20.3.14

Luxembourg (city)


It’s nice to have blogger friends! Last weekend I was invited by “Luna Snowshoe” and her “parents”, Léia and Cezar, to stay with them and visit Luxembourg. They really did the maximum to make the stay extremely nice, despite a bit cool and grey weather.


They of course took me around the City of Luxembourg, but we also made some excursions on which I will revert in later posts.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, surrounded by Belgium, Germany and France, has some 525.000 inhabitants, whereof some 160.000 live in the capital – with suburbs. Three official languages are spoken: French, German and Luxembourgish. The country has a long history due to its central strategic location, starting with the Romans, and has been under Holy Roman Empire, Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, French, Prussian domination until it really got its independence by the end of the 19th century. It was occupied by the Germans during the WWI and WWII.

Today it’s said to have the world’s second highest GDP per capita (after Quatar). The City of Luxembourg houses the Europoean Investment Bank and a number of European instiutions, offices, banks…

The original city installations were on the top of a cliff, surrounded by some extreme fortifications, which since to its largest extent have been destroyed, and by the narrow valleys of the rivers Alzette and Pétrusse. Today it’s a city on several levels with a large number of bridges and viaducts.

Here are first some views from the “Grund”, down in the valley…


… and some views from the upward walking (seeing the little 13th century “Quirinius Chapel) to the original city centre – the “Ville Haute” - where we can find some of the symbols of the city, the “Gëlle Fra” (Golden Lady) dedicated to the thousands of Luxembourgers who volunteered during WWI, and an inscription on a house reading “Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn” (We want to remain what we are), the national motto…


… and some views from the top, with the Ducal Palace, the Notre-Dame Cathedral…



…. and finally some views from the modern quarters, Kirchberg, with its offices, museums and a great concert hall, “Philharmonie”.



14 comments:

Virginia said...

Oh I followed you all on Facebook. I'm so glad you got to meet them. I hope to one day myself.

So is it that easy to just invite Peter to come for a stay? Well I'm offering you a trip to Birmingham! :)
V

martinealison said...

Bonjour cher Peter,
Je découvre le Luxembourg grâce à toi. Je n'ai jamais fait que passer...
Je suis très admirative. Je me suis attardée sur chacune de tes très jolies photos et j'ai éprouvé beaucoup de plaisir.
J'ai hâte de poursuivre la visite... C'est formidable de pouvoir ainsi échanger avec certains bloguers des moments au-delà du virtuel.
Gros bisous

Thérèse said...

Malgre les diverses organisations qu'elle heberge cela ne doit pas etre evident pour le Luxembourg de preserver sa propre identite et son originalite.
Tu as trouve la meilleure facon d'aborder ce pays: chez l'habitant et en plus ils sont blogueurs.

Cezar and Léia said...

Bonjour Peter!
It was a really pleasure to meet you here! Luxembourg is beautiful through your lens, amazing post!
Hope to see you soon again,
Hugs
Cezar & Léia

Alain said...

Un petit pays,mais un grand duc.

lyliane six said...

Très beau et petit pays , mais grand pour son attrait, j'y suis allée souvent, je pense y retourner bientôt

claude said...

Coucou à Lyliane !
Alain est impayable.
Merci pour cette belle visite, Peter.
C'est super, les blogs mènent à tout.

Alexa said...

Lucky you, and lucky Leia and Cezar too! And if you want to stop in New York City on your way to Birmingham . . .

Starman said...

Luxembourg, another fabulous city I haven't yet experienced. Le sigh!

Studio at the Farm said...

What a beautiful city! I had no idea. Thank you, Peter, for the information and the alway-wonderful photos.

Jeanie said...

Luxembourg is a spot that has always intrigued me, though I know little about it, apart from that it has produced some great bike racers -- currently the Schlecks! It sounds like a wonderful visit to a beautiful and fascinating spot.

Peter, when you do your "Grand Tour" of the world, I think you'll never need to pay for a hotel room; so many in cities around the world (certainly ours!) will welcome you with open arms and hearts!

Chris said...

Hi Peter, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. I have been having trouble with GFC and if I am already following you, and you following me, please forgive me. If not, please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

Anonymous said...



I visited that beautiful place once...
So enchanting.
Thanks, Peter
María

new pc games said...

Luxembourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and economic integration. In efforts foreshadowing European integration, Luxembourg and Belgium in 1921 formed the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) to create an inter-exchangeable currency and a common customs regime. Luxembourg is a member of the Benelux Economic Union