Luxembourg   

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a small landlocked state situated deep in the forests of the Ardennes between Germany, Belgium, and France. It is a traditional Catholic country, whose head of state is a Grand Duke descended from the House of Nassau. Much of the country is forested, the only large town being Luxembourgh, the capital. Invaded countless times in the past, Luxembourg is now an enthusiastic member of the European Union. Several European institutions are based in Luxembourg city, including the European Court of Justice.

Luxembourg was a poor country depending on farming and forestry until the 19th century. The discovery of vast iron reserves in the south transformed it into a prosperous state in the late 19th century. The economy has been further boosted in recent years by Luxembourg's position as a tax haven, bringing more than 220 international banks to the capital. The banking sector now employs ten percent of the country's labour force. Companies are drawn to Luxembourg by the language skills of the population, many of whom speak French, German, and English, as well as the local Luxembourgian language. The economic expansion has created a chronic labour shortage that has been offset by foreign migrants; almost one third of the resident population are now foreign born. In addition, many Germans, Belgians, and French commute daily, bringing the total foreign workforce to 50 percent.

Luxembourg city, the capital, occupies a spectacular location on a rocky summit, with enormous bridges spanning deep valleys. Its architecture is a blend of French neo-classicism and German baroque, though there are also some striking modern buildings, such as the headquarters of the broadcaster RTL. The visual arts show strong French and German influences, with 20th-century artists such as Erich Kubierschky following the German romantic tradition, while Jean-Pierre Thilmany and Joseph Kutter draw on German expressionism. The key work of Luxembourg literature is Mechel Rodange's Renert, a long poem written between 1867 and 1872 incorporating numerous satirical barbs against the Luxembourg establishment. The Luxembourgian novelists Roger Manderscheid and Guy Rewenig also have a good following. Luxembourg has recently began to invest in museum projects: two excellent new museums devoted to natural history and the history of Luxembourg have been opened, and a striking new modern art museum, due for completion in 2002, is being built within the walls of the former fortress.

Citizens of the European Union (EU), as well as citizens of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Switzerland, can enter Luxembourg with a valid passport or national identity card and stay for up to 90 days. Other nationals should consult the Luxembourg embassy or consulate in their country of residence before departure, for details of any visa requirements.

Ambulance and fire brigade: 112
Police: 113
Alternative pan-European emergency number for all services: 112

Central European Time (GMT plus one hour). Clocks are put forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the end of October.

Check with your motor vehicle insurance company regarding any insurance documents you will need and whether additional insurance is required. The international registration letters of your country of residence must be displayed at the rear of the car.

Always carry your full valid driving licence or International Driving Permit, vehicle registration documents, and insurance documents with you in your car. Traffic drives on the right. Seat belts must be worn by front- and back-seat passengers. Children must travel in the back seat. Cars from the United Kingdom and Ireland must fit headlights with an anti-dazzle strip. The limit of alcohol in the blood while driving is 80 mg per 100 ml (8g/l). On-the-spot fines are administered to drivers who have committed a motoring offence.

There are no tolls on motorways in Luxembourg. Speed limits are 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour on motorways, 90 kilometres (56 miles) per hour on roads outside built-up areas, and 50 kilometres (31 miles) per hour in built-up areas. For vehicles which are towing, including cars towing caravans, the speed limit is 90 kilometres (56 miles) per hour on motorways and 75 kilometres (47 miles) per hour on all other roads outside built-up areas.

Luxembourg is generally a pleasant place in which to drive. The roads are good and drivers should find few difficulties, even in more remote areas.

Emergency SOS phones are located on all motorways in Luxembourg. In the event of a breakdown, contact the Automobile Club of Luxembourg (ACL), 54 Route de Longwy, L-8007 Bertrange, tel: 45 00 45/1.

The electrical current in Luxembourg is 220 volts AC. Round two-pin plugs are used. An adapter is essential for UK and Irish appliances.

The official monetary unit in Luxembourg is the Luxembourg franc (LFr). There are 100 centimes in a Luxembourg franc. However, the Belgian franc (BFr) is also legal tender and 1 LFr is equal to 1 BFr. Luxembourg notes come in denominations of LFr5,000, 1,000, 500, and 100. Coins are in LFr50, 20, 5, and 1, and 50 centimes. You are advised to change Luxembourg francs into other foreign currency before departure, as Luxembourg francs cannot be exchanged in most other countries.

Luxembourg is one of 11 European Union countries which will adopt the Euro (€) as its currency on 1 January 2002. Prices and bills are increasingly quoted in both francs and Euros. The fixed exchange rate is €1=LFr40.3399. France notes and coins will cease to be legal tender on 1 July 2002.

MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, and Visa are accepted in hotels, restaurants, and some shops. However, it is best to check beforehand, as many establishments only take one of the above cards and some do not accept credit cards at all. Travellers cheques are the safest way to carry money and you should buy these in your country of residence before departure. You will find the current foreign exchange rate in major newspapers, or advertised in banks and bureaux de change. Banks tend to offer the best exchange rates, but as the price of the commission varies it is worth checking which bank charges the lowest commission. Banks are generally open Monday to Friday 08.30 or 09.00 to 11.45 or 12.00 and 13.30 to 16.30 or 17.00. Some stay open during lunch hours. Bureaux de change can be found at the airport, railway stations, and in tourist areas; some branches may have extended opening hours.

A service charge is usually included in restaurant bills; this will be indicated by the words service compris. However, if the service is particularly good, you should leave behind some change. It is not normally necessary to tip taxi drivers in Luxembourg.

1 January: New Year's Day
Carnival
Easter Monday
1 May: May Day
Ascension Day
Whit Monday
23 June: National Day
15 August: Assumption
1 September: Luxembourg City Kermesse
1 November: All Saints' Day
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Saint Stephen's Day

There are a number of organisations that help travellers with disabilities in Luxembourg. If you would like information on what facilities are available on trains in Luxembourg, contact Luxembourg National Railways (CFL), BP 1803, place de la Gare, 1018 Luxembourg, tel: +352 49 24 24. Another useful organisation to contact is Croix Rouge Luxembourgeoise, parc de la Ville 2, L-2014 Luxembourg, tel: +352 45 02 02 1, which offers general advice. City tours for wheelchair-users are available from the City Tourist Office and the National Tourist Office. The Luxembourg Tourist Office publishes an annual booklet listing sites for camping and caravanning, and indicating which are accessible to travellers with disabilities.

Luxembourg City has buses, but the city is small enough to walk around, unless you need to get to the airport, the European district, or the outskirts. Day tickets, for unlimited travel, and discount 10-ticket strips are available. Both can be purchased from the bus driver. There is no metro system in Luxembourg.

Ferry services operate along the River Moselle.