NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Luxembourg

Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg, French: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, German: Großherzogtum Luxemburg), also spelled Luxemburg, is a small landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. Luxembourg has a population of under half a million people in an area of approximately 2,586 square kilometres (999 sq mi).^[1] Luxembourg (in some contexts spelled Luxemburg) is a European geographical name with various derived uses. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Luxembourg. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2300x2117, 1696 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Luxembourg Gallery of sovereign state coats of arms Barroso Commission Coat of arms of Luxembourg User:Spanish Inquisition... Flag ratio: 3:5 or 1:2 The flag of Luxembourg consists of three horizontal stripes, red, white and blue, and can be in 1:2 or 3:5 ratio. ... The coat of arms of Luxembourg is probably an adaptation of the coat of arms of the Province of Limburg in Belgium. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... Mir wÃ«lle bleiwe wat mir sinn, Luxembourgish for We wish to remain what we are, is the national motto of Luxembourg. ... Luxembourgish (Luxembourgish: , French: , German: , Walloon: ), also spelled Luxemburgish, is a West Germanic language spoken in Luxembourg. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Ons HÃ©mÃ©cht is the national anthem of Luxembourg. ... A royal anthem is a patriotic song, much like a national anthem that recognizes the nations monarch. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 721 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2056 Ã— 1710 pixel, file size: 177 KB, MIME type: image/png) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Population: 448,569 (July 2002 est. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Luxembourgish (Luxembourgish: , French: , German: , Walloon: ), also spelled Luxemburgish, is a West Germanic language spoken in Luxembourg. ... Look up De jure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in red and orangeâ€”the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ... A grand duchy is a territory whose head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. ... Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy whose Head of State is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (or Grand Duchess of Luxembourg in the exceptional but twice occurred event of the sovereign being female). ... Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (given names: Henri Albert Gabriel FÃ©lix Marie Guillaume; born at Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg, 16 April 1955) is the head of state of Luxembourg. ... The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg (House of Nassau-Weilburg) consists of the extended family of the sovereign Grand Duke. ... See also: Politics of Luxembourg, List of Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, Lists of incumbents Categories: Lists of office-holders ... Jean-Claude Juncker Jean-Claude Juncker (born December 9, 1954) is the Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Luxembourg, and until July 1, 2005, was president of the European Council, a position he also previously held in 1997. ... The head of government in Luxembourg is known as the President of the Government. ... Map of the First French Empire in 1811, with the Empire in dark blue and satellite states in light blue Capital Paris Language(s) French Government Constitutional Monarchy Emperor - 1804 - 1814/1815 Napoleon I - 1814/1815 Napoleon II Legislature Parliament - Upper house Senate - Lower house Corps lÃ©gislatif Historical era... The Treaty of Paris of 1815 was signed on November 20, 1815, following the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June. ... is the 160th day of the year (161st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 5-12: Mount Tambora explodes, changing climate. ... The Treaty of London, also called the Convention of 1839, was signed on April 19, 1839. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Treaty of London (French: TraitÃ© de Londres), often called the Second Treaty of London after the 1839 Treaty, was an international treaty signed on 11 May 1867. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... It has been suggested that Dynastic union be merged into this article or section. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... Austria Poland Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Rep. ... is the 84th day of the year (85th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 1,000 kmÂ² and 10,000 kmÂ². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/kmÂ². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... World map of GDP (Nominal and PPP). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Map of countries by 2006 GDP (nominal) per capita (IMF, October 2007). ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... The euro (€; ISO 4217 code EUR) is the currency of twelve of the twenty-five nations that form the European Union (and four outside it, as well as Montenegro and Kosovo), which form the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries that do not observe summer time Central European Time (CET) is one of the names of the time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries that do not observe summer time Central European Summer Time (CEST) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .lu is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Luxembourg. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... Luxembourg uses a closed dialing plan: all numbers are dialed in the same format whether from within the country or from abroad. ... William the Silent (William I) leader and icon of the Dutch revolt Het Wilhelmus ( (helpÂ· info)) (English translation: The William, viz. ... The franc was the currency of Luxembourg from 1854 until 2002. ... Luxembourgish (Luxembourgish: , French: , German: , Walloon: ), also spelled Luxemburgish, is a West Germanic language spoken in Luxembourg. ... A landlocked country is one that has no coastline. ... A current understanding of Western Europe. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol kmÂ², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ...

Luxembourg is a parliamentary representative democracy with a constitutional monarchy, ruled by a Grand Duke. It is the world's only remaining sovereign Grand Duchy. The country has a highly developed economy, with the highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in the world (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency 2007). Its historic and strategic importance dates back to its founding as a Roman era fortress site and Frankish count's castle site in the Early Middle Ages. It was an important bastion along the Spanish road when Spain was the principal European power influencing the whole western hemisphere and beyond in the 14th–17th centuries. A parliamentarian is a specialist in parliamentary procedure. ... Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: A constitutional monarchy or limited monarchy is a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of state, as opposed to an absolute monarchy, where the monarch is not... The title of Grand Duke (Latin, Magnus Dux; German, Großherzog, Russian, Великий князь) used in Slavic, Baltic, and Germanic countries, is ranked in honour below King but higher than a sovereign Duke (Herzog) or Prince (Fürst). ... A grand duchy is a territory whose head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. ... Map of countries by 2006 GDP (nominal) per capita (IMF, October 2007). ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... For the fortification of food, see Food fortification. ... The Frankish Empire or Frankish realm, often just Francia or Frankia, was the territory of the Franks from the 5th to the 10th century. ... A county is generally a sub-unit of regional self-government within a sovereign jurisdiction. ... For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ... Justinians wife Theodora and her retinue, in a 6th century mosaic from the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. ... The Spanish road was an important land and trade route connecting the Hapsburgs possessions in the Low Countries through the Germanies via Thuringia across the Hartz mountains in the Thuringerwald, through the lower Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz), in the ancient territory of Franconia through the Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz), in... International Power plc is a leading independent electricity generating company with 16,642 MW (net) in operation and 1,729 MW (net) under construction. ...

Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, Benelux, and the Western European Union, reflecting the political consensus in favour of economic, political, and military integration. The city of Luxembourg, the capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the European Union. This article is about the military alliance. ... UN redirects here. ... Location of Benelux in Europe Official languages Dutch and French Membership Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Website http://www. ... â€¢ â€¢ â€¢ Membership 10 member states 6 associate member states 5 observer countries 7 associate partner countries Establishment Treaty of Brussels - Signed 17 March 1948 The Western European Union (WEU) is a partially dormant European defence and security organization, established on the basis of the Treaty of Brussels of 1948 with the... Economic integration is a term used to describe how different aspects between economies are integrated. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ...

Luxembourg lies on the cultural divide between Romance Europe and Germanic Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions. Luxembourg is a trilingual country; French, German, and Luxembourgish are official languages. Although a secular state, Luxembourg is predominantly Roman Catholic. The Romance languages, also called Romanic languages, are a subfamily of the Italic languages, specifically the descendants of the Vulgar Latin dialects spoken by the common people evolving in different areas after the break-up of the Roman Empire. ... A multilingual person or a polyglot is someone with a high degree of proficiency in several languages. ... Luxembourgish (Luxembourgish: , French: , German: , Walloon: ), also spelled Luxemburgish, is a West Germanic language spoken in Luxembourg. ... An official language is a language that is given a unique status in the constitutions of countries, states, and other territories. ... It has been suggested that LaÃ¯citÃ© be merged into this article or section. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ...

1 History
2 Government and politics
3 Military
4 Districts, cantons, and communes
- 4.1 Districts
5 Geography and climate
6 Demographics
7 Economy
8 Culture
- 8.1 Media
9 See also
10 References
- 10.1 Footnotes
11 External links

History

For the pre-Roman history of the region, see Celtic Luxembourg.

Main article: History of Luxembourg

The recorded history of Luxembourg begins with the acquisition of Lucilinburhuc^[2] (today Luxembourg Castle) by Siegfried, Count of Ardennes in 963. Around this fort, a town gradually developed, which became the centre of a small state of great strategic value. In 1437, the House of Luxembourg suffered a succession crisis, precipitated by the lack of a male heir to assume the throne, that led to the territory being sold to Philip the Good of Burgundy.^[3] In the following centuries, Luxembourg's fortress was steadily enlarged and strengthened by its successive occupants, the Bourbons, Habsburgs, Hohenzollerns, and the French, among others. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, Luxembourg was disputed between Prussia and the Netherlands. The Congress of Vienna formed Luxembourg as a Grand Duchy in personal union with the Netherlands. Luxembourg also became a member of the German Confederation, with a Confederate fortress manned by Prussian troops.^[4] Titelberg, a Celtic oppidum: the ramparts Celtic Luxembourg existed during the period from roughly 600 BC until 100 AD, when the Celts inhabited what is now the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. ... The history of Luxembourg is inherently entwined with the histories of surrounding countries, peoples, and ruling dynasties. ... Luxembourg Castle was started by Count Siegfried in AD 963 who built his Lucilinburhuc (little castle) on the Bock Promontory above the Alzette river. ... Siegfried or Sigefroy (c. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... Ronda, Spain Main street in Bastrop, Texas, United States, a small town A town is a community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas. ... The House of Luxembourg was a medieval Holy Roman Empire noble family. ... Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (Philip the Good or Philippe le Bon) (1396–1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. ... The following is a list of the Dukes of Burgundy Richard of Autun, the Justicier (880–921) Rudolph of Burgundy (king of France from 923) (921–923) Hugh the Black (923–952) Gilbert of Chalon (952–956) Odo of Paris (956-965) Otto-Henry the Great (965–1002) Otto-William... This article or section should include material from France: Wars of Religion _ Bourbon Dynasty The House of Bourbon dates from at least the beginning of the 13th century, when the estate of Bourbon was ruled by a Lord, vassal of France. ... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... The House of Hohenzollern is a German dynasty of electors, kings, and emperors of Prussia, Germany, and Romania. ... The Treaty of Paris of 1815 was signed on November 20, 1815, following the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... Anthem PreuÃŸenlied, Heil dir im Siegerkranz (both unofficial) The Kingdom of Prussia at its greatest extent, at the time of the formation of the German Empire, 1871 Capital Berlin Government Monarchy King - 1701 â€” 1713 Frederick I (first) - 1888 â€” 1918 William II (last) Prime minister - 1848 Adolf Heinrich von Arnim... The Congress of Vienna by Jean-Baptiste Isabey, 1819. ... A grand duchy is a territory whose head of state is a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess. ... The German Confederation (German: Deutscher Bund) was the association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to organize the surviving states of the Holy Roman Empire, which had been abolished in 1806. ...

The three Partitions of Luxembourg have greatly reduced Luxembourg's territory.

The Belgian Revolution of 1830–1839 reduced Luxembourg's territory by more than half, as the predominantly francophone western part of the country was transferred to Belgium. Luxembourg's independence was reaffirmed by the 1839 First Treaty of London. In the same year, Luxembourg joined the Zollverein.^[5] Luxembourg's independence and neutrality were again affirmed by the 1867 Second Treaty of London, after the Luxembourg Crisis nearly led to war between Prussia and France.^[6] After the latter conflict, the Confederate fortress was dismantled.^[7] Image File history File linksMetadata LuxembourgPartitionsMap_english. ... Image File history File linksMetadata LuxembourgPartitionsMap_english. ... The three partitions of Luxembourg reduced Luxembourgs area substantially, to the advantage of the three surrounding countries. ... This article is about the historical Belgian Revolution of the 1830s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Luxembourg (Dutch and German: Luxemburg, Luxembourgish: LÃ«tzebuerg, Waloon: Lussimbork) is the southernmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. ... The Treaty of London of 1839, also called the Convention of 1839, was signed on April 19, 1839. ... Zollverein (German for customs union) or German Customs Union was formed between the 39 states of the German Confederation in 1834 during the Industrial Revolution to remove internal custom barriers, although upholding a protectionist tariff system with foreign trade partners. ... The Treaty of London (French: TraitÃ© de Londres), often called the Second Treaty of London after the 1839 Treaty, was an international treaty signed on 11 May 1867. ... In 1867, France began by negotiating the purchase of Luxembourg from the Dutch government, as Luxembourg was then in personal union with the Netherlands. ...

The King of the Netherlands remained Head of State as Grand Duke of Luxembourg, maintaining personal union between the two countries until 1890. At the death of William III, the Dutch throne passed to his daughter Wilhelmina, while Luxembourg (at that time restricted to male heirs by the Nassau Family Pact) passed to Adolph of Nassau-Weilburg.^[8] The Netherlands have been an independent monarchy since 1815, and have been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since. ... For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ... Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy whose Head of State is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (or Grand Duchess of Luxembourg in the exceptional but twice occurred event of the sovereign being female). ... It has been suggested that Dynastic union be merged into this article or section. ... William III, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg (William Alexander Paul Frederick Louis of Orange-Nassau) (Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk van Oranje-Nassau, Koning der Nederlanden en Groothertog van Luxemburg in Dutch) (February 19, 1817 â€“ November 23, 1890) was King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke... For other uses, see Wilhelmina (disambiguation). ... The Nassau Family Pact was a mutual pact of inheritance and succession made in 1783 by princes of the old German noble and sovereign family of Nassau. ... Grand Duke Adolphe of Luxembourg, Adolph Wilhelm August Karl Friedrich of Nassau-Weilburg (July 24, 1817 â€“ November 17, 1905) was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg. ...

Luxembourg was invaded and occupied by Germany during the First World War, but was allowed to maintain its independence and political mechanisms. It was again invaded and subject to German occupation in the Second World War in 1940, and was formally annexed into the Third Reich in 1942. Luxembourgers celebrating the liberation of their country and welcoming the arrival of Allied soldiers after the Armistice, November 1918. ... â€œThe Great War â€ redirects here. ... The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II was a period in the history of Luxembourg during which the country was occupied by Nazi Germany. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ...

During World War II, Luxembourg abandoned its policy of neutrality, when it joined the Allies in fighting Germany. Its government, exiled to London, set up a small group of volunteers who participated in the Normandy invasion. It became a founding member of the United Nations in 1946, and of NATO in 1949. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and, in 1999, it joined the euro currency area. In 2005, a referendum on the EU treaty establishing a constitution for Europe was held in Luxembourg.^[9] Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A neutral country takes no side in a war between other parties, and in return hopes to avoid being attacked by either of them. ... This article is about the independent states that comprised the Allies. ... A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a countrys legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the assault phase of Operation Overlord. ... UN redirects here. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... The European Community (EC) was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... Luxembourgish referendum on the European Constitution ...

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a parliamentary democracy headed by a constitutional monarch. Under the constitution of 1868, executive power is exercised by the Governor and the cabinet, which consists of several other ministers. The Governor has the power to dissolve the legislature and reinstate a new one, as long as the Governor has judicial approval. However, since 1919, sovereignty has resided with the Supreme Court.^[10] Luxembourg has a parliamentary form of government with a constitutional monarchy by inheritance. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... This article is about the governmental body. ... A Legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly with the power to create, amend and ratify laws. ... For specific national Supreme Courts, see Category:National supreme courts. ...

Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, a unicameral legislature of sixty members, who are directly elected to five-year terms from four constituencies. A second body, the Council of State (Conseil d'État), composed of twenty-one ordinary citizens appointed by the Grand Duke, advises the Chamber of Deputies in the drafting of legislation.^[11] The Chamber of Deputies (French: Chambre des DÃ©putÃ©s) is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Luxembourg. ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... A legislative circonscription is a multi-member electoral constituency that elects representatives (deputies) to Luxembourgs unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies. ... The Council of State (Luxembourgish: , French: ), German: ) is an institution in Luxembourg that advises the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies. ...

The Grand Duchy has three lower tribunals (justices de paix; in Esch-sur-Alzette, the city of Luxembourg, and Diekirch), two district tribunals (Luxembourg and Diekirch) and a Superior Court of Justice (Luxembourg), which includes the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation. There is also an Administrative Tribunal and an Administrative Court, as well as a Constitutional Court, all of which are located in the capital. District Luxembourg Canton Esch-sur-Alzette Geography Area Area rank 14. ... Diekirch is a town in Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. ...

Military

Main article: Military of Luxembourg

Luxembourg's contribution to its defence and to NATO consists of a small army (currently consisting of around 800 people). As a landlocked country, it has no navy, and it has no air force, except for the fact that the eighteen NATO AWACS aeroplanes were registered as aircraft of Luxembourg for convenience.^[12] In a joint agreement with Belgium, both countries have put forth funding for one A400M military cargo plane, now currently on order. Luxembourg still jointly maintains three NATO Boeing 707 model TCAs for cargo and training purposes based in NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen.^[12] military band of Luxembourg The military of Luxembourg consists of a solitary branch: the army; Luxembourg has no navy or air force. ... For other uses, see Army (disambiguation). ... Naval redirects here. ... For a particular Air Force, see List of air forces. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Airbus A400M is a four-engine turboprop military transport and tanker, designed by Airbus Military. ... The Boeing 707 is an American four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. ... NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, located near Geilenkirchen, Germany, is the main operating base of the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force (NAEWF) Commands E-3A Component (AWACS). ...

Districts, cantons, and communes

Districts of Luxembourg

The largest towns are Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Dudelange, and Differdange.

Luxembourg's climate is characterised by mild temperatures and high precipitation.

Main articles: Districts of Luxembourg, Cantons of Luxembourg, and Communes of Luxembourg

Further information: Administrative divisions of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is divided into 3 districts, which are further divided into 12 cantons and then 116 communes. Twelve of the communes have city status, of which the city of Luxembourg is the largest. Image File history File links Luxembourg-CIA_WFB_Map. ... Image File history File links Luxembourg-CIA_WFB_Map. ... District Luxembourg Canton Esch-sur-Alzette Geography Area Area rank 14. ... Dudelange is the fourth largest town in Luxembourg with 15000 inhabitants. ... District Luxembourg Canton Esch-sur-Alzette Area 22. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (977x600, 25 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Luxembourg Luxembourg (city) ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (977x600, 25 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Luxembourg Luxembourg (city) ... Administratively Luxembourg is divided into three districts, which are subdivided into cantons: Diekirch (district) Diekirch Clervaux Redange Vianden Wiltz Grevenmacher (district) Grevenmacher Echternach Remich Luxembourg (district) Luxembourg Capellen Esch-sur-Alzette Mersch The cantons were created in the early 1840s. ... This is a list of Cantons of Luxembourg, grouped by district. ... This is a list of Communes of Luxembourg. ... // Main article: Districts of Luxembourg Luxembourg is divided into districts: Diekirch Grevenmacher Luxembourg Main article: Cantons of Luxembourg These districts are divided into 12 cantons. ... Administratively Luxembourg is divided into three districts, which are subdivided into cantons: Diekirch (district) Diekirch Clervaux Redange Vianden Wiltz Grevenmacher (district) Grevenmacher Echternach Remich Luxembourg (district) Luxembourg Capellen Esch-sur-Alzette Mersch The cantons were created in the early 1840s. ... This is a list of Cantons of Luxembourg, grouped by district. ... This is a list of Communes of Luxembourg. ... For a complete list of communes of Luxembourg see: Communes of Luxembourg. ...

Districts

The districts are 1. Diekirch 2. Grevenmacher 3. Luxembourg The District of Diekirch is one of three districts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. ... The District of Grevenmacher is one of three districts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. ...

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe, and ranked 175th in size of all the 194 independent countries of the world; the country is about 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi) in size, and measures 82 km (51 miles) long and 57 km (35 miles) wide. To the east, Luxembourg borders the German Bundesländer of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, and, to the south, it borders the French région of Lorraine. The Grand Duchy borders the Belgian Walloon Region, in particular the latter's provinces of Luxembourg and Liège, more in particular the German-speaking Community of Belgium, to the west and to the north respectively. Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E Map references: Area: total: 2,586 km² land: 2,586 km² water: 0 km² Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... Germany is a Federal Republic made up of 16 States, known in German as LÃ¤nder (singular Land). ... The Rhenish Palatinate (Rheinpfalz, sometimes Lower Palatinate or Niederpfalz) occupies rather more than a quarter of the German Bundesland (federal state) of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) and contains the towns of Ludwigshafen, Kaiserslautern, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Pirmasens, Landau and Speyer. ... Location Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country NUTS Region DEC Capital SaarbrÃ¼cken Minister-President Peter MÃ¼ller (CDU) Governing party CDU Votes in Bundesrat 3 (from 69) Basic statistics Area 2,569 kmÂ² (992 sq mi) Population 1,044,000 (11/2006)[1] - Density 406 /km... France is divided into 26 rÃ©gions: 21 of these are in the continental part of metropolitan France, one is Corse on the island of Corsica (although strictly speaking Corse is in fact a territorial collectivity, not a rÃ©gion, but is referred to as a rÃ©gion in common... (RÃ©gion flag) (Region logo) Location Administration Capital Regional President Departments Meurthe-et-Moselle Meuse Moselle Vosges Arrondissements 19 Cantons 157 Communes 2,337 Statistics Land area1 23,547 kmÂ² Population (Ranked 11th) - January 1, 2006 est. ... Wallonia (French: Wallonie, German: Wallonien, Walloon: Walonreye, Dutch: WalloniÃ«) or the Walloon Region (French: RÃ©gion Wallonne, Dutch: Waals Gewest) is the predominantly French-speaking region that constitutes one of the three federal regions of Belgium, with its capital at Namur. ... Belgium is divided into three regions, two of them are subdivided into five provinces each. ... LiÃ¨ge is the easternmost province of Wallonia and of Belgium. ... The Executive (government) of the German-speaking Community meets in Eupen Flag of the German-speaking community in Belgium The German-speaking Community of Belgium (German: , short DGB) is one of the three federal communities in Belgium. ...

The northern third of the country is known as the 'Oesling', and forms part of the Ardennes. It is dominated by hills and low mountains, including the Kneiff, which is the highest point, at 560 metres (1,837 ft). The region is sparsely populated, with only one town (Wiltz) with a population of more than four thousand people. The Oesling or Ã–sling (Luxembourgish: EislÃ©ck) is a region covering the nothern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, within the greater Ardennes area that also covers parts of Belgium and France. ... The Ardennes (IPA pronunciation: ) (Dutch: Ardennen) is a volcanic region of extensive forests and rolling hill country, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France (lending its name to the Ardennes dÃ©partement and the Champagne-Ardenne rÃ©gion). ... Kneiff is a hill in the commune of Troisvierges, in northern Luxembourg. ... District Diekirch Canton Wiltz LAU 2 LU00005009 Geography Area Area rank 19. ...

The southern two-thirds of the country is called the "Gutland", and is more densely populated than the Oesling. It is also more diverse, and can be divided into five geographic sub-regions. The Luxembourg plateau, in south-central Luxembourg, is a large, flat, sandstone formation, and the site of the city of Luxembourg. Little Switzerland, in the east of Luxembourg, has craggy terrain and thick forests. The Moselle valley is the lowest-lying region, running along the south-eastern border. The Red Lands, in the far south and southwest, are Luxembourg's industrial heartland and home to many of Luxembourg's largest towns. Gutland (French: Bon Pays) is a region covering the southern and central parts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. ... The Luxembourg plateau is a large Early Jurassic sandstone plateau in south-central Luxembourg. ... This article is about the geological formation. ... Little Switzerland Little Switzerland (Luxembourgish: Kleng LÃ«tzebuerger SchwÃ¤iz, French: Petit Suisse, German: Kleine Schweiz) is a nickname for a region in the east of Luxembourg, bestowed upon the region on account of its reputed geographic similarities to Switzerland. ... The Moselle valley is a region in north-eastern France, north-western Germany, and eastern Luxembourg, centred on the river valley formed by the Moselle. ... The Red Lands (Luxembourgish: Minett, French: Terres rouges, German: Roten Erde) form a geographic region in southern and south-western Luxembourg. ...

The border between Luxembourg and Germany is formed by three rivers: the Moselle, the Sauer, and the Our. Other major rivers are the Alzette, the Attert, the Clerve, and the Wiltz. The valleys of the mid-Sauer and Attert form the border between the Gutland and the Oesling. For other uses, see River (disambiguation). ... This article is about the river in France, Luxembourg & Germany. ... Sauer (German and Luxembourgish; in French: Sûre) is a river of Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. ... The Our (pronunciation [u:r]) is a river of Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. ... Alzette (-French, in Luxembourgish: Uelzecht) is a river with a length of 73 kilometers in France and Luxembourg. ... The Attert is a small river in Belgium and Luxembourg. ... The Clerve (Luxembourgish: Klierf) is a river flowing through Luxembourg, joining the Wiltz at Kautenbach. ... The Wiltz (Luxembourgish: Wolz) is a river flowing through Belgium and Luxembourg, joining the Sauer at Goebelsmuhle. ... FljÃ³tsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley In geology, a valley (also called a vale or dale) is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. ... Gutland (French: Bon Pays) is a region covering the southern and central parts of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. ... The Oesling or Ã–sling (Luxembourgish: EislÃ©ck) is a region covering the nothern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, within the greater Ardennes area that also covers parts of Belgium and France. ...

Luxembourg has a marine west coast climate (Köppen: Cfb), marked by high precipitation, particularly in late summer.^[13] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Oceanic climate. ... Updated KÃ¶ppen-Geiger climate map[1] The KÃ¶ppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Luxembourg

Population: 448,569 (July 2002 est. ...

Ethnicity

The people of Luxembourg are called Luxembourgers.^[14] The native population has a Celtic base with a French and Germanic blend.^[15] The indigenous population was augmented by immigrants from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal throughout the twentieth century, with the majority coming from Portugal. Since the beginning of the Yugoslav wars, Luxembourg has seen many immigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia. Annually, over 10,000 new immigrants arrive in Luxembourg, mostly from EU states, as well and Eastern Europe. As of 2000, there were 162,000 immigrants in Luxembourg, accounting for 37% of the total population. There are an estimated 5,000 illegal immigrants in Luxembourg.^[16] Diachronic distribution of Celtic peoples: core Hallstatt territory, by the 6th century BC maximal Celtic expansion, by the 3rd century BC the six Celtic nations which retained significant numbers of Celtic speakers into the Early Modern period areas where Celtic languages remain widely spoken today Celts (pronounced or , see pronunciation... Belligerents Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo Liberation Army, NATO, UCPMB SFR Yugoslavia, Republic of Srpska Serbian Krajina FR Yugoslavia, Paramilitary forces from Serbia Commanders Milan KuÄan Janez JanÅ¡a, Franjo TuÄ‘man, Mate Boban Janko Bobetko, Alija IzetbegoviÄ‡, Sefer HaliloviÄ‡, Hashim Thaci, Wesley Clark, Javier Solana Bill Clinton... This article is about the country in Europe. ... Anthem: Serbia() on the European continent() â€” [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy - President Boris TadiÄ‡ - Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica - First state 7th century - Serbian Kingdom3 1217 - Serbian Empire 1345 - Independence lost... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ...

Language

Main article: Languages of Luxembourg

Three languages are recognized as official in Luxembourg: French, German, and Luxembourgish, a Franconian language of the Moselle region very similar to the local German dialect spoken in the neighboring part of Germany, except that it includes more borrowings from French. So in principle Luxembourgish is a High German dialect with the status of a national language. Apart from being one of the three official languages, Luxembourgish is also considered the national language of the Grand Duchy; it is the mother tongue or "language of the heart" for nearly all Luxembourgers. The linguistic situation in Luxembourg is characterized by the practice and the recognition of three official languages: French, German and Luxembourgish. ... Luxembourgish (Luxembourgish: , French: , German: , Walloon: ), also spelled Luxemburgish, is a West Germanic language spoken in Luxembourg. ... Legend: Dutch. ... The Moselle valley is a region in north-eastern France, north-western Germany, and eastern Luxembourg, centred on the river valley formed by the Moselle. ... A national language is a language (or language variant, i. ...

Each of the three languages is used as the primary language in certain spheres. Luxembourgish is the language that Luxembourgers generally speak to each other, but it is not often written down. Most official (written) business is carried out in French. German is usually the first language taught in school and is the language of much of the media and of the church.^[17] In fact, around 65% of all articles published in Luxembourg are in the German language, 25% are in French and only 10% in Luxembourgish. For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ...

Luxembourg's education system is trilingual: the first years of primary school are in Luxembourgish, before changing to German, while secondary school, the language of instruction changes to French. ^[18] However, as proficiency in all three languages is required for graduation from secondary school, half the students leave school without a certified qualification, with the children of immigrants being particularly disadvantaged.^[19]

In addition to the three official languages, English is taught in the compulsory schooling and much of the population of Luxembourg can speak English, at any rate in Luxembourg City. Portuguese and Italian, the languages of the two largest immigrant communities, are also spoken by large parts of the population, but by relatively few from outside their respective communities. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently. ...

Religion

Main article: Religion in Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a secular state, but the state recognises certain religions as officially-mandated religions. This gives the state a hand in religious administration and appointment of clergy, in exchange for which the state pays certain running costs and wages. Currently, religions covered by such arrangements are Catholicism, Judaism, Greek and Russian Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Islam.^[20] There are many active religions in Luxembourg. ... It has been suggested that LaÃ¯citÃ© be merged into this article or section. ... As a Christian ecclesiastical term, Catholicâ€”from the Greek adjective , meaning general or universal[1]â€”is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as follows: ~Church, (originally) whole body of Christians; ~, belonging to or in accord with (a) this, (b) the church before separation into Greek or Eastern and Latin or... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Greek Orthodox Church can refer to: the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the first among equals of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. ... The Russian Orthodox Church (Русская Православная церковь) is that body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with the other patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... Topics in Christianity Preaching Prayer Ecumenism Relation to other religions Movements Music Liturgy Calendar Symbols Art Criticism Christianity Portal This box: Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ...

Since 1980 it has been illegal for the government to collect statistics on religious beliefs or practices.^[21] It is estimated by the CIA Factbook that 87% of Luxembourgers are Catholics, the remaining 13% being made up of Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims and those of other or

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