Luxembourg — books & literature

The story of Luxembourg

Luxembourg's story begins in 963 CE, when Siegfried, Count of Ardennes, acquired a small Roman-era fortress called Lucilinburhuc ("little castle") on a rocky promontory above the Alzette river, founding the County of Luxembourg. The House of Luxembourg rose to European prominence in the 14th century when Count Henry VII became Holy Roman Emperor, and the county was later elevated to a duchy. Centuries of shifting rule followed , Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, and French , as the fortress city earned the nickname "Gibraltar of the North" for its formidable defenses. The 1815 Congress of Vienna created the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in personal union with the Netherlands, but the 1839 Treaty of London stripped away most of its territory to Belgium, fixing the small borders it has today. Full independence and permanent neutrality came with the second Treaty of London in 1867, and rule passed to the House of Nassau-Weilburg in 1890. German occupation scarred both World Wars, but Luxembourg emerged as a founding architect of European unity , a member of Benelux and a founding state of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951. Today, as the world's only remaining sovereign Grand Duchy, it is one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, a trilingual crossroads of French, German and Luxembourgish, and home to major institutions of the European Union.

Timeline — key moments

1. 963

   Siegfried, Count of Ardennes, acquires Lucilinburhuc fortress, founding the County of Luxembourg.

2. 1312

   Count Henry VII of Luxembourg, elected King of the Romans in 1308, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome; the House of Luxembourg's dynasty rises to prominence.

3. 1443

   Luxembourg passes to Burgundian rule, beginning centuries of foreign control (Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, French).

4. 1815

   Congress of Vienna creates the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in personal union with the Netherlands.

5. 1839

   First Treaty of London partitions Luxembourg; the mostly French-speaking west goes to Belgium, fixing modern borders.

6. 1867

   Second Treaty of London grants full independence and permanent neutrality; the fortress is dismantled.

7. 1890

   Personal union with the Netherlands ends; the Grand Duchy passes to the House of Nassau-Weilburg.

8. 1940-1944

   German occupation during the Second World War.

9. 1951

   Luxembourg becomes a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Community, forerunner of the EU.

10. 1999

    Luxembourg adopts the Euro as its currency.

Top 10 things to know about Luxembourg

1. Luxembourg is the world's only remaining sovereign Grand Duchy.
2. It is one of the smallest countries in Europe, at roughly 2,586 square kilometres.
3. A founding member of Benelux, the ECSC, and the European Union.
4. Luxembourg City hosts major EU institutions, including the European Court of Justice.
5. Consistently ranked among the wealthiest countries in the world by GDP per capita.
6. Officially trilingual: Luxembourgish, French, and German are all official languages.
7. Luxembourg City's old quarters and fortifications are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8. Nearly half the population are foreign nationals, one of the highest shares in the world.
9. In 2020 Luxembourg became the first country to make all public transport free nationwide.
10. The Grand Duchy has been ruled by the House of Nassau-Weilburg since 1890.

Famous people from Luxembourg

Say it in Luxembourg's language

Did you know?

• ★Luxembourg is the world's only sovereign Grand Duchy, ruled by a Grand Duke rather than a king or president.
• ★In 2020, Luxembourg became the first country in the world to make all public transport (bus, tram, train) free nationwide.
• ★Nearly half of Luxembourg's residents are foreign nationals, giving it one of the most international populations in Europe.

Luxembourg culture

• Luxembourgish society runs on three languages at once: Luxembourgish at home, French for administration and menus, German in schools and the press.
• National Day, marking the Grand Duke's official birthday on 23 June, is celebrated with fireworks and a torchlight procession the evening before.
• Éimaischen, an Easter Monday market tradition, centres on Péckvillercher, small bird-shaped clay whistles sold near Luxembourg City and Nospelt.
• Judd mat Gaardebounen (smoked collar of pork with broad beans) is considered the national dish, blending French refinement with German heartiness.

Why read Luxembourg's books

Luxembourg's literary tradition is young and trilingual , the first Luxembourgish-language book appeared only in 1829 , yet it produced enduring fables, the country's national anthem, and one of science fiction's founding editors. Reading Luxembourg's books is a window into a small nation's outsized voice.