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| Overview & Introduction to Luxembourg City |
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The Old Town runs along a deep valley, overlooked by steep cliffs that provided excellent defence during various wars. The modern city sits above, on top of the cliffs, with a view down onto the old. The city has a population of 120,000 and is home to the headquarters of some important European Union institutions, including the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank. It serves as one of the three seats for the European Parliament, having been a member of the EU from its founding. Luxembourg City maintains a provincial ambience, in spite of its lofty position in EU affairs. In fact, Luxembourg has benefited significantly over the years from its capacity for diplomacy, as well as its measure of good luck, in keeping its independent position, despite being surrounded by larger and more powerful neighbours. When its independence as a Grand Duchy was confirmed in 1867, it had become so reduced in size that its survival was dependent not only on its determination to succeed, but also in its economic dealings with the rest of Europe. The result of this has been a cosmopolitan outlook, clearly evident to this day, not only in the fact that Luxembourg’s foreign population is proportionally higher than any other EU country, but also in the tri-lingual capabilities of its citizens and its prestigious position within the European Economic Community. | |
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