Total area: 2,585 sq km (998 sq mi)
Population (2009 est.): 491,775
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Luxembourg - 78,800
Currency: Euro
Languages: Luxermbourgish (national) French, German (both administrative), English
Religions: Roman Catholic 87%; Protestant, Jewish, Islamic 13%
Time zone: GMT+1; DST: GMT+2 (from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October)
Electricity: AC 230V/50Hz; European plugs with two round pins are the standard
Luxembourg (officially: The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) is a landlocked country in central Europe in the Benelux (Belgium - The Netherlands - Luxembourg). It is one of the smallest countries in Europe and the second smallest in the European Union. Luxembourg is bordered
by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east and France to the south.
One third of the total country area is covered by hills and forests of the Ardennes, stretching from Belgium in the north. The highest point of the country is the Kneiff, at 560 m (1,837 ft). This hilly area (the Oesling) is very sparsely populated with only one town and a total of around 4,000 people. The south-central part of the country with its capital city is dominated by the the Luxembourg plateau - a large, flat, sandstone formation. The valley of Moselle, known for its wineries, is situated in the southeast
