LUXEMBURG (German, Lützelburg), capital of the old grand duchy, and now of the Dutch province, is situated
in N. Lat. 49. 37., and E. Long. 6. 9.; 100 miles S.E. of Brussels, 66 S.S.E. of Liège, and 115 W.S.W. of Frankfurt-on-the-Main. As a fortress it belongs, by the treaty of Vienna, to the German Confederation, and is garrisoned with 6000 Prussian troops. Naturally strong, and carefully strengthened by its successive possessors, it is now, according to Carnot, the strongest place in Europe except Gibraltar, and the only point d'appui from which France can be attacked from the side of the Moselle. It consists of an upper and a lower town; the former being the citadel, and standing 200 feet higher than the latter, with which it communicates by flights of steps and zig-zag streets cut in the solid rock. The lower town occupies a deep valley, watered by the Peterburn and Alzette, crossed with fortifications, and divided into two quarters, viz., Grindel and Pfaffenthal, by the projecting rock called Le Boue. This is the most remarkable part of the works; it is hollowed from top to bottom, commands the whole valley up and down, and its casemates, cut in the solid rock, are capable of holding 4000 men. The walls have been greatly strengthened under the direction of the German diet, and a new fort built outside the gate to Treves. The most remarkable buildings are the ancient cathedral, partly used as a barracks, and the governor's house. The town possesses also four churches, three chapels, an athenæum, seminary for priests, a normal and several elementary schools, and a recently erected market-place. There are two convents, the Dominican and Franciscan, in a very ruinous condition. The chief manufactures are of wax and leather (common and chamois); there are also breweries and distilleries. The commerce consists of gold and silver goods, paper, iron, wine, porcelain, and some other articles. Luxemburg is an episcopal see. Pop. about 12,000.