Luxembourg (city)

The city of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerg, German: Luxemburg), commonly known as Luxembourg City, is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Located at the conjunction of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers, it is a banking and administrative centre. Luxembourg City is sometimes thought of as the centre of Western Europe.

As of 2005, the commune of Luxembourg City has a population of 76,420. The city's metropolitan population, which also includes four surrounding communes, is 103,973.

Luxembourg City is 360 km (223 miles) from Amsterdam, 332 km (206 miles) from Paris, and 396 km (246 miles) from Zürich. The city is located at ^*.

History

In the Roman era, a fortified tower guarded the crossing of two Roman roads that met at the site of Luxembourg city. Through an exchange treaty with the abbey of St. Maximin in Trier in 963, Sigfrid I of the Ardennes, a close relative of King Louis II of France and Emperor Otto I the Great of the Holy Roman Empire, acquired the feudal lands of Luxembourg. Sigfrid built his castle, named Lucilinburhuc ("small castle"), on the Bock, mentioned for the first time in the aforementioned exchange treaty.

In 987, the Archbishop of Trier, Egbert (977-993), blessed five altars in the Church of the Redemption (today St. Michael's Church). At a Roman road intersection near the church, a marketplace appeared around which the city developed.

Fortifications

The city, for reasons 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 the city expanded westward around the new St. Nicholas Church (today the cathedral of Notre Dame), new walls were built that included an area of 50,000 m².

In about 1340, under the reign of John the Blind, new fortifications were built that stood until the dismantlement of 1867, when the Duchy of Luxembourg attained independence and asserted neutrality. This neutrality was disregarded by Germany on the occasions of both World War I and World War II when Luxembourg was invaded. In 1952 the city became the headquarters of the European Coal and Steel Community.

In 1443, the Burgundians under Philip the Good conquered Luxembourg. Luxembourg becomes part of the Burgundian, and later Spanish and Austrian empires. By the 16th century, Luxembourg was one of the strongest fortifications in Europe. Subsequently, the Burgundians, the Spanish, the French, the Spanish again, the Austrians, the French again, and the Prussians conquered Luxembourg. The Austrians, who occupied Luxembourg from 1715 to 1795, further expanded the fortifications to withstand a possible French assault.

In the 17th century, the first casemates were built: 23 km of galleries and rooms. They served as storage places for artillery, shelters from enemy fire and allowed the movement of troops between the inner and outer fortifications.

Places of interest

Places of interest include the neogothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, the fortifications, the Grand Ducal Palace, the Gëlle Fra war memorial, the casemates, the Neumünster Abbey, the Place d'Armes, the Adolphe Bridge and the city hall. The city is the home of the University of Luxembourg and Radio Luxembourg.

Luxembourg City is also the seat of several institutions of the European Union, including the European Court of Justice, the secretary general of the European Parliament, the European Court of Auditors and the European Investment Bank, the preponderance of which are located in the area of the city known as Kirchberg.

The World War II Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial is located within the city limits of Luxembourg. This cemetery is the final resting place of 5,076 American military dead, including General George S. Patton. There is also a memorial to 371 Americans whose remains were never recovered or identified.

General Information

The capital occupies a dramatic and picturesque site on a high point above precipitous cliffs that drop to the narrow valleys of the Alzette and Petrusse rivers. The 70 m (230-foot) deep gorge cut by the Alzette, spanned by bridges and viaducts, adds to the charm of the city. Although the original fortress over which Luxembourg City is built on was demolished in 1867, some of the defensive fortifications remain intact. As a result, there are superb viewpoints over the city and the opportunity to visit the casemates hewn into the rock. Though Luxembourg City is not particularly large, its layout is complex, as the city is set on several levels.

Despite progressive urbanization, the capital still retains a certain tranquility. There are numerous shops selling international goods, bistros, and restaurants with numerous specialties from all over the world. Luxembourg City is a cosmopolitan European capital with much in the way of evening entertainment, especially in the warmer months. The combination of multilingual cultural events, the central location, space for offices and businesses, as well as excellent transport links, make Luxembourg a capital city of renown in Europe.

Photos of Luxembourg City

Image:Luxembourg_City_1.JPG|Looking down into the valley Image:Luxembourg_City_2.JPG|Looking up from the valley

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Luxembourg (city)

History

Fortifications

Places of interest

General Information

Photos of Luxembourg City

See also