STUDY IN LUXEMBOURG- living in luxembourg

Social Scene     |    Customs and Culture    |    Transportation

Accommodation    |    Health Care    |    Emergency Contacts

Social Conventions: Handshaking is the normal greeting. The code of practice for visiting someone’s home is similar to other Western European countries: it is acceptable to give gifts or flowers if invited for a meal. Smart-casual dress is widely acceptable, but some dining rooms, clubs and social functions will demand formal attire. Evening wear, black tie (for men) is usually specified on invitation if required. Smoking is prohibited where notified and is becoming increasingly unacceptable. Tipping: Bills generally include service, but a rounding up is often given. Taxi drivers expect 10 per cent of meter charge.

Food & Drink: Luxembourg cooking combines German heartiness with Franco-Belgian finesse. Local dishes include carré de porc fumé (smoked pork and broad beans or sauerkraut), cochon de lait en gelée (jellied suckling pig), and jambon d’Ardennes (famous smoked Ardennes ham). The preparation of trout, pike and crayfish is excellent, as are the pastries and cakes. Tarte aux quetsches is recommended. Delicious desserts are prepared with local liqueurs and some restaurants will make omelette soufflée au kirsch. A dash of quetsch, mirabelle or kirsch will be added to babas or fruit cups. Most aspects of restaurants and bars are similar to the rest of Europe.

Luxembourg’s white Moselle wines resemble those of the Rhine, but are drier than the fruitier wines of the French Moselle. Beer is another speciality and is a traditional industry. Best-known brands are Mousel, Bofferding, Diekirch and Simon. There are also many local liqueurs and strong spirits such as Eau de vie (45-50 per cent alcohol). The minimum age for drinking in bars is 17, and anyone younger than 17 must be accompanied by an adult in cafes and bars. Hours are generally from 0700-2400 (weekdays) and until 0300 (weekends and public holidays). Nightclubs are generally open until 0300.

Nightlife: Visitors to Luxembourg can enjoy a variety of evening entertainment from theatre performances, classical music concerts, opera and ballet, to nightclubs, cinemas and discos. For more information, contact the Luxembourg City Tourist Office

Shopping: Special purchases include beautiful porcelain and crystal. Villeroy & Boch’s crystal factories in Septfontaines are open to visitors. A regional speciality is earthenware pottery from Nospelt, where in August there is a fortnight’s exhibition of local work. Shopping hours: Mon 1400-1800, Tues-Sat 0830-1800.

Special Events: For a list of associated events throughout the year, contact the National Tourist Office. The following is a selection of major traditional events celebrated in 2004:

Feb Carnival, Luxembourg City; Bürgsonndeg (Bonfire Day), Luxembourg City. Apr-May Octave, Luxembourg City; Wine & Gourmet Festival. Apr 12 Eimaischen, Nospelt. Jun Annual Broom Flower Festival, Wiltz; Dancing Procession (pilgrimage in honour of St Willibrod), Echternach. Jun 22-23 National Day Celebrations (torchlight parade and fireworks in Luxembourg City and other celebrations), nationwide. Aug-Sep Schueberfouer (one of the largest funfairs in Europe), Luxembourg City. Sep Wine and Grape Festival, Grevenmacher. Oct Nutmarket, Vianden. Nov 'New Wine' Celebrations, Wormeldange. Dec Christmas Market, Luxembourg City

RAIL: The national railway company, Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), runs an efficient rail service which is fully integrated with the bus network. CFL has recently introduced a so-called horaire cadencé schedule, meaning there is now at least one train every hour to every station at the same time in every hour. Reductions are offered for weekend and holiday return tickets. CFL rail services and CFL/CRL buses in Luxembourg are covered by the Benelux Tourrail rail pass covering Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. This gives unlimited travel on any 5 days within a 30-day period throughout the year. Rail/Coach Rover Tickets are valid for both networks. The Luxembourg Card gives unlimited travel on public transport for a period of 1 to 3 days, with free entrance to up to 40 attractions. There is also an Öko Pass, which is a single-day ticket for unlimited travel on all forms of public transport (not valid on sightseeing buses), with concessions for old-age pensioners. For further information, contact CFL (tel: 49901 or 4990 5572; e-mail: info@cfl.lu; website: http://www.cfl.lu).

ROAD: As in the rest of Western Europe, there is an excellent network of roads and motorways in Luxembourg. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Cross-country buses are punctual and operate between all major towns. For information on passes, see the Rail section.

Taxi: These are metered. There is a minimum charge and a 10 per cent surcharge is applied from 2200-0600. Taxis are plentiful but cannot be hailed in the street. A 10 per cent tip is usual for taxi drivers. Car hire: All the main agencies operate in Luxembourg.

Traffic regulations: The minimum age for driving is 18. It is obligatory to carry €15 at all times for the payment of on-the-spot fines; there are stiff drinking/driving spot fines. The wearing of seat belts is compulsory in the front seat and in the back, where seat belts are fitted. Children under 12 years of age must travel in the back seats, unless they are 1.5m (5ft) or taller, or if the front seat is fitted with an appropriate ECE-approved child seat. Motorcyclists must use a dipped beam even by day. The speed limit is 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas, and 120kph (74mph) on motorways. For more details, contact Automobile Club du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, 54 route de Longwy, L-8007 Bertrange, Luxembourg-Helfenterbruck (tel: 450 0451; e-mail: acl@acl.lu; website: http://www.acl.lu).

Documentation: Third Party insurance is necessary. A Green Card is not obligatory but is strongly recommended. Without it, visitors have only the minimum legal cover in Luxembourg (if they have motor insurance at home). The Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the visitor’s domestic policy. A valid national driving licence is sufficient.

HOTELS: For information on hotels in Luxembourg, contact the Luxembourg National Tourist Office (which can supply a free national guide) or the National Hotel Association, Horesca (to which all hotels in the Grand Duchy belong) at 7 rue Alcide de Gasperi, PO Box 2524, L-1025 Luxembourg-Kirchberg (tel: 421 355-1; fax: 421 355-299; e-mail: mail@horesca.lu; website: http://www.horesca.lu).

Grading: Luxembourg has a wide range of hotels, more than half of which are classified according to the Benelux system. Standard of accommodation is indicated by a row of three-pointed stars from the highest (five stars) to the minimum (one star). However, membership of this scheme is voluntary and there may be first-class hotels which do not have a classification. Benelux star ratings comply with the following criteria:

• 5-star (H5): Luxury hotels. There are four establishments in this category
• 4-star (H4): First-class hotels; 80 per cent of rooms have a private bath. Other amenities include night reception and room service. Around 15 per cent of graded hotels in Luxembourg belong to this category. There are 48 in this grouping
• 3-star (H3): Around 50 per cent of rooms have private bath. Other amenities include day reception; 29 per cent of graded hotels in Luxembourg belong to this category. There are 81 in this grouping
• 2-star (H2): Around 25 per cent of rooms have private bath. Other amenities include a bar; nine per cent of graded hotels in Luxembourg belong to this category. There are 26 hotels in this grouping
• 1-star (H1): Simple hotel. No private baths, but hot and cold water in rooms. Breakfast available. Eight graded hotels in Luxembourg belong to this category.

HOLIDAY APARTMENTS: A number of holiday flats and chalets are available throughout the country. A free pamphlet giving location and facilities is published by the National Tourist Office.

CAMPING: There are over 120 campsites throughout the country. According to government regulations, campsites are ranged in three different categories and the tariff in each camp is shown at the entrance. The National Tourist Office publishes a free, comprehensive brochure giving all relevant information concerning campsites.

YOUTH HOSTELS: There are youth hostels at Beaufort, Bourglinster, Echternach, Ettelbruck, Grevenmacher, Hollenfels, Lultzhausen, Luxembourg-Ville, Troisvierges, Vianden and Wiltz. A Youth Hostel Guide may be obtained free of charge from the National Tourist Office in London or the Centrale des Auberges de Jeunesses Luxembourgeoises, 24-26 place de la Gare, L-616 Luxembourg (tel: 2629 3500; fax: 2629 3504; e-mail: information@youthhostels.lu).

There are reciprocal health agreements with all other EU member states. UK citizens should obtain form E111 from the Department of Health before travelling. Hospital treatment is normally free on presentation of the E111 but patients must pay a standard daily fee which is not refunded. For health information, contact the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie des Ouvriers.