Luxembourg

Where the name comes from

Luxembourg comes from Lucilinburhuc, “little fortress”, the castle acquired in 963 around which its capital grew.

First people

Celtic Treveri lived here in Roman times, and a castle acquired in 963 grew into the capital.¹

Known for

Luxembourg is one of the world’s richest countries per person and hosts the EU’s Court of Justice.²

Outside contact

Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian and French rulers held it in turn; after the Belgian Revolution, Luxembourg was split in 1839, with the west going to Belgium.^3,4

The modern country

The east stayed a grand duchy under the Dutch king, then broke from the Dutch crown and grew into an independent country, with Luxembourgish as its national language.³