Luxembourg

Destination at a glance: Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of those wonderful little European countries that can easily be undressed from head to toe in a week – many a traveller's dream.

Its capital city – a fortress spectacularly built on a promontory with an eagle eye view of the deep valleys it so slavishly protected for centuries – easily competes for title of 'Europe's most dramatically picturesque'. Indeed, there is no fast-paced urban frenzy in small affluent Luxembourg City or, for that matter, elsewhere in this essentially rural country knitted from thick forest, fairy-tale feudal castle and enchanting vineyard. Proud and independent define those who live here, and the royal family, headed by Grand Duke Henri and his Cuban-born queen, are as down-to-earth as you can get.