Luxembourg: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Luxembourg is a small landlocked country in western Europe, tucked between Belgium, France and Germany. Its capital, also called Luxembourg, is built on cliffs above deep river valleys. Luxembourg is the only grand duchy left in the world, a country whose head of state is a grand duke. Though tiny, it is one of the richest countries on Earth, a major banking centre and home to several institutions of the European Union.

On My Earth Toy you can visit Vianden Castle, a huge medieval castle on a hilltop above the town of Vianden and the Our River, in the forested north of the country.

Geography and nature

Luxembourg is only about 82 kilometres from north to south. The north, called the Oesling, is part of the hilly, wooded Ardennes, where the highest point, Buurgplaatz, reaches 559 metres. The south, called the Gutland or good land, has farmland and most of the towns. The Mullerthal region, nicknamed Little Switzerland, has mossy sandstone rocks and narrow gorges, and the Moselle River valley in the east is lined with vineyards.

People, languages and culture

Luxembourg has three official languages: Luxembourgish, French and German, and most people also learn English at school. Nearly half of the people living in Luxembourg are citizens of other countries, especially Portugal, France, Italy and Belgium, and many more cross the border to work there every day. Most people are Catholic. Every spring, the town of Echternach holds a dancing procession, listed by UNESCO, in which thousands of people hop through the streets in rows.

History in a nutshell

In 963, a count named Siegfried got a small castle on a rock, and a town grew around it. Over the centuries Luxembourg became one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, nicknamed the Gibraltar of the North. The House of Luxembourg even produced several Holy Roman Emperors. Luxembourg became independent in 1839, and in 1867 it was declared neutral and most of its fortress was torn down. It was occupied by Germany in both World Wars and later helped found the European Union and NATO.