Luxembourg City facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luxembourg
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Capital city and commune
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| Stad Lëtzebuerg | |||||
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View of the Ville Haute, including the Fortress of Luxembourg, the Gëlle Fra and the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Grand Ducal Palace
Luxembourg tram
Place d'Armes
Schueberfouer
Kirchberg
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 Luxembourg
Location in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Location in Europe
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| Country | Luxembourg | ||||
| Canton | Luxembourg | ||||
| Area rank | ? of 100 | ||||
| Highest elevation | 402 m (1,319 ft) | ||||
| • Rank | 48th of 100 | ||||
| Lowest elevation | 230 m (750 ft) | ||||
| • Rank | 42nd of 100 | ||||
| • Rank | 1st of 100 | ||||
| • Density rank | 91st of 100 | ||||
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | ||||
| LAU 2 | LU0000304 | ||||
| Website | vdl.lu | ||||
| Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |||||
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Luxembourg (also known as Luxembourg City) is the capital city of Luxembourg. It is also the country's largest city by population. The city sits where the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers meet in southern Luxembourg. It is located in the middle of Western Europe.
As of December 31, 2023, Luxembourg City has about 134,714 people living there. This is more than three times the population of the country's second-largest city, Esch-sur-Alzette. People from 160 different countries live in Luxembourg City. About 70% of the city's population are from other countries, while 30% are Luxembourgers. The number of people born outside of Luxembourg keeps growing each year.
In 2024, Luxembourg was ranked as having the highest GDP per capita (money earned per person) in the world. The city has become a major centre for banking and business. In 2019, a survey of 231 cities ranked Luxembourg first for personal safety. It was also ranked 18th for overall quality of living.
Luxembourg City is one of the main cities where the European Union (EU) has its offices. Many important EU groups are based here. These include the Court of Justice of the European Union (which makes sure EU laws are followed) and the European Court of Auditors (which checks the EU's money). The Council of the European Union also holds meetings in the city for three months each year.
Contents
History of Luxembourg City
Long ago, during the Roman Empire, a strong tower stood where Luxembourg City is now. It guarded a place where two Roman roads crossed. In 963, a nobleman named Siegfried I got the land of Luxembourg. He built his castle, called Lucilinburhuc (meaning "small castle"), on a rock called the Bock. This was the first time the castle was mentioned in history.
Around 987, a marketplace grew near a church at a Roman road crossing. This market helped the city to develop.
Because of its location and natural hills, the city has always been important for military defence. The first walls were built in the 10th century. By the late 1100s, the city grew, and new walls were built. Around 1340, under John the Blind, even stronger walls were added. These walls stayed until 1867.
In 1443, the Burgundians took over Luxembourg. The city then became part of the Spanish and Austrian empires. During these times, the Luxembourg Castle was made stronger and stronger. By the 16th century, Luxembourg was one of the strongest fortresses in Europe. Over the years, many different groups conquered Luxembourg, including the French, Spanish, Austrians, and Prussians.
In the 1600s, the first casemates were built. These were underground tunnels and rooms used for defence. Spain started building 23 kilometres (14 miles) of tunnels in 1644. The French and Austrians later made them even bigger.
During the French Revolutionary Wars, France took over the city twice. Once, it was for a short time in 1792–93. Later, after a seven-month siege, Luxembourg held out for a very long time. A French military engineer named Lazare Carnot called Luxembourg "the best fortress in the world, except Gibraltar." This is why the city is sometimes called the 'Gibraltar of the North'.
Eventually, the Austrian soldiers defending the city gave up. Luxembourg then became part of France. After the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, Luxembourg City was controlled by Prussian soldiers. However, the country itself was linked to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
After some disagreements, the 1867 Treaty of London said that Luxembourg had to tear down its strong fortifications. This took 16 years and cost a lot of money. Over 24 kilometres (15 miles) of underground defences and 4 hectares (10 acres) of military buildings were destroyed. Also, the Prussian soldiers had to leave.
In 1890, Luxembourg became a truly independent country. This happened when Grand Duke William III died without a male heir. Luxembourg City then became the capital of this new, fully independent state.
Even though Luxembourg tried to stay neutral (not pick sides) in the First World War, Germany occupied it on August 2, 1914. The German army stayed for four years. After the occupation, there was a short attempt at a communist revolution in Luxembourg City in November 1918, but it only lasted a few hours.
In 1921, the city grew much larger. Several nearby towns became part of Luxembourg City. This made it the biggest city in the country until 1978.
In 1940, Germany occupied Luxembourg again during the Second World War. The Nazis changed the names of the city's streets to German names. For example, Avenue de la Liberté was renamed "Adolf-Hitlerstraße." Luxembourg City was freed on September 10, 1944. The city was bombed by German long-range cannons in late 1944 and early 1945.
After the war, Luxembourg stopped being neutral. It became a founding member of several important international groups. In 1952, the city became the main office for the European Coal and Steel Community. Even though this group later changed, Luxembourg City still hosts parts of the European Parliament and other important EU offices.
Geography of Luxembourg City
City Landscape
Luxembourg City is built on the southern part of the Luxembourg plateau. This area is mostly flat and covers the southern two-thirds of the country.
The city centre is very beautiful. It sits on high cliffs that drop into the narrow valleys of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers. These two rivers meet in Luxembourg City. Many bridges and viaducts (long bridges) cross the 70-meter (230-foot) deep river valleys. Famous bridges include the Adolphe Bridge and the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge. Luxembourg City is not very big, but its layout is complex because it is built on different levels, across hills, and into deep river gorges.
The area of Luxembourg City is over 51 square kilometres (20 square miles). This makes it the fourth-largest city in Luxembourg by area. However, it is not very crowded, with about 1,700 people per square kilometre. Large parts of the city are kept as parks, forests, or important historical sites, including UNESCO sites. There are also farms within the city limits.
City Quarters
Luxembourg City is divided into 24 areas called quarters. These quarters are like the main neighbourhoods and suburbs of the city. Some older areas, like Bonnevoie, are split between two quarters.
Climate
Luxembourg City has a mild climate with moderate rain. Winters are cool, and summers are warm. It is cloudy for about two-thirds of the year.
| Climate data for Luxembourg City (1991–2020, extremes 1947–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 13.9 (57.0) |
19.8 (67.6) |
23.5 (74.3) |
27.9 (82.2) |
31.6 (88.9) |
35.4 (95.7) |
39.0 (102.2) |
37.9 (100.2) |
31.5 (88.7) |
26.0 (78.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
14.7 (58.5) |
39.0 (102.2) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 10.7 (51.3) |
12.2 (54.0) |
17.4 (63.3) |
22.9 (73.2) |
26.6 (79.9) |
30.1 (86.2) |
31.9 (89.4) |
31.5 (88.7) |
25.6 (78.1) |
20.9 (69.6) |
14.6 (58.3) |
10.8 (51.4) |
33.5 (92.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) |
5.2 (41.4) |
9.8 (49.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.7 (71.1) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.5 (74.3) |
19.0 (66.2) |
13.5 (56.3) |
7.7 (45.9) |
4.5 (40.1) |
13.8 (56.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
2.2 (36.0) |
5.7 (42.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
16.7 (62.1) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.4 (65.1) |
14.3 (57.7) |
9.9 (49.8) |
5.2 (41.4) |
2.3 (36.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.0 (30.2) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
2.0 (35.6) |
5.1 (41.2) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.8 (53.2) |
13.8 (56.8) |
13.6 (56.5) |
10.3 (50.5) |
6.6 (43.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | −8.0 (17.6) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
6.0 (42.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.5 (41.9) |
0.7 (33.3) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−10.4 (13.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −17.8 (0.0) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
0.9 (33.6) |
4.5 (40.1) |
4.3 (39.7) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−15.3 (4.5) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 72.0 (2.83) |
59.0 (2.32) |
57.0 (2.24) |
49.0 (1.93) |
71.2 (2.80) |
75.6 (2.98) |
71.5 (2.81) |
71.9 (2.83) |
66.2 (2.61) |
76.6 (3.02) |
72.1 (2.84) |
89.4 (3.52) |
831.5 (32.74) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 17.3 | 15.4 | 14.8 | 12.7 | 14.0 | 13.3 | 13.7 | 13.2 | 12.2 | 15.2 | 17.5 | 18.1 | 177.4 |
| Average snowy days | 7.5 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 6.8 | 29.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 88 | 83 | 74 | 67 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 68 | 75 | 84 | 89 | 90 | 77 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 52.0 | 79.5 | 137.1 | 197.5 | 226.3 | 241.2 | 257.6 | 237.1 | 174.9 | 106.7 | 51.1 | 41.9 | 1,802.9 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 18.8 | 29.4 | 34.0 | 44.1 | 44.8 | 46.7 | 51.0 | 51.7 | 42.7 | 31.8 | 19.8 | 16.1 | 35.9 |
| Source 1: Meteolux (percent sunshine 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Infoclimat | |||||||||||||
Population Growth
The chart above shows how the population of Luxembourg City has grown over the years.
Culture and Arts
Even though the city is small, it has several important museums. These include the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA), the Luxembourg City History Museum, and the new Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (Mudam). There is also the National Museum of Natural History (NMHN).
Luxembourg was the first city to be named a European Capital of Culture twice. The first time was in 1995. In 2007, it shared this title with the city of Sibiu in Romania. This event aimed to encourage people and ideas to move across borders.
Luxembourg City is also known for its many restaurants and different types of food. It even has four restaurants that have earned Michelin stars, which are special awards for excellent food.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The city of Luxembourg is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is called City of Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications. This is because of the historical importance of its old defence structures.
Besides its two main theatres, the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg and the Théâtre des Capucins, there is a modern concert hall called the Philharmonie. There is also a conservatory (a music school) with a large hall. Art galleries include the Villa Vauban, the Casino Luxembourg, and Am Tunnel.
Sports in the City
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The ING Europe Marathon happens every year in Luxembourg City since 2006. In 2014, 11,000 runners and over 100,000 people watched the race.
The Luxembourg Open is a tennis tournament held in the capital every October.
The Stade de Luxembourg, located in Gasperich, is the country's national stadium. It is the largest sports venue in Luxembourg. It can hold 9,386 people for sports like football and rugby. For concerts, it can hold up to 15,000 people. The largest indoor sports place is d'Coque in Kirchberg. It can hold 8,300 people and is used for basketball, handball, gymnastics, and volleyball. D'Coque also has an Olympic-size swimming pool.
The city has two main football clubs: Racing FC Union Luxembourg and F.C. Luxembourg City. They play in the country's top football leagues. The Luxembourg national football team plays its home games at the Stade de Luxembourg.
Places to Visit
Some interesting places to visit include the Gothic Revival Cathedral of Notre Dame, the old fortifications, and Am Tunnel (an underground art gallery). You can also see the Grand Ducal Palace, the Gëlle Fra (a war memorial), the casemates (underground tunnels), and the Neimënster Abbey. Other popular spots are the Place d'Armes, the Adolphe Bridge, and the city hall. The city is also home to the RTL Group, a big media company.
The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial from the Second World War is located in Hamm, within the city. This cemetery is where 5,076 American soldiers are buried. It also has a memorial for 371 Americans whose bodies were never found.
Getting Around
Highways
Luxembourg is in the middle of Europe, connecting to major cities like Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam. Several highways and international roads connect to Luxembourg City:
- A1 (E44): goes to Grevenmacher and Trier (Germany).
- A3 (E25): goes to Dudelange and Thionville (France).
- A4: goes to Esch-sur-Alzette and connects to A13 for Pétange, Athus (Belgium), and Longwy (France).
- A6 (E25 / E411): goes to Arlon and Brussels.
- A7 (E421): goes to Mersch and Ettelbruck.
Public Transport
Since 2020, public transport in Luxembourg City has been completely free! This includes trains, buses, and trams.
Trains
Luxembourg City has five train stations. The main one is Luxembourg station, where all train lines in the country start or end. These stations serve local trains and international trains to Germany, Belgium, and France. Luxembourg station also connects to a high-speed train network, allowing fast travel to Paris and Strasbourg. You can also take daily trains to Basel and Zürich in Switzerland.
Buses
The city has 31 bus routes run by the city's transport company, Autobus de la Ville de Luxembourg (AVL). There are also special free bus services, like the "Joker Line" for seniors and a "City night network." The city also has "Park & Ride" car parks connected to the bus network. Regional buses also connect Luxembourg City to other places in Luxembourg and nearby cities in Germany and France.
Trams
From 1875 to 1964, Luxembourg City had a large tram network. In December 2017, trams were brought back to the capital. A new tram line now runs between Kirchberg and Gasperich, passing through the city centre. This tram line is expected to reach Luxembourg Airport by early 2025. More tram lines are being planned for the future.
Air Travel
Luxembourg City is served by the country's only international airport: Luxembourg Airport (LUX). The airport is located in the town of Sandweiler, about 6 kilometres (4 miles) from the city centre. You can get to the airport by city bus, and a tram connection is expected by early 2024. The airport is the main base for Luxembourg's airline, Luxair, and for Cargolux, one of the world's largest cargo airlines.
International Connections
Luxembourg City is part of the QuattroPole group of cities. This group includes Trier (Germany), Saarbrücken (Germany), and Metz (France).
Twin Cities
Luxembourg City is twinned with:
Images for kids
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Luxembourg City as seen from a Sentinel-2 satellite
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Skyline of the Hollerich quarter
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The Gëlle Fra monument remembers those who volunteered for service in the armed forces of the Entente.
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The gorges and Adolphe Bridge
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View of the Luxembourg center cityscape from Cité Judiciaire
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The Center of Luxembourg City with the Pulvermuhl Viaduct
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Cité Judiciaire in Luxembourg
See also
In Spanish: Luxemburgo (ciudad) para niños
