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Luxembourg , located in western Europe, southeast of Belgium and between France and Germany, is a worthwhile country to visit on a vacation. Packed into 2,586 square kilometres are many impressive medieval castles (notably the ones at Vianden and Clervaux), beautiful scenery, and historical arti-facts dating back to the Roman occupation. The most popular destination is the spectacular fortress City of Luxembourg itself. Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe. In the west, it borders the Belgian province of Luxembourg, which is nearly twice the size of the country. The northern third of the country is known as the 'Oesling', and forms part of the Ardennes. It is dominated by hills and low mountains, including the Kneiff, which is the highest point, at 560 metres (1,837 ft). The southern two-thirds of the country is called the 'Gutland', and is more densely populated than the Oesling. It is also more diverse, and can be divided into five geographic sub-regions: Little Switzerland, the Luxembourg plateau, the Moselle valley, the Red Lands, and the Valley of the Seven Castles. The border between Luxembourg and Germany is formed by three rivers: the Moselle, the Sauer, and the Our. Luxembourg lies on the cultural divide between Romance Europe and Germanic Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions. Luxembourg is trilingual; French, German, and Luxembourgish are official languages. Although it is a secular state, Luxembourg is predominantly Roman Catholic. It is estimated that 87 % of Luxembourgers are Roman Catholics, and the other 13 % are mostly Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Luxembourg is a secular state, but the state recognises certain religions as officially-mandated religions. This gives the state a hand in religious administration and appointment of clergy, in exchange for which the state pays certain running costs and wages. Currently, religions covered by such arrangements are Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Greek and Russian Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Luxembourg has been overshadowed by the culture of its neighbours, although, being long a deeply rural and folkloric nation, the country retains some folk traditions. There are also several notable museums, located mainly in Luxembourg City; these include the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA), the History Museum of the City of Luxembourg, and the new Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (MUDAM). Luxembourg City itself is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a whole. The country has produced some internationally-known artists, including the painter Joseph Kutter and the photographer Edward Steichen. The linguistic situation in Luxembourg is characterised by the practice and the recognition of three official languages: French, German, and Luxembourgish, a Franconian language of the Moselle region similar to German. Apart from being one of the three official languages, Luxembourgish is also considered the national language of the Grand Duchy. None of the three languages predominates generally, and each is used as the primary language in certain spheres. Luxembourgish is generally preferred for spoken use, but is superseded by both French and German for written purposes. French is the language in which most government business is carried out. German is the language of most media and of the church. Luxembourg has warm weather from May to September and snow likely during winter months. The north (the Ardennes region) tends to be wetter and colder than the south. Springtime, the choicest time of year to visit, brings a riot of wildflowers and ushers in celebrations and folk festivals nationwide. The weather from spring through fall is usually good for outdoors activities - so long as you don't mind rain. Winter is not as extreme in Luxembourg as it can be in nearby countries, so if you find yourself visiting during the colder months, you needn't weigh yourself down with polar gear. Attractions of Luxembourg are Luxembourg City , Ardennes , Clervaux , Müllerthal (Little Switzerland) , Moselle Valley , Cellars of Poll-Fabaire , St Martin etc. Full country name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxemburg, Letzeburg)
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