Luxembourg, the unique Grand Duchy
- Europe Lineage XII
Written by Li Fang
Twenty years ago at the end of November, our group came to Luxembourg for sightseeing.
Luxembourg, full name is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the capital is Luxembourg City. It is the only Grand Duchy in Europe and the world today, which is truly unique.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has a constitutional monarchy, in which the Grand Duke is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has legislative and executive powers, and has the power to dissolve Parliament. The Grand Duke is hereditary, not elective.
According to relevant information, there are three other principalities with the title of monarch, namely the Principality of Monaco, the Principality of Andorra and the Principality of Liechtenstein. Thus, only Luxembourg is the only Grand Duchy.
(Grand Residence of Luxembourg)
Luxembourg, located in northwestern Europe, borders Germany to the east, France to the south, and Belgium to the west and north. Luxembourg has a complex terrain and difficult terrain, and in history, it has always been a German and French economic and trade artery and a military fortress in Western Europe.
Luxembourg is bisected by the rivers Alze and Petros, with a valley in between. Luxembourg is connected by more than 100 large and small bridges over the river valley. There are both antique brick bridges and modern bridges with metal structures, which are exquisite and distinctive, and are Luxembourg's transportation arteries.
Luxembourg is a developed capitalist country with a small country and a rich people. Luxembourg has finance, radio and television, and steel as its three pillar industries. Although Luxembourg is poor in natural resources, it imports most of its energy sources such as natural gas and oil. However, Luxembourg is rich in iron ore resources and forest resources, and tourism is relatively developed.
Luxembourg has a long history and many places of interest. Among the famous tourist attractions are: Luxembourg City, Wilheim Square, Luxembourg National Museum of History and Art, Luxembourg City History Museum, Luxembourg Grand Mansion, Church of Our Lady of Luxembourg, Petros Grand Canyon, Adolf Bridge and Charlotte Grand Duke Bridge.
(In front of the Luxembourg Grand Mansion Guard Pavilion)
When you come to the Tum Square in the north of the Church of Our Lady of Luxembourg, a building in the style of a Spanish royal palace is presented in front of you: the Luxembourg Grand Mansion. The Grand Mansion is the residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and the seat of the Luxembourg Parliament. But there were no more guards and soldiers around the Grand Mansion, only a guard with a steel gun on his shoulder, walking slowly back and forth along the set area, perhaps standing guard or patrolling. The guard box in front of the gate of the Grand Mansion, there were no guards standing guard inside, only when the guard was changed, the two guards stood up in front of the guard box, paused and completed the handover, the newly arrived guards began to patrol, and the laid-off guards left with positive steps. The guard booth appears to be monitoring the Changing of the Guard.
The Petros Grand Canyon is a famous tourist attraction in Luxembourg. The Grand Canyon is the natural boundary between Luxembourg City's old and new urban areas. There are multiple bridges on the Grand Canyon that connect the old and new cities. According to the canyon description, the Petros Grand Canyon is 100 meters wide and 60 meters deep. In Luxembourg's history, the Grand Canyon has been a military point in Western Europe. Today, the Petros Grand Canyon is a beautiful tourist attraction in Luxembourg and even Europe. Standing on any bridge of the Grand Canyon, you can see the beautiful view of the Grand Canyon. Inside the canyon, vegetation is dense and vigorously growing, and large thick and tall, lush trees are all over the canyon.
(along the coast of the Petros Grand Canyon)
When you walk down the stone steps to the bottom of the valley, in the lush vegetation, the stream is gurgling, flowing endlessly, trickling water, crystal clear. Along the front of the gorge, you can see many ancient castles, houses and countryside. Looking up at the bottom of the valley, there are many different bridges across the Grand Canyon. Among them are the famous Charlotte Grand Duke Bridge and Adolf Bridge.
The Charlotte Grand Duke Bridge is a modern steel bridge over the Petrose Grand Canyon, built in 1966. It is 85 meters high, 355 meters long and 25 meters wide. The red bridge is like a rainbow across the Grand Canyon. Next to the bridge stands the statue of Archduchess Charlotte, who ruled Luxembourg for nearly 50 years and experienced the pain of World War I and World War II, but she was indomitable and led the Luxembourg people to a difficult struggle and was deeply loved by the Luxembourg people.
(Back to the Charlotte Grand Duke Bridge)
The Adolf Bridge is a stone viaduct with symmetrical arches supporting the bridge, making it majestic. The Adolf Bridge was the largest stone arch bridge in the world at that time, one of the outstanding bridge buildings in Europe and an important symbol of Luxembourg City.
Luxembourg, densely forested and green, greens green 70% of Luxembourg's land and beautify Luxembourg's mountains and wilderness.
Luxembourg, the red land is rich in mineral resources, and the steel industry nurtures the ancient people of Luxembourg.
Luxembourg, the deep valleys of the plateau, the cascading mountains, the ancient castles, the dangerous gorges, bear witness to the rich history of this land of Luxembourg.
About author:LI Fang, male, born in May 1951, from Gulang County, Gansu Province. In September 1975, he entered Yunnan Forestry College (formerly Beijing Forestry College moved to Yunnan) to study, and graduated in July 1978 to teach at the university. Associate Professor of Beijing Forestry University, lifelong engaged in forestry higher education and party affairs. He retired in June 2011. In his spare time, he reads and writes, and occasionally publishes articles in the media.