Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Everything you need to knowabout theGrand Duchy of LuxembourgGeographyHistoryPolitical systemNational symbolsEconomyPopulationLanguagesEducationCulture

PublisherInformation and Press Serviceof the Luxembourg Government,Publishing DepartmentTranslatorMarianne ChalmersLayoutRepères CommunicationPrintingImprimerie OSSAISBN 978-2-87999-206-8April 2010All statistics in this brochure are providedby Statec, unless otherwise stated.

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgTable of contents4 6 8 12 14 16 18 20 24 26At a glanceGeographyHistoryPolitical systemNational symbolsEconomyPopulationLanguagesEducationCulture

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgAt a glanceOfficial designationGrand Duchy of LuxembourgCapitalLuxembourgNational day23 JuneCurrencyEuroGeographyGeographical coordinatesLatitude 49° 37’ North and longitude 6° 08’ EastArea2,586 km 2 , of which 86% is farmland or forest(2008)Neighbouring countriesBelgium, Germany, FranceClimateLuxembourg enjoys a temperate climate withoutextremes of temperature. Average temperaturesrange between 0° C in January and 18° C in July.TerritoryAdministrative division• 3 districts (Luxembourg, Diekirch,Grevenmacher)• 12 cantons (Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch,Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher,Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange-sur-Attert,Remich, Vianden, Wiltz)• 116 municipalities• 4 electoral constituencies (South, East,Centre, North)Judicial division• 2 judicial districts (Luxembourg, Diekirch)comprising 3 magistrates’ courts(Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Diekirch)PopulationTotal population502,066 inhabitants, including 215,550 foreignresidents representing 42.9% of the total population(January 2010)Most densely populated townsLuxembourg (90,800 inhabitants)Esch-sur-Alzette (30,100 inhabitants)Differdange (21,500 inhabitants)(January 2010)LanguagesNational languageLëtzebuergeschAdministrative languagesFrench, German, Lëtzebuergesch4

Political systemForm of governmentParliamentary democracy within the frameworkof a constitutional monarchyHead of stateHRH Grand Duke Henri(acceded to the throne on 7 October 2000)Useful addressesService information et pressedu gouvernement(Information and Press Serviceof the Government)33, boulevard F.D. RooseveltL-2450 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-82181info@sip.etat.luwww.gouvernement.luB E L G I U MWiltzRedangesur-AttertClervauxCapellenDiekirchMerschViandenLuxembourgDistrict LuxembourgDistrict DiekirchDistrict GrevenmacherEchternachGrevenmacherG E R M A N YService central de la statistiqueet des études économiques (Statec)(Central Service for Statistics and Economic Studies)Centre administratif Pierre Werner13, rue ÉrasmeL-1468 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-84219info@statec.etat.luwww.statistiques.luOffice national du tourisme(National Tourist Office)Gare centralePlace de la GareL-1616 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 42 82 82 20info@visitluxembourg.luwww.visitluxembourg.luReference websiteswww.luxembourg.luwww.promoteluxembourg.comwww.etat.luEsch-sur-AlzetteRemichFRANCE5

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgGeographyThe Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is located at theheart of Western Europe between Belgium, Germanyand France. It has two natural regions: Oesling inthe north and Guttland, comprising the Mosellevalley in the east and the mineral basin in the south.The total area of the country is 2,586 km 2 , withOesling covering 828 km 2 and Guttland 1,758 km 2 .The capitalLuxembourg City lies 300 m above sea level. Thecapital offers a striking contrast between the moderntown perched on a rocky plateau with a sheer dropand the three old quarters of Grund, Clausen andPfaffenthal.The quarter housing the European institutions hasbeen located on the Kirchberg plateau to the northeastof the city since the 1960s.RegionsThe variety of its landscapes is one of Luxembourg’sgreatest attractions. The country is divided into twomain regions, Oesling and Guttland.• Oesling, in the north, forms part of the Ardennesmassif and borders the German Eifel plateau. Thiswooded region covers one third of the country(32%) and is a magnet for tourists. The highestpoint in Luxembourg is situated in this regionrising to 560 m at Wilwerdange. There are villageson the uplands, as well as rivers and lakes. Oakand pine forests cover the steep slopes. Theclimate is harsher than in the rest of the country.The main towns in this region are Wiltz, Clervauxand Vianden.- The Troisvierges plateau in the north of Oeslingis predominantly arable land with few forests.It is the coldest and wettest area of Luxembourg.- The Ardennes plateau, crossed by rivers, southof the Wiltz basin, is the most typical area ofOesling, with landscapes rich in contrasting formsand colours, plateaus and forests.The area on the boundary between Oesling andGuttland is one of the country’s prime agriculturalregions on account of its rich and varied soils.• Guttland (“good country”), in the south and centreof the country, occupies along with the capital theremainder of the territory (68%). It is made upessentially of fields and forests and comprises thefollowing main regions:- Luxembourg’s sandstone plateau is the dominantfeature of Guttland, where some of the country’sfinest forests are to be found.- Marly depressions are the largest and mostcharacteristic feature of the Guttland landscape.They extend to the foot of the Dogger andLuxembourg sandstone escarpments and aremade up of wide valleys. Over two thirds of thisarea is given over to farming.- The Moselle valley is the most impressive inLuxembourg both in terms of size and varietyof landscapes. It is one of the country’s maintourist attractions, largely on account of itswinemaking activities.- The Mullerthal region-Luxembourg’s LittleSwitzerland is located to the north of the Mosellevalley along the border with Germany. Itsmain town, Echternach, is one of the oldest inLuxembourg.- The Terres rouges (Red Lands) are situated tothe south of the marly depressions. The areahas been moulded by industry where ironore has been extracted from the red earth,hence the name “Minett” (from “minette”, thedesignation for iron in the Lorraine) applied tothis region in Lëtzebuergesch. The main townsare Esch-sur-Alzette, the second-largest town inthe Grand Duchy, Differdange and Dudelange.- The Valley of the Seven Castles boasts the castlesof Mersch, Schoenfels, Hollenfels, the twocastles of Ansembourg and also Septfontainesand Koerich, all within a 24 km area. They arepart of a landscape of meadows and old villageswhich is perfect walking country.6

ClimateLuxembourg does not have a clearly definedclimate; it ranges between the oceanic climate ofthe Atlantic zone (small seasonal variations, mildand wet winters) and the continental climate ofthe eastern European plains (pronounced seasonalvariations, harsh winters and rainy summers).Oceanic influence brings rain in all seasons andcontinental influence brings biting, dry weatherin winter. The climate is temperate from Mayto mid-October. July and August are the hottestmonths, but May and June frequently have moresunshine. Luxembourg often experiences its ownversion of an Indian summer in September andOctober.Average temperatures vary between 0° C inJanuary and 18° C in July. In 2008, the averageannual temperature was 9.7° C (source: Servicemétéorologique de Luxembourg [LuxembourgMeteorological Service]).There are slight variations in temperature betweenthe north and south of the country due to thedifference in altitude, but these rarely exceed 2° C.Administrative divisionThe country is divided into 3 districts (Luxembourg,Diekirch, Grevenmacher), 12 cantons, 116 munici -palities and 4 electoral constituencies.The district of Luxembourg comprises the cantonsof Luxembourg, Capellen, Esch-sur-Alzette andMersch; the district of Diekirch consists of Diekirch,Clervaux, Redange-sur-Attert, Vianden and Wiltz;and the district of Grevenmacher is made up ofGrevenmacher, Echternach and Remich.District commissioners play a supervisory roleand act as intermediaries between governmentand local authorities.Useful addressesOffice national du tourisme(National Tourist Office)Gare centralePlace de la GareL-1616 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 42 82 82 20info@visitluxembourg.luwww.visitluxembourg.luRiver networkThe four largest rivers in the Grand Duchy arethe Moselle, Sûre, Our and Alzette. The other riversare the Mess, Mamer, Eisch, Attert and the Warkin the west; the Wiltz, Clerve and Blees in thenorth; the White Ernz, Black Ernz, Syr and Ganderin the east. The Pétrusse is a minor river runningthrough the city of Luxembourg, before flowinginto the Alzette.With the exception of the Chiers, which flowsfrom the south-west of the country into the Meusebasin, Luxembourg’s rivers are tributaries of theRhine basin by way of the Moselle.© Christof Weber/SIP7

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgHistoryLuxembourg’s originsThe name Luxembourg (Lucilinburhuc) first appearsin around 963 in a deed of barter in which CountSiegfried acquired the abbey of St Maximin of Trier,a small fort situated on the Bock promontory,a rocky outcrop dominating the Alzette valley.This fortified site became a foothold, allowing thecounts of Luxembourg to accumulate territory overthe course of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.By the late 13th century, the County of Luxembourgoccupied a vast area stretching from the Meuseto the Moselle.From the house of Luxembourgto the Habsburg dynastyAt the start of the 14th century, the house ofLuxembourg acceded to the imperial throne andplayed a major role on the European stage. In1308, Count Henry VII was elected king of Germanyby the prince-electors and crowned emperor inRome by the papal legate in 1312. His son, knownas John the Blind, became king of Bohemia.Three other members of the Luxembourg dynastybore the royal or imperial crown in succession:Charles IV (1346-1378), Wenceslas (1376-1400)and Sigismund (1410-1437). In 1354, Charles IVpromoted the County of Luxembourg to the rankof duchy.The male Luxembourg line died out with EmperorSigismund in 1437. In 1443, the Duke of Burgundy,Philip the Good, conquered the town of Luxembourg.The Duchy of Luxembourg then became a provinceof the Netherlands. Its fate was to be allied to thisterritorial entity for the next four centuries. Theduchy belonged to the Burgundians (15th century),the Spanish Habsburgs (16th and 17th centuries) andthe Austrian Habsburgs (18th century) in succession,with a brief period of French rule between 1684 and1697. Luxembourg occupied an important strategicposition on the European chessboard. The townof Luxembourg was gradually transformed intoa formidable fortress dubbed the “Gibraltar of theNorth”, which European powers fought to control.In 1795, the French revolutionary armies conqueredthe stronghold. The country was annexed to Franceand became the Département des Forêts (ForestsDepartment).Towards the birthof an independent stateThe collapse of the Napoleonic empire in 1815 alsohad repercussions for the status of Luxembourg.The major European powers which gathered at theCongress of Vienna in that year decided to createa vast kingdom of the Netherlands to thwart anypossible French ambitions. Elevated to the rankof grand duchy, Luxembourg was theoreticallyautonomous, but bound by personal ties to William Iof Orange-Nassau, king of the Netherlands andgrand duke of Luxembourg. Membership of theGerman Confederation entailed a Prussian garrisonbeing stationed within the fortress.© Christof Weber/SIP8

© SIPWhen the Belgian revolution erupted in 1830, partof the Luxembourg population fought on the side ofthe Belgian insurgents, expressing its oppositionto the policies of William I. The major powers thendecided to separate the Belgians and the Dutch bycreating the Kingdom of Belgium in 1831. Howevera solution for Luxembourg was slow to emerge.In the absence of an agreement between theBelgian Parliament and William I, the fortress townwas placed under Dutch authority, while the restof the country was administered by the provisionalBelgian government.Finally, the Treaty of London of 19 April 1839 decreedthat the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg should bedivided between these two countries. This date isconsidered to be the starting point for the creation ofthe independent state of Luxembourg. The Frenchspeakingpart of the former duchy was allocatedto Belgium. The borders of the Grand Duchy werethus established and have not changed since. Theabsence of a territorial link with the Netherlandsforced the king-grand duke to grant Luxembourga separate administration. A constitutional charterin 1841 and three successive constitutions in 1848,1856 and 1868 conferred an institutional basison the new state and guaranteed the fundamentalrights and freedoms of its citizens. The politicalregime was a representative democracy withinthe framework of a constitutional monarchy.From this point onwards a national sentimentbegan to develop, as witnessed by the appearanceof patriotic songs and the growth of literaturein Lëtzebuergesch.From 1839 to the First World WarFollowing the Treaty of London in 1839, theGrand Duchy of Luxembourg remained boundto Germany by its membership of the GermanConfederation and to the Netherlands through thedynastic connection (Orange-Nassau).As an agricultural country with high levels ofemigration, Luxembourg could not be self-sufficient.Therefore, William II, son of William I, took thecountry into a customs union with Germany – theZollverein – in 1842. From the second half of the19th century onwards, the country experiencedstrong economic growth with the discovery ofmineral deposits and the construction of railwaysto transport coal. The need for manpower entailedhigh levels of immigration in the late 19th century.The Treaty of London in 1867 consolidatedthe international status of the Grand Duchy.Luxembourg became a perpetually neutral andunarmed state under the guarantee of thesignatory powers. The Prussian garrison withdrewfrom the fortress, which was then dismantled.The personal union between Luxembourg andthe Netherlands eventually came to an end in1890 with the death of William III. When thelast remaining male descendant of the Orange-Nassau dynasty died, the grand-ducal crownpassed to the Nassau-Weilburg branch, the onlybranch of the Nassau dynasty to have a maledescendant. Luxembourg was therefore grantedits own dynasty with Grand Duke Adolf as itsfirst representative.The guarantees provided by the Treaty of Londondid not however prevent Luxembourg frombeing invaded by German troops in 1914. Theoccupation was restricted to the military sphere.The Luxembourg authorities protested againstthe German invasion, but demonstrated absoluteneutrality towards the warring party. Grand DuchessMarie-Adélaïde and the government remained inpower, which was to have political repercussionsin the aftermath of the First World War.© Christof Weber/SIP9

The interwar periodAfter the departure of the German troops in 1918,representatives of the left wing accused Marie-Adélaïde of having chosen to come to an accommodationwith the occupying power and calledfor the dynasty to be deposed. In January 1919,the sovereign abdicated in favour of her sisterCharlotte.In September 1919, the Luxembourg governmentdecided to organise a two-part referendum bearingboth on the form of state (monarchy or republic)and on the economic direction of the countryfollowing the denunciation of the Zollverein.The population, which was enjoying universalsuffrage for the first time, voted overwhelminglyin favour of monarchy and an economic union withFrance. When France withdrew, the Luxembourggovernment forged an economic union withBelgium in 1921, the Belgo-Luxembourg EconomicUnion (BLEU). Luxembourg adopted the Belgianfranc as the currency of the BLEU, while retaininga limited issue of Luxembourg francs.The economic down-turn of the immediate postwarera was followed by a period of prosperity.However, from 1929, Luxembourg was alsoaffected by the world economic crisis.Luxembourg consolidated its position on aninternational scale in the 1930s, playing an activerole in the work of the League of Nations inGeneva, whilst maintaining its neutral status.The Second World WarOn 10 May 1940, German troops invadedLuxembourg again. Grand Duchess Charlotte andthe Luxembourg government went into exileand joined the Allied powers.The German occupation heralded the end ofLuxembourg’s independence. A German civiladministration was put in place demonstrating theNazi desire to destroy the structures of the stateof Luxembourg and germanise the population.A sustained propaganda campaign attempted towin the allegiance of the people of Luxembourgto the Reich. From 1942, young Luxembourg menwere enlisted into the Wehrmacht. The majorityof the population demonstrated a strong senseof national cohesion and resistance movementsformed, like in other occupied territories. Theoccupying forces responded with a reign of terrorand deportations. During the Second World War,2% of the total population of Luxembourg losttheir lives.After the country was liberated by the Alliedtroops in 1944, the Marshall Plan allowed for amajor modernisation and infrastructure initiative.© Christof Weber/SIPGreater openness to the worldThe Second World War led to a change of directionfor Luxembourg’s foreign policy. As a result offighting alongside the Allies, the country abandonedits neutral stance and took part in building all themultilateral cooperation institutions in the post-warperiod. The Grand Duchy is a founder member ofthe United Nations (UN), Benelux, the Organisationfor European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), theBrussels Pact, the Council of Europe and the NorthAtlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).Luxembourg also played an active role inreconstruction. Luxembourg joined the EuropeanCoal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951 andthe European Economic Community (EEC) in1957. The ECSC heralded a new era of growthand membership of the EEC was the stimulus foreconomic expansion. As the first headquartersof the ECSC, Luxembourg City – along withStrasbourg and Brussels – has played host tomajor Community institutions over the years.© SIP10

At the dawn of the 21st centuryLuxembourg is now well represented on theEuropean and international scene. As a memberof the European Union and the euro area, it ischaracterised by its active advocacy of Europeanintegration. Its international commitment isreflected notably in the field of official developmentassistance, which represents almost 1% of grossnational income (GNI), making the Grand Duchyrank among the five countries spending over 0.7%of GNI on development cooperation.Luxembourg is seen as a model for opennessand a microcosm of Europe with its populationcomprising 42.9% of foreign residents. Thecountry’s small size has enabled it to maintainan image of harmony “on a human scale”.Useful addressesArchives nationales de Luxembourg(National Archives of Luxembourg)Plateau du Saint-EspritL-1475 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-86660archives.nationales@an.etat.luwww.anlux.luUniversité du Luxembourg(University of Luxembourg)Campus WalferdangeUnité de recherche IPSERoute de DiekirchL-7220 WalferdangeTel.: (+352) 46 66 44-9000www.uni.luBibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg(National Library of Luxembourg)37, boulevard F.D. RooseveltL-2450 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 22 97 55-1info@bnl.etat.luwww.bnl.luMusée national d’histoire et d’art(National Museum of History and Art)Marché-aux-PoissonsL-2345 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 47 93 30-1musee@mnha.etat.luwww.mnha.luMusée d’histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg(Luxembourg City History Museum)14, rue du Saint-EspritL-1475 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 47 96-4500musee@vdl.luwww.musee-hist.luCentre virtuel de la connaissance sur l’Europe(Virtual Resource Centre for Knowledge about Europe)Château de SanemL-4992 SanemTel.: (+352) 59 59 20-1cvce@cvce.luwww.cvce.lu11

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgPolitical systemThe Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a sovereign andindependent state since the Treaty of London of19 April 1839, is a parliamentary democracy withinthe framework of a constitutional monarchy, whosecrown is passed down through the Nassau family.As in all parliamentary democracies, the separationof powers is flexible: many links exist between thelegislative and executive powers. Only the judicialpower is totally independent.Legislative powerParliament, government and the Council of Stateare involved in legislative procedure.Parliament (Chamber of Deputies), composed of60 deputies (members) elected every five yearsby universal suffrage, holds sole legislative power.Its main function is to vote on government andparliament bills. Deputies have the right to initiatelegislation by tabling parliament bills.The Grand Duke also has the right to initiate legislation,this is exercised through the government. Thisright to initiate legislation, known as governmentalinitiative, normally takes the form of allowing thegovernment to present bills to Parliament – in whichthe government usually has a majority –, this beingstandard practice. Laws passed by Parliament arepromulgated and published by the Grand Duke.A law comes into force when it has been publishedin the Mémorial (compendium of legislation).The Council of State is a consultative organ composedof 21 councillors appointed and dismissedby the Grand Duke. As the Luxembourg politicalsystem is unicameral, the Council of State exertsthe moderating influence of a second legislativeassembly.In legislative matters, the Council of State isrequired to pronounce on government andparliament bills presented to Parliament prior tovoting by the deputies. Laws are submitted twicefor voting in Parliament, with the second votetaking place three months at the earliest after thefirst vote. If Parliament decides to dispense with© Chambre des députésthe second vote by agreement with the Council ofState, then it can be waived, as is usually the case.In regulatory matters, every draft grand-ducalregulation must be placed before the Council ofState for its consideration, except when theGrand Duke considers the circumstances to bean emergency.The Council of State is also required to pronounceon all amendments to government and parliamentbills and to draft grand-ducal regulations.Before pronouncing, the Council of State mustensure that bills comply with higher-ranking legalrules which are the Constitution, internationalconventions and treaties, as well as the generalrule of law.12

Executive powerExecutive power lies in the hands of the GrandDuke and the members of the government, whosupport him in the exercise of his constitutionalpowers.The Grand Duke is the head of state. His person isinviolable, which means that he cannot be called toaccount: he can neither be charged nor prosecutedin court. The Grand Duke’s irresponsibility has itscorollary in ministerial responsibility. For an actof the Grand Duke to come into force, it must becountersigned by a member of the government whoassumes full responsibility for it. This responsibilityis of a general nature with regards to acts relatingdirectly or indirectly to ministerial functions. It canbe legal, i.e. criminal or civil, as well as political. Inprinciple, any act bearing the signature of the GrandDuke must previously have been submitted to theCouncil of Government for debate.The Constitution gives the Grand Duke the formalright to organise his government freely, i.e. to createministries, divide up ministerial departments andappoint their members. In practice, the Grand Dukebases his choice of informateur (person appointedto lead exploratory talks) and/or formateur (personappointed to form the government), who usuallybecomes prime minister, on the results of the fiveyearlylegislative elections. The formateur presentsthe members of government to the Grand Duke,who appoints them and swears them in. Thenumber of ministerial departments far exceedsthe number of members of the government calledto hold ministerial office, so that one ministerfrequently holds several portfolios.The appointed government presents its politicalprogramme to Parliament, which expresses itsconfidence by a vote of approval. The governmenttherefore has a majority on which it can rely inParliament.The government as a whole and each individualminister are politically answerable to Parliamentfor their actions. The political responsibility ofministers can be sanctioned by loss of post whenParliament withdraws its confidence (motion ofcensure). It is customary for a minister to resignafter the first negative vote of Parliament. TheConstitution gives the Grand Duke the right toremove a member of the government from officeat any time, but in practice a minister or the entiregovernment present their resignation to theGrand Duke through the Prime Minister.Judicial powerThe courts and tribunals are empowered by theConstitution to exercise judicial power and theyfunction independently.In addition to the Constitutional Court, thereare two other levels of jurisdiction: judicial(the Supreme Court of Justice, district courts,magistrates’ courts) and administrative (theAdministrative Court, the Administrative Tribunal).Useful addressesService information et pressedu gouvernement(Information and Press Serviceof the Government)33, boulevard F.D. RooseveltL-2450 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-82181info@sip.etat.luwww.gouvernement.luChambre des députés(Chamber of Deputies)19, rue du Marché-aux-HerbesL-1728 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 46 69 66-1chd@chd.luwww.chd.luConseil d’État(Council of State)5, rue SigefroiL-2536 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 47 30 71info@conseil-etat.public.luwww.conseil-etat.public.luPalais grand-ducal(Grand-Ducal Palace)17, rue du Marché-aux-HerbesL-1728 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 47 48 74- 1service.presse@gdl.etat.luwww.monarchie.luService central de législation(Central Legislative Service)43, boulevard F.D. RooseveltL-2450 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 24 78 29-56SCL@scl.etat.luwww.legilux.luReference websiteswww.etat.luwww.justice.public.lu© SIP/Nicolas Bouvy13

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgNational symbolsNational flagThe first known flag was carried by Count Williamof Luxembourg in 1123. It was barred, i.e. horizontallystriped, probably yellow and red.The current Luxembourg flag is made up ofthree horizontal bands of red, white and sky blue.The Luxembourg flag bears a close resemblanceto the flag of the Netherlands, but the latter hasa distinctive cobalt blue stripe.Most modern tricoloured flags are based to varyingdegrees on the tricolore of the first French Republic.Even the ancient flag of the Netherlands was onlyofficially defined as red, white and blue, influencedby the French example, by the Batavian Republicin 1795.The Luxembourg flag and state coat of arms areprotected by the law on national emblems of23 June 1972. The red of the flag correspondsto Pantone 032 C and the blue is Pantone 299 C(grand-ducal regulation of 27 July 1993).© Christof Weber/SIPNational anthemThe national anthem consists of the first andlast verses of the song Ons Heemecht (our homeland)dating from 1859, with words by the poetMichel Lentz set to music by Jean-Antoine Zinnen.It was played for the first time in public during agrand ceremony in Ettelbruck in 1864.The Luxembourg national anthem is an invitationto peace, unlike the Marseillaise which is a call toarms. The anthem expresses the country’s greatjoy at having achieved independence in 1839,in an atmosphere of peace and prosperity.Anthem of the grand-ducal houseInspired by a trumpet call or cavalry fanfare,of which no written trace exists prior to the16th century, the Wilhelmus is struck up whena member of the grand-ducal family arrivesat or leaves an official ceremony.National dayThe custom of celebrating the anniversary ofthe birth of the sovereign has existed since thelate 18th century. During the long reign of GrandDuchess Charlotte (1919-1964), this celebrationtook place in mid-winter on 23 January, the dateof the sovereign’s birthday.A grand-ducal decree of 23 December 1961 set thedate of the public celebration of the sovereign’sbirthday and therefore the national day as 23 June,largely for climatic reasons. Celebrations begin onthe evening preceding the anniversary.The term “national day” does not feature inlegal texts. It is described as the “day of publiccelebration of the Grand Duke’s birthday”.14

Coat of armsThe origins of the state of Luxembourg’s coat of armsdate back to the Middle Ages. It was establishedin around 1235 by Count Henry V of Luxembourg.From 1123, Count William of Luxembourg bore abarruly banner on his equestrian seal. Most of thedescendants of the first house of Luxembourg havefavoured a barruly field and the descendants ofthe house of Namur a lion.The coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourghas three levels: lesser, middle and greater. It isbarry of ten argent and azure with a lion rampantgules, crowned, armed and langued in gold witha forked tail crossed in saltire.The coat of arms has enjoyed legal protection underthe law on national emblems of 23 June 1972,amended and supplemented by the law of27 July 1993.Useful addressesArchives nationales de Luxembourg(National Archives of Luxembourg)Plateau du Saint-EspritL-1475 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-86660archives.nationales@an.etat.luwww.anlux.luCommission héraldique de l’État(State Heraldry Commission)4, rue de la CongrégationL-1352 Luxembourg© Christof Weber/SIP15

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgEconomyLuxembourg owes its prosperity to the discoveryof iron ore in the south of the country in the1840s. This discovery gave its name to a wholeregion, Minett (from “minette”, the designation foriron ore in the Lorraine), and marked the transitionfrom an agrarian to an industrial state.IndustryThe early days of industry in Luxembourg, datingback to the middle of the 19th century, are dominatedby steel production. This predominancelasted until the oil crisis of 1973 which transformedLuxembourg’s industry and promoted a serviceeconomy with the growth of the tertiary sector.In 2002, ARBED (Aciéries réunies de Burbach, Eich,Dudelange – United Steelworks of Burbach, Eich,Dudelange) merged with two other steel companies,Usinor and Aceralia, to form Arcelor, the worldleader in steel production. Arcelor merged withMittal Steel in 2006 creating the ArcelorMittal group,the world number one steel producer.Industrial diversification is a permanent economicpolicy objective. It has promoted the emergenceof other industrial sectors, such as the materialsindustries (DuPont de Nemours, Guardian Glass)and the automotive components industry(Goodyear, Delphi).Financial centreAlthough originally specialising in activities linkedto the Euroloan market in the 1960s and 1970s,the financial marketplace developed as a privatebanking centre and from the 1980s onwardsas a domiciliation and management centre forinvestment funds. Its success is largely based onthe country’s great political and social stability, aswell as a modern legal and regulatory frameworkwhich is permanently adjusting to changes inthe markets through constant dialogue betweenthe government, the legislative body and theprivate sector.This modern legislative and regulatory frameworkand Luxembourg’s openness to the world haveproved attractive to banks, insurance companies,investment fund promoters and specialist serviceproviders from all over the world.Monitored by effective and proactive supervisoryauthorities, the financial marketplace has developeda strong culture of investor protection and appliesstrict regulations in the fight against capitallaundering. Specialist multicultural and multilingualteams have substantial financial expertise and anin-depth knowledge of international client needs.Luxembourg’s financial centre is the second largestinvestment fund centre in the world after theUnited States, the leading captive reinsurancemarket in the European Union and the premierprivate banking sector in the euro area.Digital economy, media andaudiovisual productionLuxembourg has always played a pioneering roleon the European media scene. Two media andcommunications giants were born in Luxembourgand continue to expand from the Grand Duchy:RTL Group, the leading European television andradio broadcaster, and SES, the world’s leadingcommunication and broadcasting services provider,thanks to its fleet of over 40 satellites.Latterly, many other companies active in theconvergent fields of media as well as informationand communications technologies (ICT) havesettled around these twin pillars in Luxembourg.Government efforts to diversify in this sectorhave resulted in excellent connectivity with majorEuropean centres, the establishment of very highleveldata centres and a regulatory environmentwhich is favourable to the digital economy with,amongst other things, an attractive framework forintellectual property management and domainnames. Luxembourg also boasts one of the highestnumber of IT specialists in the world. Furthermore,information security and high-performance16

telecommunications networks are a research anddevelopment priority for the government.In this context, not just a large number of smalland medium-sized enterprises (SME), but alsomultinational names in the digital economy suchas Amazon.com, eBay, PayPal, iTunes, Skype orVodafone have established themselves in theGrand Duchy. They confirm Luxembourg’s positionas a hub for companies operating in data processing,e-commerce and the communicationssector in general.The audiovisual production field has also benefittedfrom the government’s proactive policywith the adoption at the beginning of the 1990sof several public aid schemes aimed at stimulatingits development.aid schemes and measures to finance R&Dprojects and programmes in the experimentalfield, industrial and basic research.In 2008, the government made a substantialinvestment of some 140 million euros in thedevelopment of the health technologies sectorto promote economic diversification in a fastgrowingleading-edge sector.Furthermore, the government is promoting thegrowth of environmental technologies with theaim of reviewing all activities producing goodsand services in the light of sustainable economicdevelopment.Useful addressesMinistère de l’Économieet du Commerce extérieur(Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade)19-21, boulevard RoyalL-2449 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 2478-2478info@eco.public.luwww.eco.public.luMinistère des Finances(Ministry of Finance)3, rue de la CongrégationL-1352 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 2478-2478Ministere-Finances@fi.etat.luwww.mf.public.luLogisticsLuxembourg’s geographic location – at the heartof the European markets and half-way betweenthe major European freight ports as Antwerp andRotterdam – makes it an ideal hub for logisticsrelatedactivity.Luxembourg’s international airport lies in fifth placein the European freight league. Moreover, Cargoluxis the largest European air freight business inEurope. Freight operations are not merely limitedto simply transporting goods, but the aim is tooffer a value-added service (packaging, handling,dispatching and invoicing of goods).Research and innovationIn recent years, the government has madesubstantial investment in research, establishinga whole series of direct and indirect instrumentsto promote this sector.A legal framework for promoting research, deve l-opment and innovation was created in June 2009to stimulate the research capa bility of companiesas well as private and public research organisations.The instruments put in place provide for research© Communautés européennesMinistère des Classes moyenneset du Tourisme(Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Businessesand Tourism)6, boulevard RoyalL-2449 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-84715info@mcm.public.luwww.mcm.public.luLuxembourg for Business19-21, boulevard RoyalL-2449 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-84116info@luxembourgforbusiness.luwww.luxembourgforbusiness.luLuxembourg for Finance59, boulevard RoyalL-2449 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 27 20 21-1lff@lff.luwww.lff.luLuxembourg for ICTMaison Cassal5, rue LargeL-1917 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-82167info@luxembourgforict.luwww.luxembourgforict.luReference websitewww.guichet.lu17

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgPopulationLuxembourg has experienced strong populationgrowth since industrialisation began in around 1870.This can largely be explained by steady immigrationsince the late 19th century. In 1910, Luxembourgrecorded 260,000 inhabitants; in January 2010, thepopulation had risen to 502,066, nearly doublingin the space of a century.However this growth has not been regular and canbe divided into four major periods: a decline in thefirst four decades of the 20th century, a moderatebaby boom in the 1950s and 1960s, a very rapiddecline in the 1970s and an upsurge in growth sincethe 1990s due to an increase in the birth rate, linkednotably to a rise in immigration.A plural societyUntil the First World War, there was a distincttrend in the country towards overseas emigration,particularly for economic reasons. However theposition was reversed and Luxembourg graduallychanged to a destination for immigration afterthe industrialisation of the late 19th century.This first wave of immigrants was followedby others in the 1960s and 1970s, a proactiveimmigration policy attracting a huge number ofItalian and Portuguese immigrants to the steeland construction industries.Nearly half of the country’s population currentlyconsists of non-Luxembourg citizens. There are215,550 foreign residents, i.e. 42.9% of the totalpopulation, with approximately 86% of foreignresidents coming from the 27 member states of theEuropean Union. The main communities representedare the Portuguese (37%) and French (14%),followed by Italians (9%) and Belgians (8%), withover 160 nationalities present in Luxembourg.Structural changes in society• Population and demographicsLuxembourg’s population is increasing steadily.In 2009, the birth rate was 1.59 children perwoman and the average age of mothers givingbirth was 31.2 years. The total number of birthsrose to 5,638 with slight fluctuations since 2000.Births to foreign residents have accounted formore than 50% of total births in Luxembourgsince 2003.At the beginning of 2010, the average ageof people living in Luxembourg was 39 years.29.6% of the population of the Grand Duchyis composed of young people under the age of25, with people in the 25-64 age bracketrepresenting 56.4% and individuals aged 65and over accounting for 13.9%.© Christof Weber/SIP18

• Population and employmentThere has been a steady growth in employmentin the second half of the 20th century. Overthe last decade, the number of cross-bordercommuters from France, Belgium and Germanhas doubled to nearly 145,000 people in 2009.Foreign residents and cross-border commutersrepresent 71% of the salaried population ofLuxembourg.Female employment has increased significantlysince 1995 and stood at 61.3% in 2009.Luxembourg nationalityThe law of 23 October 2008 on Luxembourgnationality came into force on 1 January 2009.The aim of the reform was to adapt the legislationregarding nationality to changes in society.Luxembourg nationality can be acquired by birth,full or simple adoption, or naturalisation. It conferson a foreign resident all the civil and politicalrights which come with Luxembourg citizenship.A person seeking naturalisation must fulfil thefollowing conditions:• have reached 18 years of age at the timethe application is submitted;• have held a Luxembourg residence permitfor at least 7 consecutive years immediatelypreceding the application and have actuallyresided in the country for the same period;• demonstrate a sufficient active and passiveknowledge of at least one of the threeadministrative languages of Luxembourg(French, German, Lëtzebuergesch) and havesuccessfully passed an evaluation test in spokenLëtzebuergesch (unless they have completedat least 7 years of schooling in Luxembourgor hold a Luxembourg residence permit issuedbefore 31 December 1984 and have residedin the country at least since this date);• have attended at least three civic instructionsessions (unless they have completed at least7 years of education in Luxembourg or holda Luxembourg residence permit issued before31 December 1984 and have resided in thecountry at least since this date);• meet the requirements of good repute.The main change consists in a broadening ofthe concept of dual nationality. An applicantfor Luxembourg nationality is no longer requiredto relinquish their original nationality. MoreoverLuxembourg nationality is not lost when a foreignnationality is voluntarily acquired.The law also makes provision for loss, forfei ture,reacquisition, proof and renunciation of Luxembourgnationality.Useful addressesMinistère de la Justice(Ministry of Justice)Centre administratif Pierre Werner13, rue ÉrasmeL-1468 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-84537info@mj.public.luwww.mj.public.luService central de la statistiqueet des études économiques (Statec)(Central Service for Statistics and Economic Studies)Centre administratif Pierre Werner13, rue ÉrasmeL-1468 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-84219info@statec.etat.luwww.statistiques.lu19

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgLanguagesThe linguistic situation in Luxembourg is characterisedby the use and recognition of three main languages:Lëtzebuergesch, French and German.HistoryMultilingualism in Luxembourg is rooted in thehistorical coexistence of the Romance and Germanicethnic groups.In the 14th century, the territory was made up oftwo parts: Walloon was spoken in the French area,whereas the Lëtzebuergesch dialect was usedin the German area. French and German of thattime were written and administrative languages.Although Luxembourg City was located in theGerman-speaking area, it was the exception tothe rule as French was the norm.After the use of German had declined underFrench occupation in the 17th century, the returnof French troops in the late 18th century promotedthe use of French to the extent that it permeatedlocal administration in the German-speaking area.The Napoleonic Code (French civil code) wasintroduced in 1804, and its influence has lasteduntil the present day as French has remained theexclusive language of legislation.Grand-ducal decrees of 1830, 1832 and 1834established the right to freedom of choicebetween German and French. French was givenclear preference over German in the administrativedomain as it was the language of the notablefigures. German, by contrast, was used as thewritten language in the political sphere to commenton laws and ordinances so that these textscould be understood by all. Primary school teachingwas restricted to German, while French wasadded in secondary education.After the Treaty of London of 1839 and thedismemberment of the Grand Duchy, the territoryof the new independent state lay entirelywithin the German-speaking zone. However,the Luxembourg notable figures managed toimpose French as the language of administration,© SIPjustice and political life. The law of 26 July 1843introduced French teaching in primary schoolsand French became a compulsory subject, on apar with German. German-French bilingualismwas enshrined in the Constitution of 1848, whichstipulated that people were free to choosebetween German and French.Throughout the 19th century, alongside Frenchand German, the people of Luxembourg spoke aMoselle-Franconian dialect in everyday life knownuntil the end of the century as LëtzebuergerDäitsch (Luxembourg German). As a sense ofnational identity developed, Lëtzebuergescheventually became the mother tongue of Luxembourgpeople. It was introduced as a taughtsubject in primary schools in 1912. Luxembourg20

© SIPnationals demonstrated their attachment to theirlanguage in particular during the Second WorldWar when Lëtzebuergesch became the languageof resistance and national cohesion in the faceof compulsory germanisation at the hands of theGerman occupying power.Current situationThe law of 24 February 1984 on language policyfinally officially established the linguistic statusof Lëtzebuergesch for the first time, enshriningit as the national language. Lëtzebuergeschbecame an administrative and judicial languagealongside French and German, bringing it into theadministrative domain for the first time.In 1989, Lëtzebuergesch was recognised by theEuropean Lingua programme – an initiative topromote language teaching and learning – thusconfirming its sociocultural importance.The creation of the Conseil permanent de lalangue luxembourgeoise (Permanent Councilof the Luxembourg Language) and the spellingreform of 1999 helped to meet the growing needfor works on Lëtzebuergesch (school textbooks,grammars, dictionaries).The new law of 23 October 2008 on Luxembourgnationality, which came into force on 1 January2009, marks another important stage in so faras it includes an adequate active and passiveknowledge of Lëtzebuergesch among the prerequisitesfor acquiring Luxembourg nationality,thus recognising it as a factor in integration.Lëtzebuergesch was also promoted in the lawof 22 May 2009, with the creation of the roleof teacher of Lëtzebuergesch and the “ZertifikatLëtzebuerger Sprooch a Kultur” (certificate inLëtzebuergesch language and culture). Thisprovides accreditation for speaking and teachingLëtzebuergesch, as well as for knowledge ofLuxembourg civilisation and culture. Since theacademic year 2009/2010, the University ofLuxembourg has offered a “master en langues,cultures et médias – Lëtzebuerger Studien”(master’s degree in languages, cultures and media– Luxembourg studies), which means that thelanguage, literature and culture of Luxembourgcan be studied at university for the first time.Although historic bilingualism has beentransformed into multilingualism following thevarious waves of immigration and despite thepresence of a community of foreign residentsrepresenting almost half of the population today,nobody would dare attempt to suppress Frenchand German. The importance of these twolanguages is not purely political, but representsa national identity born of the coexistence ofthe Romance and Germanic worlds. By retainingFrench and German, Luxembourg remains thesymbol of a meeting ground between Romanceand Germanic as well as many other contemporarycultures. Recognition of Lëtzebuergeschreinforces and enriches the traditional bilingualism.© SIP21

The sociopolitical dimensionof multilingualismMultilingualism has deep roots in the everyday lifeof the country and permeates every level of society.PoliticsIn Parliament (Chamber of Deputies), a languageof use is not formally decreed, so deputies canchoose which language to use. Regular debatestake place in Lëtzebuergesch, while questions togovernment are usually asked in French. The latteris also used on rare occasions when ministersmake major declarations. Legislation is framedexclusively in French.© SIPAdministrationAccording to the provisions of the law of 1984,“French, German or Lëtzebuergesch may be used”in administrative and judicial matters. Citizens canmake administrative requests in any of the threelanguages and civil servants must attempt “in sofar possible” to respond in the same languageused by the applicant. French is favoured as thedaily written working language of administrationand Lëtzebuergesch as the spoken language forwork and communication.22TeachingLanguages occupy an important place in theLuxembourg education system. German is taughtin the first year of the second learning cycle offundamental education and French is introducedinto the syllabus in the following year. The linguafranca in fundamental education and the firstyears of secondary education as well as secondarytechnical education is German. In secondaryeducation, by contrast, French is the main languagefrom the fourth year of study onwards.English is added during secondary education andtechnical secondary education, with students insecondary education also having a choice of Latin,Spanish or Italian.Language learning over the entire school careeraccounts for 50% of the curriculum.MediaGerman has always been the language of choiceof the printed press, although French has madeup ground in traditional dailies and certain weeklynewspapers. By contrast, articles in Lëtzebuergeschare still the exception.Various publications – dailies, weeklies andperiodicals – targeted at foreign communities livingin Luxembourg or cross-border commuters haveappeared in the last few decades. They are printedexclusively in Portuguese, French or English.Lëtzebuergesch is the dominant language onthe airwaves of national and local radio stations,with the place occupied by other languages(mainly French and English) varying accordingto schedules or the target audience (Portuguese,Spanish or Italian).Although the single national television channelbroadcasts exclusively in Lëtzebuergesch, theTV news bulletin is subtitled in French or German.A five-minute news summary has also beenavailable in French since autumn 2008.CultureThe different languages all have their part to playin Luxembourg’s cultural scene, although theirimportance varies depending on the artistic genre.Although literary output and publications inLëtzebuergesch are currently experiencing anunprecedented upsurge, a large number of worksare written in French and German, dependingon the author’s affinity with one language orthe other. Bookshops and libraries mainly supplypublications in French and German, but also inEnglish, or even in other languages. Moreover,some bookshops stock exclusively French, German,English, Italian or Portuguese titles.Plays are performed in Lëtzebuergesch, but also inFrench, German or English, either by Luxembourgtheatre companies or by major companies fromGermany, France and Belgium.Foreign films at the cinema are always screenedin the original version with French and Dutch oreven German subtitles.Professional and social lifePublic life would be unthinkable without thecoexistence and even the simultaneous useof several languages, with variations accordingto location and activity.© SIP/Charles Caratini

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgEducationThe Luxembourg Constitution confers on the statethe right to organise and regulate the educationsystem. The majority of schools are thereforestate-controlled and free. However, there are stilla few fee-paying private schools which followthe same curriculum and prepare students for thesame qualifications. In addition to state and privateschools, there are some fee-paying foreign schoolswhich offer a different curriculum and thereforedo not award the same qualifications.Education systemFundamental educationThe law of 6 February 2009 which came into forcein September 2009 covers the first nine years ofschooling in four learning cycles under the heading“fundamental education”.• The first cycle consists of an optional year of earlychildhood education and two years of compulsorypreschool education.Early childhood education is aimed at childrenaged 3. It is designed to improve children’s socialskills and to teach them Lëtzebuergesch as thelanguage of communication for all children,irrespective of their nationality.Preschool education is compulsory for childrenwho have reached their 4th birthday by1 September of the current year.• The third, fourth and fifth cycles constitute primaryeducation, with each cycle lasting two years.Primary education is for all children who havereached the age of 6 by 1 September of thecurrent year.Post-primary educationPost-primary education lasts six or seven years,depending on the course followed. It consists oftwo types of education: secondary education,which prepares students primarily for universityentrance, and secondary technical education,which offers a more vocational qualification, butcan also provide access to higher education.Higher education and universityHigher education is provided by three technicalsecondary schools offering three main areasof training: business and management, the artsand the health sector. This training comprisesa variety of courses and specialist studies leadingto a vocational training certificate (BTS – brevetde technicien supérieur) after three years of study.University education has been offered by theUniversity of Luxembourg since the academic year2003/2004. Teaching and research is divided intofaculties and interdisciplinary centres bringingtogether cross-cutting and interdisciplinary themesin teaching and research.The complete university education cycle consistsof three levels of study, each leading to a differentqualification. The first level leads to the award of abachelor’s degree, the second to a master’s degreeand the third to a PhD.© Christof Weber/SIP24

One of the university’s missions is to ensure thenecessary link between teaching and research. Ittherefore fosters basic, applied and technologicalresearch. Research is implemented throughprojects conducted by virtue of agreements madewith institutions, organisations, companies andnational or international research establishments.Language learningTeachers speak Lëtzebuergesch to their pupilsmainly in the first cycle of fundamental education.The aim is to develop all children’s linguistic ability,especially young foreign residents, as school isoften the first place where they come into contactwith this language.Language teaching plays an important role throughouta child’s school education. From the age of 6in the first year of the second cycle, children aretaught to read and write in German, which remainsthe lingua franca for all subjects during funda mentaleducation except for French. French is taughtfrom the second year of the second cycle.During the first three years of post-primaryeducation, all subjects are studied in German, withthe exception of French and maths. Whereas insecondary education, French becomes the linguafranca for all subjects except languages from thefourth year onwards, German remains the dominantlanguage for technical education. English is taughtmore intensively in secondary education from thethird year onwards, in addition to other languageoptions (Latin, Spanish or Italian). Lëtzebuergesch istaught one hour per week in secondary education,but only in the early years.In the small number of foreign schools – French,British and international – which exist in Luxembourg,French and English are the main languages, althoughsome time is devoted to the study of German andeven Lëtzebuergesch.The University of Luxembourg is also a multilingualinstitution. The law of 12 August 2003 concerningits foundation specifies the “multilingual nature ofits teaching”. The university’s languages are French,English and German. Multilingualism enablesLuxembourg students to attend universities abroad,in German, French or English-speaking countries.© Christof Weber/SIPUseful addressesMinistère de l’Éducation nationaleet de la Formation professionnelle(Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training)29, rue AldringenL-1118 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-85100info@men.public.luwww.men.luMinistère de l’Enseignement supérieuret de la Recherche(Ministry of Higher Education and Research)18, montée de la PétrusseL-2327 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-86619www.mcesr.public.luUniversité du Luxembourg(University of Luxembourg)162A, avenue de la FaïencerieL-1511 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 46 66 44-6000www.uni.lu25

Everything you need to know about the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgCultureThe distinctive feature of culture in Luxembourgis its ability to surprise visitors to the countrywith the wealth of opportunities available, itsmulticulturalism and multilingualism. Visitors willfind themselves swept up in the cultural whirlwindwhich is part of daily life and also a characteristicof the rapid and continuous evolution of theLuxembourg cultural scene.Contemporary culture with a historyAlthough Luxembourg has been influenced sincethe Middle Ages by the major cultures of Franceand Germany on account of its history andgeography, the indigenous cultural scene hassuccessfully retained its own specific identity,a “personal touch” combining past and present.Luxembourg’s culture won a great deal ofinternational recognition during the country’spreparations for 1995, when Luxembourg City– which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Sitesince 1994 – was named the European Capitalof Culture for the first time. As the only cityto date to have been awarded this title a secondtime, “Luxembourg and the Greater Region,European Capital of Culture 2007” innovatedby joining forces with the border regions ofneighbouring countries.Many prestigious and fascinating buildings wereunveiled or renovated in the build-up to or inthe wake of 1995: the Philharmonie designedby the architect Christian de Portzamparc, theThéâtre national du Luxembourg, the Musée d’artmoderne Grand-Duc Jean built by Ieoh Ming Pei,the Centre culturel de rencontre Abbaye deNeumünster, the Grand Théâtre de la Ville deLuxembourg, the Rotondes, the Kulturfabrik inEsch-sur-Alzette, the Trifolion in Echternach, theCentre des arts pluriels Ed. Juncker in Ettelbruck,the Rockhal – Centre de musiques amplifiées inEsch-Belval, the Centre national de l’audiovisuelin Dudelange, etc.A culture of many culturesLocated at the heart of Europe and home toover 160 nationalities, Luxembourg is a culturalcrossroads. Respect, tolerance and opennessare distinctive features of Luxembourg culture,which is a multicultural environment presentingan abundance of opportunities with the addedunique feature of using several languages.© Christof Weber/SIP26

Culture at the heart of daily lifeDespite its small size, Luxembourg boasts animpressive number of cultural venues and sites,since culture forms an integral part of everybody’sdaily life, either as a consumer or stakeholder.Popular culture is also very widespread. Likeartistic and creative potential, particularly amongtalented young people, the Luxembourg culturalscene receives support and substantial statefunding and deserves greater recognition beyondnational borders. This is especially true sincecooperation and partnerships with other countriesare commonplace, affirming the many and variedcultural opportunities available.(Author: Ministry of Culture)Useful addressesMinistère de la Culture(Ministry of Culture)18, montée de la PétrusseL-2327 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-86600info@mc.public.luwww.mcesr.public.luReference websitesArts and culture, museumshttp://culture.luxembourg.public.luwww.statermuseeen.luwww.musee.luLiteraturewww.bnl.luwww.cnl.luTheatrewww.theatre.luDancewww.danse.lu© Jörg HejkalMusicwww.philharmonie.luwww.rockhal.luwww.ugda.luArchitecture, cultural heritagewww.fondarch.luwww.anlux.luwww.ssmn.public.luAudiovisual, photographywww.cna.public.luwww.filmfund.luGreater Regionwww.espaceculturelgr.euwww.plurio.org27

Service information et presse33, bd RooseveltL-2450 LuxembourgTel.: (+352) 247-82181Fax: (+352) 47 02 85edition@sip.etat.luwww.gouvernement.lu