According to APARENTINGBLOG, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is one of the smallest states in Europe: it borders N. and W. with Belgium, S. with France, E. with Germany. It measures a total of 2586 sq km. of surface and has a length from N. to S. of 95 km. and a width of 65 km. from O. to E.: in 1930 it counted 299,993 residents (116 per sq. Km.).
Physical Characteristics. – From a morphological and geological point of view, the town belongs to the Lorraine and Ardennes highlands, with fairly accentuated differential characteristics between the northern (Eisling) and southern (Gutland) sections; it has a remarkable average height, around 500 m. in the N., on the 330 in the S. part, and consequently a typically continental climate (cold winters, abundant frost, hot summers), a climate which, moreover, is mitigating in the southern section (winter average about 2 ° in the S; around 0 ° in N.). The Eisling (828 sq. Km), comprising entirely the cantons of Clervaux and Wiltz and partially those of Vianden, Diekirch, Redange, is part of the Ardennes plateau and is a lean land, where agriculture is not very developed. large wooded areas, and consequently sparsely populated. Gutland offers different characteristics (sq. Km. 1758), which begins where, once the paleozoic rocks of the Ardennes have disappeared in depth, the reliefs lower, the valleys widen and the soil becomes thicker and easier to work. The passage from Eisling to Gutland is marked by a series of small towns such as Redange, Ettelbrück, Diekirch, Vianden. The powerful Liassic sandstone formation penetrates the Grand Duchy, coming from Arlon, and closes the horizon at S. di Redange, Mersch, Diekirch: in these powerful assizes the valleys are very picturesque, with sometimes vertical escarpments (as in the area where the city of Luxembourg currently stands), offering a very interesting landscape. To S. of these formations the landscape changes its aspect again, transforming itself into a large undulating penepiano,
From the hydrographic point of view, Luxembourg belongs to the Moselle basin, which for 34 km. it marks the state border with Germany: it collects the waters of the territory by means of the river Sure (Sauer), enriched by numerous tributaries such as the Alzette, which comes from the southern metaliferous section and passes through the capital; the Our, which serves for a long stretch from the border with Germany; the Clerf and Wiltz rivers, which collect the waters of northern Luxembourg. It should be remembered that the source basins of almost all these watercourses are outside the Grand Duchy, so that, even from the hydrographic point of view, it does not appear as a well-defined unit.
Ethnography. – Luxembourg has, since ancient times, a Franconian population. Later, however, in the small territory there were also emigrations from near and far villages. Already in the century. XVII owners of high furnaces and workers of Romanesque origin arrived there; the charcoal burners are mostly Walloons. The settlement is characterized by villages arranged on both sides of the roads, with elongated farms in that guise that largely corresponds to the old Germanic way, in which house, barn and stable are built together, one behind the other, around a long courtyard. The old folk customs have disappeared. The Luxembourgers have among their characteristics a developed sense of family unity. The youth community knew and still knows blame courts; the annual festivals resemble those of neighboring regions. Pilgrimages are made to St. Hubert, in Belgian Luxembourg, to immunize themselves against the bites of hydrophobic dogs. Especially famous is the dancing procession to the Benedictine monastery of Echternach. The procession begins early in the morning on Pentecost Sunday; hundreds of singers proceed in a long double line, taking three steps forward and two backward, and singing the litany in groups: St. Willibrord, pray for us, St. Willibrord! The rhythm is accompanied by music. All kinds of sick people intervene. The procession lasts for hours until exhaustion. The procession begins early in the morning on Pentecost Sunday; hundreds of singers proceed in a long double line, taking three steps forward and two backward, and singing the litany in groups: St. Willibrord, pray for us, St. Willibrord! The rhythm is accompanied by music. All kinds of sick people intervene. The procession lasts for hours until exhaustion. The procession begins early in the morning on Pentecost Sunday; hundreds of singers proceed in a long double line, taking three steps forward and two backward, and singing the litany in groups: St. Willibrord, pray for us, St. Willibrord! The rhythm is accompanied by music. All kinds of sick people intervene. The procession lasts for hours until exhaustion.