When I was in elementary school, I loved to read geography books and recite the names of countries and capitals. It will be interesting to meet those countries with the same name as the capital, such as Luxembourg and Luxembourg City. This can be regarded as a “great friendship” with Luxembourg City, and the first encounter with it will be delayed for more than 20 years.
Walking from the hotel to the old city of Luxembourg, you will pass some office blocks along the way. Like the mainstream buildings in this city, there are no more than four or five floors. The old buildings are intertwined with the new ones over the past 30 years. They look unremarkable, but if you understand Luxembourg’s economy, you will know that there are many large corporate headquarters hidden in it.
Together with the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors and the European Investment Bank, they have witnessed the powerful economy of Luxembourg, a small and small country.
Surrounded by France, Germany and Belgium, with a land area of only 2500 square kilometers (a bit larger than Beijing’s Huairou District) and a population of just over 500,000, Luxembourg not only ranks first in the world in per capita income, it is also the European Court of Justice, European Court of Auditors and European Investment The location of the bank is known as the “third capital” of the European Union after Brussels and Strasbourg. It is a highly developed industrial country, the world’s largest exporter of steel smelting technology, and the most important private banking center in the Eurozone, and the second largest investment trust center in the world after the United States. It is also the first country in the world to complete the transformation of terrestrial digital TV, and controls the world’s largest satellite operating group with 40 satellites covering more than 90% of the world.
This is Luxembourg, a country that is not only small and beautiful, but also small and strong.
The Petros Grand Canyon in front of you is like those classic Luxembourg scenery photos, with a dreamy atmosphere. Under my feet is the defensive city wall built along the Alzette River. There used to be steep stairs. After the defensive function lost its function, it became a viewing platform, and it was also known as the “most beautiful balcony in Europe.”
As an architecture lover, I have always had no sense of natural scenery, and the Petros Grand Canyon has not shocked me. But no one can deny that looking out from this “balcony”, the view is superb. The gorge is deep, full of green eyes, and trees are scattered high and low. The bridge and castle in the distance are the landmarks of Luxembourg, set off by the green trees. The elevated arch bridge named “Adolf” is named after Grand Duke Adolf.
The Burke Fortress, built along the canyon, has been included in the World Cultural Heritage List. For defense, the Luxembourgers built fortresses along the mountains here, using rocky cliffs as natural defenses. The fortress extends in all directions and there are many caves. It is a good place to explore.
For hundreds of years after its completion, it was repeatedly contested for military status. It was not until 1867 that the war function was terminated and the fortress was demolished, leaving only the 17-kilometer-long city wall. Along the passage of the fortress you can go all the way to the bottom of the valley covered by towering trees.
The Constitution Square behind me is a testimony of Luxembourg’s openness and freedom. The three-color national flag is flying on the square. The Luxembourg flag is composed of red, white and blue. Red symbolizes enthusiasm and bravery, white symbolizes simplicity and peace, and blue represents light and happiness. The most striking is the golden girl statue at the top of the square monument. During World War II, this girl statue was severely damaged by the Nazis, and the remaining part was not discovered until 1981. Luxembourg collected donations from the whole country to restore the statue and re-established it on Constitution Square in 1985.
There is a small triangular platform below the canyon, which is also a trace of the old fortress. There is a beautiful flowerbed on the platform. A pair of young people sitting on the platform chatting is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in Luxembourg.
When I returned to the hotel that day, I walked down a canyon along a bridge, then walked around into a residential area, seeing that I was getting farther and farther away from the hotel. Feeling helpless, he had to walk back to the gorge obediently, climb the steps, and return to Constitution Square. But the Luxembourg seen in residential areas is far from tourists and real. The old buildings are elegant and standing. Luxury cars and ordinary family cars coexist. With the income and high welfare of Luxembourgers, it is easy to buy luxury cars, but they still have the simple and pragmatic characteristics unique to Europeans and will not give up ordinary family cars. The beauty and simplicity of this country is a kind of harmony.
