The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Grand Duke's Palace, Luxembourg City.

I took a brief train trip from Paris to visit Luxembourg.  A tiny country in the center of the European Union it was worth a visit.  As the only country in Western Europe I had not been to in my European travels it was "a must see" on my list.  I went on two of the best weather days of my whole sabbatical:  bright, cloudless, mid 70's.

Sanctuary of the Eglise  St Michel, Luxembourg City. 

The capital, main city, and really only large city is Luxembourg City.  It has a rich history dating from Roman times.  It also was one of the best fortified cities into the last century.  But part of what made it so secure in years past makes it strange in that it is a tiered city on several levels.  It's strange and at times difficult to get about.  Nevertheless it makes for some great vistas.

Remains of previous fortifications.

Luxembourg City is very international.  The country has many foreign companies stationed there as well as facets of the European Union's apparatus.  It is historically Catholic and ha some beautiful churches.  St. Michel where I concelebrated Mass on Saturday morning has had some kind of church building there for about 1, 500 years.

The Flags of the Grand Duchy flank the European Union Flag.
 

The Duke and Royal Family have an official residence in the city.  There are many museums, and concert halls.  I enjoyed jut walking its cobble stoned streets in the beautiful weather.  Among those streets were roads named after Roosevelt, Kennedy, De Gaulle.  Leading out to the American Military Cemetery was one named after Dwight David Eisenhower.   (I'll have a separate future post about my visit).

City Hall, Place D'Armee, Luxembourg City.