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Luxembourg

Capital of LuxembourgThe city of Luxembourg stands where the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers meet, in the south of the country. The rivers have cut gorges about 70 m deep, crossed by many bridges such as the Adolphe Bridge.

Why it's the capital

The city grew around a castle called Lucilinburhuc, meaning 'small castle', which Siegfried of the Ardennes acquired in 963. In 1890, when the Grand Duchy passed out of Dutch hands, the city became the capital of a fully independent state.

Fun facts

  1. Its fortress was so strong that the city was nicknamed the 'Gibraltar of the North'.
  2. Starting in 1644, Spain built 23 km of tunnels, called casemates, for the fortress.
  3. It is one of the de facto capitals of the European Union, with the EU Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank.

Finding it on the globe

Luxembourg is a tiny country wedged between Belgium, Germany and France. Aim for its southern part, not far north of the French border.

Easy to mix up

The city and the country are both called Luxembourg, so the capital is often called Luxembourg City to tell them apart.

Sources: Wikipedia: Luxembourg City, Wikipedia: Luxembourg