P152 - Luxembourg - Wiltz Castle

Le Chateau (XII Siecle), Wiltz, Luxembourg

Wiltz (Luxembourgish: Wolz) is a commune with city status in north-western Luxembourg, capital of the canton Wiltz. Wiltz is situated on the banks of the river Wiltz. It was also a battleground in the Battle of the Bulge, near the end of World War II. A local airfield was used by both sides of the conflict, depending on the location of the Front.

As of 2005[update], the town of Wiltz, which lies in the south of the commune, has a population of 4,567. Other towns within the commune include Weidingen.
The International Scouting One Penny Monument

Wiltz is a major centre for the international scouting movement. There are many scout campsites and buildings surrounding the town. The International Scouting One Penny Monument, dedicated to Robert Baden-Powell, is located in Wiltz.

The Festival of Wiltz, a music and performing arts festival, takes place every summer.

Nearby Wiltz, on a hill overlooking the town, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima is the site of an annual pilgrimage on Ascension Day. In particular it attracts many of the Portuguese people who form a sizable proportion of the population of Luxembourg.

The Counts of Wiltz were an important family in mediaval times. Construction of the present castle began in 1631 but was interrupted by the Thirty Years War and was not finished until 1727. The castle, which is situated on 600 acres of lawns and gardens. The last Count died in 1793, after having fled the French Revolution. The castle served as a private girls school from 1851 until 1950, and became a retirement home after that.

卢森堡（盧森堡文：Lëtzebuerg、法文：Luxembourg、德文：Luxemburg），全称为卢森堡大公国，被邻国法国、德国和比利时包围，是一個位于欧洲的内陸國家，也是現今歐洲大陸僅存的大公國，首都盧森堡市。盧森堡是欧盟成员国。

卢森堡历史由在中世纪时卢森堡城堡的修建开始。城堡建成之后，附近开始逐渐发展，成为城镇。卢森堡位于战略地点，法国，德国和荷兰都非常重视，卢森堡经常转手不同国家。19世纪，卢森堡开始成为独立自主的国家。

可是，虽然卢森堡声明中立原则，但在20世纪期间被德国数次入侵。第二次世界大战之后，卢森堡不再中立，成为北約和欧盟的創始會員國之一。

卢森堡素有「千堡之國」之稱，境內大小城鎮大多可見中古世紀的城堡建築。在滿是綠意的自然景觀中，搭配著古色古香的城堡、教堂等，常吸引無數觀光客至此流連。

References sources : Wikipedia