Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It borders Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Its capital, the city of Luxenburg, is one of the four official capitals of the European Union (along with Brussels, Frankfurt and Strasbourg) and is home to the European Union's Supreme Judiciary Court. Its culture, people, and language are very intertwined with its neighbors, a mixture of French and German cultures. Luxembourgish is the only national language of the Luxembourgish people, as defined by law. In addition to Luxembourgish, French and German are used in administrative and judicial issues. The three languages ​​are jointly considered the Districts of Luxembourg.

With an area of ​​2,586 square kilometers (998 square miles), it is one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe. With a population of 634,730 in Luxembourg in 2019, it is one of the least populated countries in Europe, but one of the fastest growing countries. Foreigners make up almost half of Luxembourg's population. As a representative democracy of the constitutional monarchy, it is the only remaining sovereign grand duchy in the world, led by Grand Duke Henri. Luxembourg is a developed country with a well-developed economy and one of the highest per capita GDP (PPP) in the world. The city of Luxembourg, with its old town and fortress, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 due to its vast fortress and extraordinary preservation of the old town.

Luxembourg's history dates back to 963, when Count Siegfried acquired the rocky cape and its Roman fortress Lucilimburg, the "Small Castle" and its surroundings from the St. Maximin's Monastery in nearby Trier. It is believed that it started in. Siegfried's descendants expanded their territory through marriage, war, and vassal relations. At the end of the 13th century, the count of Luxembourg ruled a considerable territory. In 1308, Henry VII of Luxembourg became King of Germany and later Holy Roman Emperor. The Luxembourg family produced four emperors in the middle ages. In 1354 Charles IV promoted the county to the Principality of Luxembourg. The Principality eventually became part of the Burgundy Circle and later became one of the 17 states of the Habsburg Netherlands. Over the centuries, the highly strategically important Luxembourg cities and fortresses located between the Kingdom of France and the territory of the Habsburgs have gradually been built to become one of Europe's most prestigious fortresses. it was done. After belonging to both France of Louis XIV and Austria of Maria Theresa, Luxembourg became part of the First Republic and Empire under Napoleon.

The current state of Luxembourg first appeared at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The Grand Duchy, with its powerful fortress, was privately owned by William the Conqueror of the Netherlands and became an independent state for the Prussian garrison to protect the city from other cities. Invasion from France. In 1839, following the turmoil of the Belgian Revolution, the pure French-speaking world of Luxembourg was transferred to Belgium, leaving the Luxembourg-speaking world (excluding the area around Allerland and Arlon) in its current state.

Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union, OECD, United Nations, NATO, and Benelux. The city of Luxembourg, the capital and largest city of the country, is home to several EU institutions and institutions. Luxembourg joined the United Nations Security Council in 2013 and 2014. This is the first time in the history of the country. As of 2020, Luxembourg citizens have visa-free or visa-accessible access to 187 countries and territories on arrival, and Luxembourg passports linked to Denmark and Spain are ranked fifth in the world.