Luxembourg City contains the UNESCO-listed Old Town, whose historic landscape developed around dramatic medieval fortifications.
Luxembourg City grew around the Bock, a rocky promontory with strategic views over the Alzette and Pétrusse valleys. A fortified castle was established there in the 10th century, and the settlement expanded as Luxembourg became an important political and military centre.
The city’s fortifications were enlarged over many centuries. The Casemates of the Bock, defensive passages cut into the rock, are among the best-known remains. The old quarters and fortifications were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
The city is commonly called Luxembourg City to distinguish it from the country of Luxembourg. It is also the country’s capital and one of the principal institutional centres of the European Union, alongside Brussels and Strasbourg.