Luxembourg

I also took an overnight trip to Luxembourg because I was curious about this small country. The geography of Luxembourg City is striking as it's positioned at the confluence of two rivers, the Alzette and Pétrusse, and perched on high cliffs on terraced levels with bridges spanning the valleys.

Across the ravine is probably the City Hall, which was the former location of the High Authority of the European Coal Steel Community. It was disbanded way back in 1967, but today Luxembourg is the seat of several EU institutions.

This photo was probably taken from the Adolphe Bridge looking towards the city. Note the terracing which makes exploring this city so interesting. That garden with a flagpole seems to have been reworked extensively looking at more recent photos.

What can I say, I like wandering through markets.

Speaking of markets, Luxembourg is a well-known tax haven for multinationals and was recently persuaded by the EU to be more open with its financial transactions.

The city has extensive historical fortifications built into the rock. I went to see the Casemates du Bock.

Viaducts across the valleys are a feature of Luxembourg City scape.

There is a famous fountain in the middle of the city which celebrates a Luxembourgian tradition, the Hämmelsmarsch (page in Luxembourgish). Included in the statue are three band musicians, sheep, and two children under an umbrella, sheltering from the water pouring out of the tuba.

The distinctive topography makes Luxembourg an interesting corner of Europe to explore.