Although they're small, Luxembourg, Holland, and Belgium contain a diversity of culture, language, and tradition that defies easy definition.

As for Luxembourg, you'd think a country so small that -- even on a big map -- its name can't fit within its borders would be simpler. Not a bit. Luxembourgers are such a mixed bag that they're still trying to sort out the mess left behind when the Germanic tribes overran the Roman Empire's Rhine defenses in A.D. 406.

Diversity is the greatest asset of the Benelux countries. The visitor from afar may be more impressed by their shared characteristics, which include a determined grasp on the good life, than by the differences that separate them.

Two distinct regions comprise the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, creating a landscape of scenic beauty. The forested Luxembourg Ardennes, in the north, are part of a range of hills gouged by narrow rivers like the Our and the Sɑre. South of the Ardennes are the rich farmlands of the Bon Pays (Good Country), a rolling plateau traversed by narrow valleys, and by Luxembourg's stretch of the Moselle River, with its celebrated riverside vineyards and wineries. Both regions are liberally sprinkled with pretty villages, castles, and vacation retreats.

Luxembourg City, in the center of the Bon Pays, was for centuries a thorn in Europe's side. The "Gibraltar of the North" occupies a natural fortress, and the immensely powerful fortifications constructed around it by a parade of rulers made it a tough proposition to assault. These were dismantled in 1867. Today, parks cover ground once occupied by forts, and the city is an attractive mixture of historical interest and contemporary charm.