Luxembourg Travel Guide

Luxembourg — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Western Europe.
Language: Lëtzeburgesch, a German-Moselle-Frankish dialect, became the officially recognised national language in 1984. French and German are generally used for administrative and commercial purposes. Many Luxembourgers also speak English.
Area: 2,586 sq km (999 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 480,222 (CIA estimate 2007).
Population Density: 186 per sq km.
Capital City: Luxembourg-Ville. Population: 82,000 (2005).
Government: Constitutional monarchy. Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union and the only Grand Duchy in the world.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker since 1995.
Head of State: Grand Duke Henri since 2000.
Religion: Around 87% Roman Catholic, with Protestant, Anglican, Jewish and Muslim minorities.

Recent History

Jean-Claude Juncker, of the conservative Christian Social Party, has been Prime Minister since 1995 when his predecessor, Jacques Santer, became President of the European Commission. His party had originally formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party. Following the June 2004 general elections, he formed a coalition with the Socialist Workers Party. In July 2005, Luxembourg’s voters backed a proposed EU constitution, already rejected by the French and Dutch.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +352. International phones have a yellow sign showing a telephone dial with a receiver in the center.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent.

Internet

There are Internet cafes in Luxembourg City and most towns.

Media

Luxembourg has a long tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-European audiences, including those in France, Germany and the UK thanks to the Luxembourg-based media group RTL. Today, RTL's television and radio stations remain key players in media markets across Europe. The country is also home to Europe's largest satellite operator, Societé Européenne des Satellites (SES), which operates the Astra satellite fleet. Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution.

Post

Post to other European destinations takes two to four days.Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1700. Smaller offices may open for only a few hours.

Press

• There are several daily newspapers including the Lëtzebuerger Journal, Luxemburger Wort and Tageblatt.
• 352 is a weekly publication in English.

Radio

• RTL Radio Letzebuerg is RTL's domestic network.
• Den Neien Radio is a commercial network.
• Radio ARA has music and some English-language programs.
• EldoRadio broadcasts pop music.
• Honnert,7 (100.7) is a public, cultural station.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May May Day
2 Jun Ascension Day
13 Jun Whit Monday
23 Jun National Day
15 Aug Assumption
5 Sep **Luxembourg City Kermesse
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May May Day
17 May Ascension Day
28 May Whit Monday
23 Jun National Day
15 Aug Assumption
3 Sep **Luxembourg City Kermesse
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec St Stephen’s Day
(a) **Applies to the City of Luxembourg only. (b) Official public holidays falling on a Sunday may be deferred to the following Monday, for a maximum of two holidays. Exact details should be confirmed with the tourist office or the embassy.

Contact Information

Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the UK

27 Wilton Crescent, London SW1X 8SD, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 6961.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1145 (visa section; applications); Mon-Fri 1145-1200 (visa collections).