Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a small landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Its capital Luxembourg City is one of the four institutional seats of the European Union and several EU institutions, notably the Court of Justice of the European Union, the highest judicial authority. Luxembourgish, a Germanic language, is the only national language of the country, French is the only language for legislation, and all three – Luxembourgish, German and French – are used for administrative matters in the country. Luxembourg frequently ranks among the top 3 nations in the world with highest per capita income (#1 in 2024).
With an area of 2,586 square kilometers (998 sq mi), Luxembourg is Europe’s seventh-smallest country. In 2024, it had a population of 672,050, which makes it one of the least-populated countries in Europe. Luxembourg is a representative democracy headed by a constitutional monarch, Grand Duke Henri, making it the world’s only remaining sovereign grand duchy.
The County of Luxembourg was established in the 11th century, as a state within the Holy Roman Empire. Its ascension culminated in its monarch, Henry VII, becoming the Holy Roman Emperor in the 14th century. Luxembourg came under Habsburg rule in the 15th century, and was annexed by France in the 18th century. Luxembourg was partitioned three times, reducing its size. Having been restored in 1815 after the defeat of Napoleon, it regained independence in 1867 after the Luxembourg Crisis.
Luxembourg City, because of its location and natural geography, has through history been a place of strategic military significance. The first fortifications were built as early as the 10th century. By the end of the 12th century, as Luxembourg city expanded westward around the new St. Nicholas Church (today the Cathedral of Notre Dame), new walls were built that included an area of 5 hectares (12 acres). In about 1340, under the reign of John the Blind, new fortifications were built. The 1867 Treaty of London required Luxembourg to dismantle the fortifications in Luxembourg City. In 1890 the City regained some of the importance that it had lost in 1867 by becoming the capital of a fully independent state. After two World Wars that resulted in occupation by Germany during the war periods, Luxembourg ended its neutrality, and became a founding member of several inter-governmental and supra-governmental institutions.
Watch the video clip below for a brief look at the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City.