) with photo, hotel reservation and medical insurance. A consular fee is charged: for a stay in the country for 1-30 days - about 23 US dollars, for up to 3 months - 30 US dollars, for more than 3 months - about 38 US dollars. The validity period of the visa is specified in it itself. There are no discounts for children with their own passport. Children entered in the passport of their parents enter the country without paying a consular fee. A child traveling with an adult must be mentioned in the invitation. The movement of Russians around the country is not limited.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Standard for EU countries. There are no restrictions on the import and export of currency in the form of banknotes and traveler's checks. A foreigner permanently residing outside Luxembourg has the right to duty-free import of personal belongings and essentials on the basis of their oral declaration and presentation for customs control. Allowed duty-free importation of amateur photo and movie cameras with a reasonable amount of film, sports equipment (1 pair of skis, 2 tennis rackets, 1 set of fishing equipment), 2 sport hunting guns and 100 rounds of ammunition each (based on the permission of the Luxembourg Ministry of Justice), as well as radios, binoculars, portable tape recorders with a reasonable amount of magnetic tape (cassettes), portable televisions - one item of each item. In addition, from a European country - not a member of the EU, cigarettes can be imported duty-free - up to 200 pcs. (or cigarillos - 100 pcs., or cigars - 50 pcs., or tobacco - 250 gr.), coffee beans - 0.5 kg., strong spirits - up to 1 liter, sparkling or liqueur wine - up to 2 liters ., ordinary wine - up to 2 liters, perfume - up to 50 gr., toilet water - 0.25 liters. and other goods with a total value of up to 2,000 Luxembourg francs, as well as industrial goods and products, if they are not intended for commercial purposes. The import of drugs is prohibited. It is forbidden to export without special permission antiquities, weapons, as well as items that are national treasures.

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Luxembourg- state in Western Europe. In the north and west it borders with Belgium, in the east with Germany and in the south with France.

The name comes from the High German lucilinburch - "small town".

Capital

Luxembourg.

Square

Population

443 thousand people

Administrative division

3 districts, which, in turn, are divided into cantons, and those - into communes.

Form of government

A constitutional monarchy.

head of state

Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

supreme legislative body

Chamber of Deputies (Parliament), elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Official language

Luxembourgish, German and French.

Religion

95% Catholic.

Ethnic composition

71% - Luxembourgers, 15% - Portuguese, 5% - Italians.

Currency

Euro = 100 cents.

Climate

The climate is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental - it is characterized by wet winters and cool summers. The average temperature in January is 0 °С, in July - about + 17 °С. Snow often falls in the Ardennes in winter. The sunniest months are from May to August, but it is also sunny in the first half of September. Precipitation falls 750-800 mm per year. In early spring you can observe the wild flowering of wild plants.

Flora

One third of the country's territory is occupied by forests. Flora is represented by such species: beech, oak, spruce, pine, fir. Orchards and vineyards grow in the river valleys. Protected areas have been identified.

Fauna

The fauna of the state is extremely poor, mainly preserved in the forests, deer, hares, squirrels and forest birds live here.

Rivers and lakes

The river network is dense and branched. The main river is the Moselle.

Attractions

Saint-Michel Church, Ducal Palace (XVI century), Palace of Justice, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral (XVII century), Vianden Castle, Vitrange and Wiltz castles, ruins of Roman fortifications. The capital is home to the National Museum and the Municipal Theatre.

Useful information for tourists

Luxembourgers give the impression of being reserved and overly reserved (most locals live in small families and prefer their own homes), although this is not entirely true. In communicating with visitors, the inhabitants of the country are extremely polite and correct, they also easily come to the aid of a tourist in any difficult situation.
There are practically no traditions in Luxembourg" nightlife", and the entertainment industry is aimed mainly at foreigners.
In the spring, the country widely celebrates Shepherds' Day with a colorful procession and carnival. Luxembourg is famous for its Moselle wines. Flower shows are held annually.
You can freely move around the country, but you should carefully monitor the observance of the rights of private properties - the crossing of the latter, and even more so the arrangement on private territory lodging, fishing or plant picking are possible only with the permission of the owner or tenant. Otherwise, the police have the right to apply any measures of influence, up to detention and expulsion from the country.
Tipping in most establishments is 10%, in a taxi the amount is rounded up.

The country is located in Western Europe. It borders in the east with Germany (138 km), in the south with France (73 km) and in the west with Belgium (148 km). In the east, the country is limited by the Moselle River. The relief is mainly a hilly elevated plain, in the north of which the spurs of the Ardennes rise (the highest point is Burgplatz, 559 m.). The territory of Luxembourg can be divided into 2 parts - northern (Esling) with spurs of the Ardennes and southern (Gutland - "good land"). The southern half of Luxembourg is a continuation of the Lorraine Plateau and is characterized by undulating relief. Here the relief is represented by a system of ridges and ledges, gradually lowering to the east. Dominated cultural landscapes. In the north of the country, in Essling, occupied by the foothills of the Ardennes, a highly dissected relief is developed with heights up to 400–500 m. The highest point is Mount Burgplatz (559 m).

The soils in the north are composed of quartz and slate rocks, which are not very fertile. In the south - fertile loamy soils. In the suburbs of Luxembourg, oak and beech forests are still preserved, inhabited by squirrels, roe deer, chamois, wild boars and some representatives of the order of birds (wood doves, jays, etc.). Lots of squirrels live here. Birds include wood pigeons, jays and buzzards, as well as pheasants. Sparrowhawk became a rare guest. Hazel grouse and capercaillie live in dense forest thickets. Trout is found in the rivers and streams of Essling. In the gardens and parks of the city, heat-loving plants are cultivated - such as walnut, apricot, boxwood, dogwood.

MAIN FEATURES OF LUXEMBOURG

Official country name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Capital: Luxembourg
Area: 2,586 sq. km
Time: two hours behind Moscow
State structure: constitutional monarchy
Administrative division: Administratively, the country is divided into three districts: Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg. Administratively, the country is divided into 3 districts, which, in turn, are divided into cantons, cantons are divided into communes. The administration in the districts is carried out by the commissioners, and in the cantons by the burgomasters. The self-governing bodies in the communes are elected councils.
Currency of the country: euro
Mains voltage: 220 V
Population: The Celts, Franks and Germanic tribes who migrated through the area before and after the Roman invasion are the ancestors of the modern inhabitants of Luxembourg.
Currently, the population of Luxembourg is more than 454.2 thousand people.
About 70% of the population are Luxembourgers (French-German mixture). The border areas with Germany and Belgium are inhabited by an ethnic group of Germanic origin to the rest of Luxembourg strong influence had close proximity to France. Currently, more than a third of the country's population are foreigners (Portuguese, Italians, French, Belgians) who came here in search of work.
Language: The official languages ​​are Luxembourgish (a dialect of German with elements of French), French and German. In addition, many residents speak English.
Religion: 97% of the population - Catholics

CUSTOMS OF LUXEMBOURG

Customs rules are standard for all EU countries, there are no restrictions on the import and export of currency in the form of banknotes and traveller's checks. Foreign citizens permanently residing outside Luxembourg are entitled to duty-free importation of personal belongings and essentials on the basis of their oral declaration and presentation for customs control.

Duty-free import is allowed: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of liquor or champagne, 2 liters of wine; 250 ml of perfume or cologne; 0.5 kg of coffee beans, 200 g - instant, 100 g of tea, as well as industrial goods and products (not for commercial purposes): amateur photo and movie cameras with a reasonable amount of film, two guns for sport hunting + 200 cartridges, sports accessories (2 tennis rackets, 1 pair of skis, 1 set of fishing accessories), as well as radios, binoculars, portable TVs and tape recorders. The importation of drugs into the country is prohibited.
Without special permission, it is forbidden to export from the country unique computer equipment, displays, weapons, antiques and other items that are national treasures.
When importing pets, you must present a veterinary certificate with a mark of vaccination against rabies. Tourists do not need a vaccination certificate.
Tipping in most establishments is 10%, in a taxi the amount is rounded up.

TRANSPORT IN LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg International Airport Findel is located 6 km east of the capital. There are no porters at the airport, but trolleys are available. Luxembourg's main international airport, Lux-Fin-del, is located about 5 km east of the capital. Automobile transport. The Luxembourg road network is well developed and traffic is on the right. In settlements, the maximum speed is 60 km/h, outside of them - 90 km/h, on motorways - 120 km/h. You should park only in paid parking lots or in specially designated places (in the capital, parking is paid, so it is more convenient to use a taxi or bus). The use of seat belts is mandatory. Sound signaling is allowed only in emergency situations. Local drivers are disciplined, and violations of the speed limit on their part are extremely rare. There are buses to Luxembourg from almost all capitals and many major cities in Europe. Bus - main public transport in the country. The fare is about 1 euro for a short trip, about 4 euros for a one-day pass, valid not only for buses throughout the country, but also for railway(in class II carriages). One ticket purchased from the driver costs about 0.9 euros. Subscription (10 tickets, sold at newsstands, banks, bakeries, etc.) - about 8 euros. Tickets and traffic patterns are sold at information center municipal buses in the underground part of Gami-lius Square in the capital. On most lines, the traffic interval is 10 minutes and is carefully observed. There are many taxis in Luxembourg. They can be ordered by phone, stopped on the street (not everywhere) or taken at special parking lots near hotels. Fares are calculated on the basis of 1 euro per landing and 0.65 euro per kilometer. For a trip at night, 10% is added to the tariff and 25% - for work on weekends. You can also hitchhike around the country, and drivers of foreign cars often pick up fellow travelers. Railway transport. The high-speed international railway line Brussels-Basel passes through Luxembourg, along which eight express trains run in both directions per day. The journey from Brussels to Luxembourg takes three hours by train. The internal railway network connects only the main settlements countries.

RENT A CAR IN LUXEMBOURG

although car rental is relatively expensive, for many it is the most convenient and easiest way to travel around the country. Ask if the following items are included in the car rental price: tax (VAT), full insurance (full insurance) and unlimited mileage. Luxembourg network highways very developed, right-hand traffic. The driver must wear a seat belt without fail. The cost of gasoline is one of the cheapest in Europe, so drivers from neighboring cities in Germany and Belgium often cross the border to fill up with gasoline.

CUISINE AND RESTAURANTS OF LUXEMBOURG

Cuisine historically similar to Belgian, French and German, Luxembourgish cuisine, however, has a number of characteristic features.
Here, many of their recipes have been preserved, which are considered "sights" of the country. The most favorite meat dishes are smoked pork (pork backbone) with beans, the famous Ardennes ham, jellied milk pigs, blood and regular sausages, veal liver stickies with sour cabbage and boiled potatoes, veal brains and heart with cabbage, goose liver and pate, jellied pork ears, Luxembourg hare roast, beef tongue with vegetables and oxtail soup. Meat is served with vegetable side dishes, including radishes, beets, potatoes and greens. The diet of Luxembourgers always includes locally produced cheeses and various marinades. Distinctive feature cuisine of Luxembourg - cooking crayfish, trout, pike, fried perches.
White wines from the Moselle valley are widely known. The most popular varieties are: dry - Beaufort, Auxerrois and Elbling; dining rooms - Rivaner, Wormeldang, Krekhen, Kemih, An, Ennem, Maetum and Riesling, White and Gray Pinot; exotic - Gevyurtitrami-ner and Silvaner. It also produces several varieties of high-quality beer and excellent sparkling wines prepared using champagne technology, several varieties of liqueurs (Ketsch, Kirsch, plum, apple, pear and blackcurrant), the famous blackcurrant wine from Beaufort Castle, fruit juices and mineral waters . There are wines that are made only in certain villages and are distinguished by their special qualities, such as "Aans Palomberg" and "Enin Wisselt".

HOLIDAYS IN LUXEMBOURG

1st of January - New Year, February - Day of absolution,
March-April - Easter and Easter Monday,
May 1 - Labor Day, May - Ascension of the Lord,
May-June - Spirits day,
June 23 - national holiday, birthday of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg Jean,
August 15 - Dormition,
September - beer festival (only in the capital),
November 1 - All Saints Day,
November 2 - Memorial Day,
December 25 - Christmas,
December 26 - St. Stephen's Day.

Luxembourg- state in Western Europe. Member of the European Union since 1957. The Duchy shares borders with Belgium, Germany and France. The name comes from the Upper German "lucilinburch" - "small town".

In terms of size, Luxembourg ranks 167th in the world. The length of the country is 84 km long and 52 km wide with a total area of ​​2586 km². Together with Belgium and the Netherlands, it is part of the Benelux.

In the east, the country is limited by the Moselle River. The relief is mainly a hilly elevated plain, in the north of which the spurs of the Ardennes rise (the highest point is Kneiff Hill, 560 meters).

In the north and east, a third of the territory is covered with picturesque forests.

Climate

The climate is temperate (transitional between maritime and continental), very mild and even. The average temperature in January is around zero, in July - +17°C. The best time to visit the country is from May to October.

Population

Population of Luxembourg- 502,207 people (2011), including 285 thousand people living in the city of Luxembourg. Number foreign citizens living in the country exceeds 32%. This is the highest percentage of the ratio of foreign citizens and the indigenous population among the EU countries.

The majority of Luxembourg's population is Roman Catholic, followed by smaller groups of Protestants, Anglicans, Jews and Muslims. Under a law passed in 1979, the government prohibits the collection of data on religious practices, but it is estimated that more than 90% of believers are baptized Catholics (the Virgin Mary is considered the patroness of the city of Luxembourg).

In Luxembourg since 1928 There is a Russian Orthodox Church (it belongs to the Russian Church Abroad, the number of parishioners is about 100).

The official languages ​​are Luxembourgish, French and German.

The language of everyday communication of local residents is the Luxembourgish language, which in 1982 was given national status. The press uses both German and French. But in the religious and political life French country, nevertheless, is official language government, judiciary, parliament and education.

Many speak English, especially in business and tourism.

About money

Banks in Luxembourg are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 16:30, in the capital they are open on Saturdays (until noon). In other cities, they are not only closed on Saturdays, but also have a lunch break on weekdays from 12:00 to 14:00. Outside the regular banking schedule, currency exchange offices operate at the airport (from 7:00 to 20:30 all days of the week except Sunday, when the office opens at 9:00), at the railway station (daily from 8:30 to 21:00) and in hotels.

In Luxembourg, credit cards of the world's leading systems and traveler's checks are freely used, and they can be used even in the "most remote" areas of the country. In some stores, credit cards are only accepted for purchases over 120-200 euros.

Communication and communications

Phone country code: 352

Internet domain: .lu, .eu

A single emergency number - 012 (serves to call the police, firefighters, ambulance, as well as various emergency services).

How to call

In order to call Luxembourg, you need to dial 8 - beep - 10 - 352 - the subscriber's number.

In order to call to Russia from Luxembourg, you need to dial 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Fixed line

Everywhere on the streets of large cities of Luxembourg there are pay phones that work on cards. From here you can call anywhere in the world. You can also make an international call from the post office and from the hotel, but it will cost you more.

shopping

Luxembourg will delight and shoppers. Fashion victims will find here everything they could wish for. Clothes, bags, shoes of famous designers are presented here.

I go shopping, you should pay attention to their opening hours. Most shops are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00, a break from 12:00 to 14:00 (some shops open only from 14:00 on Mondays), on Saturdays - from 9:00 to 12:00. Large supermarkets are open from 9:00 to 22:00.

Where to stay

Luxembourg offers a wide range of hotels of various classes, from luxurious to the simplest, but nice and cozy.

An alternative accommodation option can be renting houses and apartments. This is not yet very popular among Russians, but it is very common among Europeans. Real estate objects can be rented in any area of ​​the city, for a family or a company, for every taste and every budget, focusing also on the "number of stars", as well as when choosing a hotel.

You can also stay in hostels, campsites and private pensions.

Story

At the end of the 7th century, the population of the territory of modern Luxembourg was converted to Christianity thanks to the Monk Willibrord, who founded a Benedictine monastery there. In the Middle Ages, the land was alternately part of the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia, then the Holy Roman Empire, and later Lorraine.

In 963, it gained independence as a result of an exchange of strategic territories. The fact is that on its territory there was a fortified castle - Lisilinburg (Little Fortress), which laid the foundation for the state.

Profitable geographical position contributed to the active growth of the settlement, and soon it turned into a real city. However, Luxembourg received the status and rights of the city only in 1244.

In 1354 the County of Luxembourg became a duchy.

In 1437, as a result of the marriage of one of Conrad's relatives to the German king Albert II, the Duchy of Luxembourg passed to the Habsburg dynasty. In 1443, Elisabeth Gerlitz was forced to cede this possession to the Duke of Burgundy. The power of the Habsburgs was restored only in 1477. In 1555 it passed to the Spanish king Philip II and, together with Holland and Flanders, fell under the rule of Spain.

The city, which occupies an important strategic position in the very center of Europe, repeatedly passed from hand to hand: in 1506-1684 and 1697-1714. it belonged to Spain, in 1684-1697 and 1794-1815. was part of the territorial possessions of France, and in 1714-1794. was under Austrian rule.

Six years after the start of the French Revolution, Luxembourg again passed to France, so that the state experienced all the vicissitudes of fate along with the French - the Directory and Napoleon.

With the fall of Napoleon, French rule in Luxembourg ended. In 1815, in accordance with the decision Congress of Vienna in the territories adjacent to the city of Luxembourg, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was created, which was included in the confederation independent states- German Union.

In 1842, Willem II signed an agreement with Prussia, according to which Luxembourg became a member of the Customs Union. This move significantly improved the economic and agricultural development of the duchy, infrastructure was restored, and railways appeared.

In 1841, Luxembourg was granted a constitution, which, however, did not meet the wishes of the population. The French Revolution of 1848 greatly influenced the autonomy, since under its influence Willem granted a more liberal constitution, which was amended in 1856.

With the collapse of the confederation in 1866, Luxembourg became a fully sovereign state. Officially, this happened on September 9, 1867. A little earlier, on April 29, 1867, on international conference in London between Russia, Great Britain, France, Prussia and a number of other states signed an agreement on the status of Luxembourg. Under the Treaty, the crown of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was recognized as the hereditary possession of the house of Nassau, and the duchy itself was defined as a "perpetually neutral" state.

With the death of Willem III in 1890, the Netherlands was left without a male heir, so the Grand Duchy passed to Adolf, Duke of Nassau, and then to his son Willem, who died in 1912. Over the years of their reign, they were little interested in issues of state administration, but Mary Adelaide, Willem's daughter, developed a vigorous activity there.

During the First World War, Luxembourg remained neutral, although Germany occupied it in 1914. The troops of the German Empire held it for several years.

The same sad fate awaited Luxembourg during the Second World War, the city was captured fascist troops in May 1940 and annexed to the Nazi Reich in August 1942. In response to this, the population declared a general strike, to which the Germans responded mass repression. About 30,000 residents, or more than 10% of the total population, including most young men, were arrested and deported from the country.

In September 1944, liberation came. In the same year, Luxembourg entered into an economic union with Belgium and the Netherlands (Benelux). With the entry into NATO in 1949, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg violated its centuries-old military neutrality. In 1964, Prince Jean ascended the throne of Luxembourg. In October 2000, Jean abdicated the throne, citing his advanced age, and his son Henri ascended the throne. On this moment he is the youngest monarch in Europe.

Helpful information

The best time to visit the country is from May to October.

For guests of the capital, the national tourist office of Luxembourg offers a special LuxembourgCard. The card allows you to visit 56 city attractions for free for one, two or three days, depending on the cost of the card. The LuxembourgCard comes with a promotional booklet describing all the attractions the card gives you access to. In addition, its owner is entitled to free travel on buses and trains.

You can buy the LuxembourgCard at tourist offices, hotels, hostels, campsites, private pensions, railway stations and the main attractions of the city. In order to activate the card, simply write the date of first use on it. The cost of the card per person for one day is 10 euros, for two days - 17 euros, for three days - 24 euros. A family card for 5 people will cost 24 euros, for two and three days - 34 and 48 euros, respectively.

Luxembourgers are outwardly closed and reserved, but they are very polite, correct and easily come to the aid of a tourist in any difficult situation.

In Luxembourg, there is practically no tradition of "nightlife" and the entertainment industry is aimed mainly at foreigners. Locals prefer to spend the evening with their families. But on the other hand, there are a lot of foreigners from neighboring countries who come to the country for shopping in bars and restaurants. Therefore, in areas focused on the tourism business, prices are often much higher than the national average.

You can freely move around the country, but you should carefully monitor the observance of the rights of private properties - the crossing of which, and even more so - the arrangement on private land for the night, fishing or collecting plants, is possible only with the permission of the owner or tenant. Otherwise, the police have the right to apply any measures of influence, up to detention and expulsion from the country. Hunting licenses are issued to foreigners for a period of 1 or 5 days on the basis of a written application by the owner or lessee of hunting grounds to the district commissioner. During one hunting season, no more than three licenses are issued for one person. According to the statements of the same owner or tenant of land, a foreigner can receive a total of no more than a dozen licenses.

Fishing licenses are issued by both the district commissioners and the communal administration. At the same time, depending on the place of fishing, in each case, the cost of a license is established, as well as the permissible methods of fishing, the type and number of fishing gear.

How to get to Luxembourg

There is no direct flight Moscow - Luxembourg. There are regular Aeroflot flights Moscow - Vienna, then a Luxair flight to Luxembourg. Time in the air - about 4 hours. Or through any other European country.